Salinas Valley: Salad Bowl of the World!

So we left Morro Bay and continued our northward travel.  From the coast we took CA 41 east to Atascadero. There we returned to US 101 where we traveled through one of California's most productive agricultural regions, the Salinas Valley.  The John Steinbeck's story Of Mice and Men, among others, was set here with the valley itself providing the story backdrop.

Strawberries being picked

Under the canopy: Raspberries
In the field: Some type of young leafy green

As I've noted other times, particularly as we've traveled in the great southwest, I am amazed at the enormity of agricultural -- not just the fields, but the ancillary services that make up this whole food growing process.

This is a beautiful place -- we've clearly escaped parched southern California.  I love seeing the straight rows of crops going for great distances as we drive by.

Cabbage 

I think these are berries (black or rasps)

Promoters of the Salinas Valley region refer to as "The Salad Bowl of the World" because the greatest majority of salad greens consumed in the United States come from this area.  We passed enormous fields of broccoli, cauliflower, celery, spinach, lettuce, artichoke and tomatoes. Other things too, but I couldn't recognize them.

We passed a hand painted vegetable stand sign advertising 7 grapefruit or 7 avocado or 7 artichoke for $1. We should have stopped but couldn't.  It's not easy to stop this 45,000 pound, 65 foot train.

There were also great fields of raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and many, miles of beautiful hillside grapevines.

I get hungry just thinking of this place....