After ten weeks of fellowship program it was good to be out to California for a week long visit. It was pretty hot out there. I had chances to visit places like Sacramento, San Jose, Sanfransisco, Monteray, Santa Cruz, Salinas valley and so on. Moreover it was important for me to visit ones whom I knew since four years back Steven, Tomoko, Susan, Pam and Dane. Its always a good moment to meet people after long time no see.

The farms in Salinas valley took my attention the most. I could observe some of US agricultural products harvesting techniques. I was amazed by the way they harvest. More than 40% of the production is wasted as they do not meet the size, texture and looks according to the market demand. I went after the harvested fields and was totally suprised, I could not make an understanding of this production being wasted and the global food crisis issue.

Besides, I found that the development has made us to loose open space. The roads; made me amazed, size, lengths, cross ins and outs. Almost half of the urban area is covered by black tops and rest half by the buildings. The trend has indicated that low and mid level income population are being gradually pushed away from the cities. Water scarcity is observed and felt by the people of California. Some feelings and curiosity over increase in gas prices have opened and people have started to related it to food. Community initiations have begun over food security.

Any way it was a great time for me to be in the different part of the country for the first time.