by Cheryl Senn

More than 90 people from the Sanger, Reedley, Orange Cove, Kingsburg, Selma, Fowler, Fresno, and surrounding areas, attended the 25th Annual Fresno County Blossom Trail Opening Ceremony recently. This year the ceremony was held in Sanger and hosted by the Sanger Chamber of Commerce and City of Sanger, in cooperation with the Fresno County Blossom Trail Committee.

City officials gathered to kick off the Fresno County Blossom Trail season. L to R - Selma Mayor Ken Grey, Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Valerie Pieroni, Reedley Mayor Bob Beck, State Center Community College District Board of Trustee Ron Nishinaka and Sanger Mayor Joshua Mitchell.

The opening ceremony is the kick off to the blossom viewing season and to local community events with a blossom theme.
The Sanger NJROTC Color Guard and the Sanger High Choir, who sang a few musical selections, got the program started.

Sanger High Choir performed a few song selections

According to www.goblossomtrail.com, the Blossom Trail is a self-guided motor or bicycle tour, which celebrates and features the beauty of Fresno County’s agriculture and a few historical points of interest. The trail is organized by the Fresno County Blossom Trail Committee, which is a partnership between the County of Fresno and the Chambers of Commerce in Sanger, Kingsburg, Reedley, Orange Cove, Selma and Fowler.

Fresno County Board of Supervisor Judy Case was the master of ceremonies for this year’s event. Case introduced mayors, city councilmen, chamber members, and other dignitaries who came up to the podium to share a few words about what blossoms and the trail mean to their communities.

Fresno County Board of Supervisor Judy Case was the master of ceremonies for the event. Case welcomed guests in front of the Sanger Depot Museum.

“We are in the middle of the fruit basket,” said Case about the location of the communities who make up the blossom trail. Case encouraged people who participate in the blossom trail to come back for the fruit trail. “Blossoms turn into a delicious piece of California fruit.”

Pacific Gas & Electric, along with the Sanger Rotary Club, were thanked for their support of the blossom trail. Kristi Johnson, from the Fresno County Office of Tourism, expressed her gratitude to PG&E because, she said, “We could not share our ag beauty without them.”

Impersonators and performers Lynn Roberts and Bob Pasch, from the “Bob & Bing Road to the Blossom Trail,” shared their humor at the opening ceremony.

Joshua Mitchell, City of Sanger Mayor, thanked everyone for attending and shared a humorous story about how he introduced his wife to California blossoms. “We are very excited for the opportunity to host it this year, and look forward to the many visitors it will draw and the many people that it will please,” said Mitchell, about the blossom trail opening ceremony.

Sanger Mayor Joshua Mitchell welcomes guests to his host City for the opening ceremonies.

Reedley Mayor Bob Beck said, “We are so blessed to live in this valley,” and said Reedley will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of being incorporated this year.

Dave Karstetter, a City Council member, from Kingsburg said about the blossoms, “It’s what brings our communities together.”

Some in attendance felt the day should be dedicated to recently passed television personality and valley icon Huell Howser, because he brought attention to the valley and the blossom trail.

According to the Fresno County Blossom Trail brochure, the blossom season begins in February and runs through March and lists peach, nectarine, apple and citrus blossoms as the type of blossoms that can be seen on the trail. There is more than 62 miles of orchards and blossoms on the trail map.

Ken Grey, Mayor of Selma, said “Agricultural efforts brings our valley to life,” and he wanted to applaud everyone in the ag industry.

The Fresno County Blossom Trail poster was created by local artist Joseph Garcia. Garcia spoke about the history of the valley and said he was going to donate a copy of his book, Prelude To Fresno, From The Mountains To the Prairie, to the Sanger Depot Museum.

Fresno County Blossom Trail poster artist Joseph Garcia poses with his poster and a book he donated to the Sanger Depot Museum.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, light refreshments were served by the Sanger Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson said valley residents can share their photos of blossoms and get updates about the local blossoms sightings on the Blossom Trail website.

“Blossoms…it is what makes our county so special,” said Johnson.

You can also learn more about Blossom Trail events on their KRL event page.

Watch KRL for more Sanger related articles by Cheryl!

Cheryl Senn is a freelance writer/photographer, a mother and local business owner, and is also involved with many community service organizations in and around Sanger. People can visit www.facebook.com/thesangerscene to see what is happening with the author and Sanger.