Scrapbook for California & Fruit Drying

California & Fruit Drying, July 16 - 27, 2001, is now complete. Enjoy the picture journey and the WOW experience of tour members.

Arrive L.A., bus through the beautiful Central Valley of California. Arrive Reedley, CA, headquarters of West Coast Mennonite Central Committee and home to the Fruit Drying Center.

Just what is the Fruit Drying Project...

An early breakfast, then...

the bins of donated fruit were awaiting us at the Fruit Drying Center

Wash the fruit, now it's
ready for the cutters

cutting demonstration

real cut-ups

time for coffee break

Trays filled with cut fruit,
drying in the California sun,
the workers survey the product.

Wash them again, dry them again, weigh them and package them. Funds raised by the sale of these dried-fruit packs are given to MCC for world hunger programs.

It wasn't "all work and no play". Time for a tour of other
parts of California...

The giant trees and Yosemite featuring El Capitan and Half Dome.

Fields of almond trees, rose trees, and produce

Such variety in this beautiful state -- fields and orchards, mountains and valleys, rivers and irrigation canals, small communities and major cities. Satisfaction with mission accomplished!

TOUR MEMBERS SAID...

“We liked the well-planned variety of interesting places to see.”
   Noah & Mary - Pennsylvania

“The fruit drying project made the trip especially worthwhile, because in this way we could make a contribution to MCC.”
   Martha - Ohio

“The redwood trees and the beauty of Yosemite was spectacular, this trip was super.“
   Glenn & Nora - Pennsylvania

“The days working (fruit drying) together drew us together as a tour group.”
    John & Mim - Pennsylvania

“Our impressions of this tour are very good! It was well planned, we felt cared for, a nice group to travel with.”
   Ralph & Miriam - Pennsylvania

“It was good to have the fruit drying at the beginning – tell future tours that they will get the clothing dirty doing the fruit.”
   Lauren & Helen - Ohio

“This was an opportunity to see places I could not have seen except on a trip like this; we took the road less traveled to see the fields of vegetables.”
   Grace - Pennsylvania

“Seeing all the ways agriculture is done in this state (California) was fascinating – we learned so much.”
   Glen & Betty - Virginia

“We picked this tour because we could volunteer with MCC, also, the connection with other Mennonites was good. You might see us again.”
   Jay & Geneva - Virginia

Scrapbook for California & Fruit Drying

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