SeeCalifornia.com

Can you imagine life without lemons? What would it be like to not have lemon for your lobster?  Or what about the cool refresher–a tall, iced glass of lemonade with its sweet, tart taste?   Ahhh- lemons!

There’s no other state that can compete with California or even tries to when it comes to lemons. We’re not talking about that worthless, junk heap of a car you may have purchased and called a lemon. In fact, it’s kind of sad that lemons get such a bad wrap. California is the top grower of lemons in the U.S. and only one other state, Arizona, grows them commercially. This year the California lemon crop is expected to be down from last but California still comes in strong, sending 39 million cartons (40 pounds per carton) to national markets and shipping them internationally.

California’s lemon legacy spans the early days after the gold rush when people decided to make a living by growing things that did so well in our California sunshine and soil. The lemon boom and citrus crops dotted the landscape throughout California but especially Southern California till urban growth took over the once scented fields. Several places in California called themselves the Lemon Capital of the World, and one city, Lemon Grove, actually has a big lemon statue you can see as you enter this San Diego County town.

LEMONS IN CALIFORNIA:

• Chula Vista Lemon Festival  August 12, 2012, thirdavenuevillage.com
• Goleta – California Lemon Festival  Oct. 14-15, 2012
• Upland Lemon Festival  (April)  uplandlemonfestival.com
• Santa Paula Citrus Festival  July 20-22, 2012

Here are more fruit and vegetable festivals!