A Group of men and women dedicated to agricultural production, agricultural associations, and agricultural studies visited California State University, Fresno. During their stay, they were able to take a tour of the 1000-acre Fresn State Farm and meet with Portuguese-American agricultural leader Richard Machado and dairy consultant Matt Parreira, as well as visit the university’s main campus, including the library, where a discussion about the Portuguese-American experience was lead by PBBI-director, Diniz Borges and welcoming remarks by Dean Honora Chapman on behalf of Fresno State president, Saúl Jimenez-Sandoval and the presence of librarian Sara MacDaniel, representing Dean Bernadette Muscat. The discussion resulted in putting forth future possibilities for our students in mainland Portugal and students from Portugal at Fresno State.

The delegation also had a full morning workshop at the Fresno State Wet Center. This research institute has been doing cutting-edge work in water conservation in the farming industry. During the welcome remarks, Dean Chapman commented on the reality that the area served by Fresno State produces over 1/2 of many of the farm products consumed in the United States.

The visit to Fresno State was accompanied by the Consul-General of Portugal in San Francisco, Pedro Ponto, and the AICEP representative in San Francisco, Henrique Gomes. The Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco also brought a collection of books on the Azores and the Portuguese Diaspora in the US to be cataloged and placed in the PBBI collection at the Fresno State Library.

The delegation from the central part of Portugal also visited other farming and dairying operations and the Ag Expo in Tulare.