The Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center held its first Tea Day on March 19, drawing nearly 100 attendees interested in the potential of tea as a crop in California. Atef Swelam, director of Kearney REC, said the event was fully attended and reflected strong community interest in tea growing.
Tea is seen as a potentially profitable crop that can be grown on smaller acreage, which may help growers adapting to regulations such as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The event brought together farmers, gardeners, academics, students and local officials to learn about both the science and culture of tea.
Katharine Burnett from UC Davis discussed the role of the Global Tea Institute in advancing knowledge about tea. Jacquelyn Gervay-Hague shared insights from her experience propagating various tea varieties at Kearney REC since the days of the Lipton-funded “California Tea Project.” Alex Ng from National Chung Hsing University provided an overview of Taiwan’s tea industry and highlighted its cultural significance.
Participants toured research fields where Ryan Puckett demonstrated new harvesting equipment and showed greenhouse-grown plants. The day concluded with a tasting session led by Ng, who explained differences among green, oolong and black teas—all derived from Camellia sinensis but processed differently.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), which oversees Kearney REC, secures funding through public contributions to support its programs according to its official website. UC ANR promotes sustainable practices for resilient ecosystems and economic vitality according to its official website, utilizing nine research centers representing diverse state ecosystems according to its official website. It is recognized for linking research with community needs according to its official website as part of the University of California system managing Cooperative Extension services according to its official website. Each year it conducts over 33,000 educational events with more than 18,000 volunteers involved according to its official website.
UC ANR extends university research statewide through educational programs in all counties—delivering science-based information via workshops and partnerships—and mobilizes volunteers along with research centers like Kearney REC for environmental stewardship and economic development initiatives according to its official website.
