Fresno farmer Will Scott Jr. launches first Black‑Eyed Pea Festival

Will Scott Jr. And the Black-Eyed Pea Festival

Fresno farmer Will Scott Jr. Is dedicating his life to preserving legacy crops that have historical significance. At 86, Scott still starts his days before sunrise, tending to his farm and working to promote crops like black-eyed peas, okra, tomatoes, watermelons, and yams. He co-founded African-American Farmers of California in 1997 and believes that access and opportunity remain important issues for farmers. Scott is now preparing for the first Black-Eyed Pea Festival, which will be held on October 3rd next to the Fresno City College West Fresno Center.

The Festival and Its Significance

The Black-Eyed Pea Festival will feature a contest where people can enter their own rendition of how they prepare black-eyed peas. The celebration will also highlight the importance of legacy crops and their role in building the country. Scott's farm has planted black-eyed peas and purple hull peas, which are similar to black-eyed peas but sweeter. "To me, I prefer purple ones over black-eyed because they're a little sweeter," Scott said. The festival will be a community celebration, and Scott hopes it will bring people together to appreciate the significance of these crops.

Scott's Farm and Legacy Crops

Scott's farm is proof of his dedication to preserving legacy crops. He has planted black-eyed peas and purple hull peas, which are expected to be ready for harvest in a few weeks. The farm is located in an area that has changed significantly over the decades, with Scott recalling that he used to pick grapes and cotton in the same location. "West side's looking a lot different from 1952. Because at that same location, I used to pick grapes and pick cotton. Wow. At that same location. So we've come a long way," he said.

Detail	Information
Festival Date	October 3rd
Festival Location	Next to the Fresno City College West Fresno Center
Festival Time	9 a.m. To 3 p.m.

Community Celebration

The Black-Eyed Pea Festival will be a community celebration that brings people together to appreciate the significance of legacy crops. The festival will feature a cook-off contest, and people can enter their own black-eyed pea recipes. The celebration will also highlight the importance of access and opportunity for farmers, which Scott believes are essential issues that need to be addressed. "We need to look at equity. What we're looking for is a fair opportunity. Access to the same thing that the other farmers have," Scott said.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Black-Eyed Pea Festival?

The Black-Eyed Pea Festival is a community celebration that will feature a cook-off contest where people can enter their own black-eyed pea recipes. The festival will be held on October 3rd next to the Fresno City College West Fresno Center.

What are legacy crops?

Legacy crops are crops that have historical significance, including black-eyed peas, okra, tomatoes, watermelons, and yams. These crops have played a significant role in building the country and are still important today.

Who is Will Scott Jr.?

Will Scott Jr. Is a Fresno farmer who is dedicating his life to preserving legacy crops. He co-founded African-American Farmers of California in 1997 and believes that access and opportunity remain important issues for farmers.

As the Black-Eyed Pea Festival approaches, Scott's farm is preparing for the harvest of black-eyed peas and purple hull peas. The festival will be a celebration of the community and the legacy crops that have shaped it. With the festival scheduled to take place on October 3rd, the community is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to come together and appreciate the significance of these crops. According to Scott, "I'm dedicating my life to legacy crops that actually built this country. Like you talk about your black-eyed peas, your okra, tomatoes, watermelons and your yams." The festival will be a significant event that will highlight the importance of legacy crops and their role in building the country.