Story by David G. Allan, CNN | Video by Gabe Ramirez and Styke Dimas, CNN
Petaluma, California (CNN) — Petaluma’s farm-to-table trend dates all the way back to the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. Between lush farmland and a river for transport, the town found itself in a prime position to provide eggs, dairy, meat and veggies to mining towns in the region and down to booming San Francisco, less than 40 miles south.
You can still see faded chicken “Hatchery” business names painted on old brick buildings in what was once locally touted as “the world’s egg basket.” There’s an enthusiastic hometown gathering for the annual Butter & Egg Days Parade and Festival, and at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum you can get up close to an egg cleaning machine and see an old photo of the town’s former chicken pharmacy (‘cause fowl sometimes feel foul)…