At 86, Will Scott Jr. still starts his days before sunrise, tending his farm and working to preserve what he calls the legacy crops that helped build the country.<\/p>\n
Scott, a Fresno farmer and co-founder of African-American Farmers of California, said his work focuses on growing and promoting crops with deep historical significance.<\/p>\n
“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,” Scott said.<\/p>\n
Scott co-founded African-American Farmers of California in 1997 and said farming still motivates him.<\/p>\n
“This is what keeps me going,” he said.<\/p>\n
He also said access and opportunity remain important issues for farmers.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
On his farm, one crop still needs a few more weeks before it is ready for harvest. Scott said he has planted black-eyed peas and purple hull peas.<\/p>\n
“What we have planted here are black-eyed peas and also purple hull peas. It looks like a black-eyed pea,” he said.<\/p>\n
Scott said he prefers purple hull peas.<\/p>\n
“To me, I prefer purple ones over black-eyed because they’re a little sweeter,” he said.<\/p>\n
As the crop matures, Scott is also preparing for a community celebration centered on black-eyed peas.<\/p>\n
“We’re having a Black-Eyed Pea Festival<\/a> coming up October 3rd,” Scott said, “We’re going to have a contest where people can enter their own rendition of how they prepare the black-eyed peas.”<\/p>\n The celebration will be held next to the Fresno City College West Fresno Center.<\/p>\n Reflecting on the area where the festival will take place, Scott said the neighborhood has changed significantly over the decades.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n The 1st annual Central Valley Blackeye Pea Festival and Cook-Off<\/a> will take place on Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n For news updates, follow Dale Yurong on Facebook<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n