TULARE, Calif. — The World Ag Expo is the largest expo for all things farming, but one of its hidden gems is the food and the people that make it.
The Palo Verde Elementary Parent Teacher Organization has operated a food booth at the World Ag Expo in Tulare for the past 30 years. Parents, teachers, and staff grill up tri tip sandwiches, hot dogs, and more for expo visitors in order to raise money for their students.
"The profits made off of this booth go back to do activities and pay for shirts and little trips and stuff for our kids," Palo Verde PTO member Melanie Patterson says.
For the 2019 World Ag Expo, volunteers grilled up 1,300 lbs. of meat on opening day and 1,500 lbs. of meat for the second day. The group says they expect to grill 900 lbs. of meat for the final day.
So how has this food booth stayed around at the expo for the past 30 years?
"We're trying to keep it simple. Simple is better, and we try to accommodate the little kids with hot dogs and maybe people that aren't wanting to come out here and spend $50 or $60 on a huge meal," Patterson says.
The Palo Verde Elementary Food Booth is on South Greenbelt between K and L Streets. The World Ag Expo closes its doors at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 14.
