SANTA PAULA, CA - Just in time for summer, Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula is offering discounted individual and group rates for tours of the 118-year-old avocado and lemon ranch.

Ranch & Sustainability Tour: Visitors view avocado and lemon orchards and learn about the intricacies of producing avocados and lemons as well as colorful stretches of row crops – strawberries, celery, cilantro, cabbage and beets. The tour shows guests what modern farmers are doing to become more sustainable including: a 5.5 acre "solar orchard" (with 6,400 photovoltaic solar panels). Weeds are kept in check naturally around the panels by English miniature sheep. Guests also stop by Limoneira's 10-acre green recycling yard (operated by organic materials recycler Agromin). Here, grass clippings, branches and leaves are naturally composted. Microorganisms turn the materials into mulch that is then distributed in the orchards, reducing water use by one-third and keeping weeds down.

A final stop is the Visitors Center, which provides a photographic history of farm life at the turn of the century. Limoneira Ranch Fruit Crate Art symbolizes the history and heritage of California citrus. Max Schmidt, a native of Germany and founder of Schmidt Lithographers of Los Angeles, developed crate labels for Limoneira that were patented in 1927. These "Santa" and "Paula" labels are on display as well as other labels from Limoneira Ranch history. Tour length: approximately 1 hour.

Packinghouse Tour: The Limoneira Packinghouse dates back to 1919 when its design won an award from the Southern California chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Every year, Limoneira packs more than 3 million field cartons of lemons that fill 3,000 trucks, which take them on the first leg of a journey that ultimately ends on tables in homes and restaurants worldwide. Visitors walk above long conveyors, whirring sorters, stampers, carton fillers, and cleansing baths as the lemons are readied for market. Tour length: approximately 1 hour.

Each guest receives a gift of lemons and avocados. Beverages are provided.

Tours can be combined. Tours are $20 each per adult ($38 combined), $10 each per senior (age 60 and above, $20 combined) and $5 per child, ages six through 16 ($10 combined). Children five and under are free. A picnic area is available for lunch. Lunch or dinner can be catered for parties of eight or more.

For more information including group discounts, go to http://www.limoneira.com, e-mail tours@limoneira.com or call 805-525-5541.