Agave Growers Planting Roots Around Santa Barbara With Spirited Hopes Ahead

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - With a stronghold on Mexico and the Southwest, U.S. agave growers are coming to the Santa Barbara County coast.

They have a symposium that could increase the use of land here for agave plants by the thousands.

Already, there's agricultural land changes taking place on properties in Santa Barbara and Montecito.

Carpinteria is expected to be part of this trend too as it looks at alternatives from the traditional crops there including avocados or the most recent phase with cannabis.

Agave growers are meeting at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

All day seminars will include information about the plants growth in popularity, distilling, marketing and land uses.

Some of the growers toured local properties Sunday prior to the sessions and enjoyed tequila tastings.

(More details, video and photos will be added here later today.)