People
Lorraine Walker, her son Cameron Ottens, with 16 full- and 4 part-time employees
Farmland
105 acres in Dixon (Solano County), 70 miles to San Francisco
About
Nigel Walker grew up in Leicester, England, and studied agriculture in Essex. Nigel developed an interest in organic farming early on and in 1997, purchased his own land. One of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market’s founding farms, Eatwell Farm grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and sells many specialty products made from the lavender and other herbs they grow. The farm also sells pasture-raised eggs.
Besides selling at the farmers market, Eatwell Farm operates a sizable community supported agriculture (CSA) program. Nigel passed away in 2017, but his wife, Lorraine, and the Eatwell family carry on his legacy.
Certification
California Certified Organic Farmer (CCOF) since 2000
People
Stan Devoto, his daughters, Jolie and Cecily, and Jolie’s husband, Hunter, with 6 full-time and 4 seasonal employees
Farmland
45 acres in Sebastopol, about 60 miles to San Francisco
About
The Devotos have been growing heirloom apples and field-grown flowers since 1976. They started their farm with only 2.5 acres and now grow more than 100 varieties of apples, cut flowers, and wine grapes on 45 acres.
The Devotos grow all of their products with care toward sustaining their employees, family, and farm. They maintain soil fertility by discing in cover crops and spent mulches and applying compost and pelleted manure products. In 2010, the Devotos’ apples received organic certification through Global Culture. At their 7-acre Santa Rosa growing site, they irrigate their flower crops with tertiary-treated recycled water and don’t use any synthetic chemicals.
Certification
Certified organic by Global Culture since 2010
People
Joe Schirmer, with 25 full-time employees
Farmland
40 acres in Watsonville, about 90 miles to San Francisco
About
Dirty Girl Produce is a certified organic, family farm located in Santa Cruz County. Over 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables are grown on the farm. Dirty Girl Produce sells to customers and restaurants at five farmers markets in Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and San Francisco.
Farm owner Joe Schirmer grew up in Santa Cruz. He began working at Dirty Girl Produce in 1997 and purchased the farm in 1999. Inspired by the French intensive gardening method, Joe has adapted tractor farming to incorporate its principles. He maintains soil fertility by adding compost and organic fertilizers and plants seasonal cover crops to add nitrogen, reduce erosion, and improve soil structure.
Certification
California Certified Organic Farmer since 1995
People
Randy Dardenelle and his sons, Blake and Shawn, along with 6 full-time and 2 part-time employees
Farmland
12 acres in Moss Beach, about 25 miles to San Francisco
About
Cypress Flower Farm grows between 80 and 90 varieties of flowers every year. Seeds are planted directly in the fields, and flowers are harvested the day before they go to the farmers market. Randy sells his flowers directly to consumers through farmers markets and sells any overflow through wholesalers. Farming since 1988, Randy maintains soil fertility by mulching, planting cover crops, and adding compost, aged manure, raw organic matter, and synthetic fertilizers. He does not use synthetic pesticides or herbicides. In the last 10 years, Randy has doubled the size of his frog pond to encourage native plants.
People
Husband and wife Sergii and Tanya Gavelovskiy and their sons, Daniel and Mark
Farmland
25 greenhouses sit on 1 acre in Winters, about 70 miles to San Francisco
About
Sergii built his first greenhouse in 1999 in the republic of the Ukraine, where he grew vegetables for his family and community. Three months after starting out, he harvested his first cucumbers. Over the next 20 years, Sergii grew his farming operation into a sustainable business with the help of his wife, Tanya. They started growing a variety of vegetables in their greenhouses, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, and more. In 2015, Sergii and his family emigrated to Sacramento and continued to develop and improve their greenhouse system. Then in 2016, Sergii leased the Bruins Farm greenhouses and grew vegetables for local farmers markets. When the Bruins retired, the Gavelovsky family took over the leased greenhouses and now lives on the farm in Winters.
People
Corie Brooks and part-time market help
Farmland
5 acres in Forestville, about 60 miles to San Francisco
About
Corie, who has a background as a food scientist, launched the sprout business in 1996. She named her business “Brooks and Daughters” in honor of her two young girls. She is proud of the business and sells 80% of the sprouts directly to consumers. Brooks and Daughters uses only clean water and organic compost on their sprouts. All sprouts and microgreens are started on specially designed racks under a large shaded structure. As the seeds begin to sprout, they are planted in soil or open-bottom nursery flats and moved into greenhouses. The sprouts and microgreens then grow for one to four weeks in the greenhouses before they are ready for market.
People
Siblings Bryce and Renata Loewen, with continued support from their parents, Ted and Fran, along with about 8 full-time and up to 12 seasonal employees
Farmland
78 acres in Parlier, about 200 miles to San Francisco
About
In 1931, Fran’s grandparents bought the land that has become Blossom Bluff Orchards. Fran’s father, Herb, farmed with his parents, then married and raised his family on the farm. Ted took over farm operations in 1990, and within the last few years Bryce has assumed most of the day-to-day farming responsibilities, while Renata juggles bookkeeping, payroll, and quality control responsibilities for their high-end restaurant clientele. The Loewens produce over 100 varieties of certified organic tree fruit as well as additional varieties of vine fuit, like kiwis. They market their fruit directly through farmers markets and to restaurants and stores.
Certification
California Certified Organic Farmer since 2006
People
Vince Bernard, along with his team
Farmland
23 acres in Riverside County, about 450 miles to San Francisco
About
Vince Bernard’s goal is to grow the sweetest, most flavorful citrus, and he is inspired by seeing customer’s reactions to trying each fruit. Fruit is always picked within two days of bringing it to market. Vince oversees all aspects of the growing process, including planting, watering, harvesting, and selling. He closely monitors the water needs of the trees, uses beneficial insects to control pests, applies seaweed and mushroom compost to fertilize and balance nutrients, and “constantly harasses” large pests like gophers and squirrels. Vince also believes in placing flavor ahead of appearance and hand-selects rootstock that will produce the sweetest fruit.
People
Amber Balakian, her mother Ginger, her father, Clarence, and her grandmother, Stella, along with 2 full-time and up to 6 seasonal employees
Farmland
20 acres located in Reedley, about 200 miles to San Francisco
About
Amber Balakian’s great-grandfather, an immigrant from Armenia, first planted a vineyard in Reedley more than 80 years ago. Her grandfather, John, was born and raised on the property. In 1999, they began planting heirloom tomatoes and other crops, in an effort to expand their produce selection. They now offer a line of organic blended heirloom tomatoes. The Balakians switched to organic practices in response to health concerns and market demand, and they were certified in 2002. They mulch, plant cover crops, and add aged manure, compost, and raw organic matter for fertility. They use organic pesticides, beneficial insects, and crop rotation to manage pests.
Certification
Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency (GOCA) since 2002
