People
Angelo and Santa Bariani and their sons Sebastian, Enrico, and Emanuele; their fourth son Luigi helps for two months out of the year during peak pressing season
Farmland
187 acres on the outskirts of Sacramento, about 82 miles to San Francisco
About
In 1989, the Bariani family moved to Sacramento from northern Italy. To produce olive oil for personal use, Angelo built his own olive press and crusher. Soon thereafter, the family started their own olive oil company. The Bariani family is committed to producing raw, authentic extra virgin olive oil. All of the olives, Mission and Manzanillo varieties, are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals. To maintain fertility, the Barianis mulch and incorporate olive paste and trimmings into the soil. All oil is pressed and bottled at the farm.
People
Marty Jacobson and Janet Brown, with 3 full-time employees
Farmland
2 acres (on which herbs for hydrosols and oils are grown) in Lagunitas, 10 acres (on which all the vegetables are grown) in Nicasio, and 20 acres in Point Reyes, about 35 miles to San Francisco
About
Allstar Organics has been continuously certified organic since 1994. Marty and Janet began growing heirloom tomatoes organically on 1.5 acres at their home in Lagunitas. They have since diversified and expanded. They grow multiple varieties of 10 primary crops at the Lafranchi family ranch in Nicasio. The land is permanently protected by a Marin Agricultural Land Trust conservation easement. Allstar Organics also produces a line of 24 certified organic herbal salts, herbal sugars, and dried whole herbs. With distinct seasons and a highly mineralized, clay-based soil, Allstar uses a diverse cover-cropping system and aged nutritional mulches to maintain soil fertility.
Certification
Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA)
People
Sandi McGinnis-Garcia, Sara Evett, and Adam Garcia, with 7 full-time employees
Farmland
17.5 acres in Watsonville, about 99 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
About
Howard McGinnis started the farm in 1968. When he decided to retire, he began mentoring his daughter, Sandi, and his granddaughter, Sara, to pass on the many hard-learned lessons of the trade. Sandi and Sara have continued farming, keeping all the long-time employees. All products are directly marketed through farmers markets. Sandi and Sara have diversified the farm’s crops and transitioned to organic. They have been certified by CCOF since 2019. The farm’s soil fertility is maintained by cover crops, compost, and crop rotation. They have a diligent weed management regime and add hedgerows and beneficial insect attracting plants for pest management.
Certification
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) since summer 2019
People
Greg Massa and Raquel Krach, along with their 5 children, 2 full-time workers, and several part-time or seasonal workers
Farmland
The Massa family owns 700 acres in Hamilton City, 220 of which they farm organically, located 150 miles from San Francisco
About
In 1997, Greg and Raquel moved back to the Massa family farm and shortly thereafter began transition-ing a portion of the land to organic. They also took on the challenges (and embraced the joys) of selling their rice directly to the public—a rare choice for rice farmers, since the rice industry does not cater to farmers trying to hull and sell their crop in small batches. Their rice packaging is compostable and not derived from petroleum. They added almonds in 2006, and in 2021 purchased an existing 12 acre orchard of organic Satsuma mandarins. Some of their orange trees are over 65 years old.The Krach-Massas also raise sheep, which help control weeds in their orchards and promote soil health on the entire farm.
Certification
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) since 2002
People
Father-in-law Spencer Marshall and and daughter-in-law Alison Trotta-Marshall, along with 1 full- and 4 part-time employees
Farmland
The hives are placed in backyards, farms, and wild areas throughout the Bay Area. Each spot is chosen for specific microclimates, which produce unique honey varietals. Their processing facility is in Napa.
About
Born on a farm, Spencer was always intrigued by his grandmother’s beehives. In 1990, he met his wife, Helene, an SF native. Two years later they started Marshall’s Farm Honey, Spencer as the beekeeper and Helene as the business woman. She built the business by going door to door, making a name for the company in the Bay Area restaurant community. Helene passed away in 2016. Alison (Ali) began to run the company, and has since become the majority owner, making bee health a top priority.
People
Jesse and Moira Kuhn
Farmland
35 acres in Petaluma, about 35 miles to San Francisco
About
Jesse became interested in farming in college, where he took classes in agriculture and eventually managed a student farm. After volunteering and working on several farms, he decided to start his own on leased land in 2003. He met Moira, who was working at County Line Harvest, and she joined him at Marin Roots in 2014. “Farming is at the root of the sustainability movement,” says Jesse. “Our farm provides its workers with a liveable wage. We are also working to educate the public about the importance of good food. It’s not something to be taken for granted.” To enrich the farm’s soil, they use green manure and mulch and incorporate aged manure, compost, and crop residue. To control pests, they rotate crops, create habitat for beneficial insects, use physical barriers, and grow pest-resistant varieties.
Certification
Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA)
People
John Lagier and Casey Havre
Farmland
80 acres in Escalon, about 79 miles to San Francisco
About
A fourth-generation farmer, John started farming in 1979 with 80 acres of almonds and 18 acres of cherries. In the early 1990s, he transitioned to organic practices. The farm’s mission statement reads, “Lagier Ranches recognizes its responsibility as a steward of the Earth. This value is reflected in environmentally conscious use of water, energy, and other resources with our organic farming practices. This is a socially responsible organization based on a sound ethic of fairness to customers, employees, regulatory agencies, and our community.”
Certification
California Certified Organic Farmer (CCOF) since 1997. Lagier is currently applying for a Bee Better certification.
People
Ramon and Sonia Rojas, along with 12 full-time and 40 part-time or seasonal employees
Farmland
260 acres in Reedley, about 210 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
About
In the 1980s, Ramon’s family immigrated to the US to escape the political situation in his native country, El Salvador. Ramon and Sonia found jobs working for Frank Paredez, a third-generation farmer who showed them farming techniques and how to sell at farmers markets. After many years working with Frank, Ramon and Sonia started Rojas Family Farms. Tulare County farm advisors help them decide what crops and techniques work best for the local conditions. For soil fertility, they use a combination of cover crops, compost, manure, natural amendments, and synthetic fertilizers. They use a variety of methods to combat pests and uses synthetic pesticides minimally. All fruit is picked as ripe as possible.
People
Owners Daniel and Nick Sciabica (third generation), Jonathan Sciabica (fourth generation), Andrew and Nick Jr Sciabica (fifth generation), with 24 full-time employees
Farmland
14.5 acres in Modesto, about 90 miles to San Francisco
About
The Sciabica family (pronounced “sha-bee-ka”) began pressing olive oil in California in 1936 using techniques that founder Joseph Sciabica’s father, Nicola (“Nick”), learned in Sicily as a young man. The Sciabicas have been farming the same land since 1925. The Sciabicas maintain soil fertility by using natural amendments and synthetic fertilizers. They never use synthetic pesticides. Sciabica olive oils are 100% extra virgin, unrefined, and cold-pressed on their farm. Oils are pressed separately by variety of olive and harvest date.
Certification
Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) since 1991. As of 2003, certification is provided by NutriClean.
People
John and Armen Carlon, with 2 or 3 seasonal interns and 60 seasonal employees
Farmland
61 acres in Forest Ranch, 8.5 in cultivation and 52.5 of native woodland and wildlife habitat, about 190 miles to San Francisco
Farm History
John and Armen purchased their farm in 1986, after John studied agriculture in college and farmed overseas in Saudi Arabia. They decided to plant blueberries because they saw them as a sustainable crop that would provide an opportunity to develop a financially viable family farm.The Carlons’ goal is to replicate nature and produce high quality blueberries with no off-farm inputs. They are working to create a fair and positive working environment, improve the natural aspects of their land, and integrate their farm into the larger natural landscape including the watershed, native habitat, and wildlife. Sierra Cascade Blueberry Farm is one of the oldest blueberry farms in California, and one of the first to become certified organic.
Certification
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
