Know Your Farmers
“No nation is healthier than its children, or more wealthy than its farmer” -Harry Truman
Real food comes from farmers. HelloHarvest proudly sources your produce from local, responsible farmers. We encourage you to get to know them:
Shepherd Farms
“Organic since 1973.” Tom Shepherd has been growing organic produce in the region for over three decades. He is a fifth-generation Santa Barbara resident and works 40 acres beautifully situated between the Santa Barbara foothills and the Pacific. Tom is one of the earliest members of the Santa Barbara Farmers Market Association and is a fixture at Farmer’s Markets across the county. Growing organic since 1973, he is well known for his original salad mix and a variety of other fruits and vegetables. Next time you find yourself in southern Santa Barbara stop by the farm and visit Tom at his produce stand, he’d love to show you around. Open Mon, Wed, Fri. 1-5pm 6701 Casitas Pass Road, Carpinteria, CA 93013.
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Earthtrine Farms
Robert “BD” Dautch of Earthrine Farms began his career as an organic farmer in 1974 and today grows over 100 different crops throughout the year. BD is truly in touch with the land and soil and is a master of tuning his farming with the seasons…using full organic farming practices. Earthtrine Farm is situated on 13 scenic acres out in Ojai and 5 more acres in Carpinteria.. BD is a familiar face at farmer’s markets and will always have something unique on his table.
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Fair Hills Farms
The Rydell family at Fair Hills Farms has been growing Certified Organic produce since May of 1992 when they planted their first apple tree. Located at the Estrella River Basin in Paso Robles, David and Nancy Rydell operate over 100 acres of prime-time soil and a unique climate of hot days and cold nights. They offer 11 varieties of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, pears, pluots and plums. They also grow Cabernet and Sangiovese grapes from which they make organic wines. You can visit the Rydell’s at farmer’s markets from Los Angeles up to San Luis Obispo. For more information on Fair Hills Farms and all the different types of apples they grow, visit www.fairhillsapplefarm.com
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Cuyama Orchards
Cuyama Orchards lies in the outskirts of Santa Barbara County and is surrounded by Los Padres National Forest. When Howard Albano (71 years old and still running the show) and Jean Albano bought the property in 1980, the land was sparse and contained nothing but a tractor…so they planted, and today the Albano family grow a variety of apples: Fujis, Galas, Honeycrisps, sweet Crimson Gold Crabapples, Arkansas Blacks, and Pink Ladies on 160 acres of certifiably organic land.
The Cuyama Valley was once home to over 2,000 orchards but today, the Albanos run the only remaining orchard in the valley. Howard will tell you the area offers some of the most ideal apple growing conditions in North America…”especially for Fuji apples, because we have the right combination of growing season, winter and summer temperatures” producing an apple that is exceptionally sweet and crisp.
A true family operation, Howard, Jean and their son Byron oversee every aspect of the business.
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Timber Canyon Ranches
Mike Shore is a Ventura County native and has been growing produce in the region for over 30 years. In 1978, he realized the lack of limes in the area and began producing citrus on the land where he currently lives in Santa Paula. Mike works 100 acres split between Ojai and Santa Paula and has grown a variety of crops such as avocados, tomatoes, olives, apricots, row crops and a wide variety of citrus, including 10 different kinds of tangerines…he is especially proud of his Ojai Pixies.
When Mike and his wife Mary, (who acts as CFO) are not keeping an eye on their crops, they can be found selling their goods at the Wednesday Farmer’s Market in Ventura.
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Fairview Gardens
Founded in 1895, Fairview Gardens is considered by some to be the very first organic farm in the state of California. Although the farm is only 12.5 acres, it has been feeding a growing number of Santa Barbara families for decades. At any given time, Fairview Gardens will be growing over 100 different fruits and vegetables, including white asparagus, cherimoyas, tomatoes, butternut squash, and strawberries. Their produce stand is open every day from ten to six, and the farm is open for self-guided tours every day from ten until sunset. It’s a quick walk through the farm that you won’t forget.
The team at Fairview is passionate about educating people about the relationships and connections that local food has in the community. Fairview Gardens offers school tours of the farm, cooking and gardening classes, workshops, lectures, and farm festivals. Stop by the farm and the produce stand…in Santa Barbara, exit 101 at Fairview Ave - a few miles towards the mountains on the right. Can’t miss it.
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Givens Farm
What started as just one acre in 1980, today spans across 180 acres in the Goleta Valley. At any given time, Givens’ Farm will be growing between 20 and 60 different crops. All organic! “We at John Givens Farm believe that diversity of crops creates a more sustainable farming ecosystem, while greater biological variety provides a healthier diet for its consumers.” John and his team harvest daily to provide you with the freshest food possible. Firm believers of the benefits of eating locally, John Givens Farms strives to grow and distribute their food close to home, saving fuel and refrigeration costs, thus naturally leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the planet. John varies his crops depending on the season; some winter favorites on the farm are crisp Nantes carrots, Kabocha squash, colorful varieties of peppers, sugar snap peas and heirloom tomatoes. For more information about John Givens Farms please visit: www.johngivensfarm.com
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“Rocky” Marciano Chan
Rocky brings to HelloHarvest a variety of fruits and specialty vegetables that he grows on 10 different parcels across Santa Barbara county. His Backyard Farming Crop-Sharing Program allows him to grow food on otherwise unused land and then sell the surplus. A former chef in Europe, he is passionate about sustainable food systems and providing Californians with top quality, 100% organic produce. This winter he’s growing over 4 types of lettuce, artichokes, kale, broccoli, strawberries, cauliflower, beets, a variety of onions, asparagus, lemons, limes, tangerines and over 7 types of flowers. He’s looking forward to heirloom tomatoes as spring approaches. Rocky truly seems to love every aspect of farming… from harvesting everything by hand to fending off the gophers. Visit Rocky at www.sbhomegrown.com
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Friends Ranches
Friends Ranches has been pumping out citrus in the Ojai Valley for over a century. That’s right, over 100 years! Tangerines are their specialty, but based on the season you may also find blood oranges, grapefruit, Meyer lemons, and a variety of avocados. Friends Ranches is also known for their refreshing, fresh-squeezed orange juice, citrus punch, and lemonade, which you can find them selling at farmers markets across Southern California.
There are thousands of citrus trees on the Friends Ranches properties, ranging in age from 1 to 99 years old. They don’t treat their fruit with wax or preservatives, and they supply by order—so there’s no storage, and fruit is used within a week or less. For more info visit www.friendsranches.com
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Sespe Finest Herbs
Pablo Gonzales has been growing gourmet herbs in Fillmore, CA for more than 10 years. His farm, Sespe Finest Herbs, is a one person, 7 acre operation, although Pablo’s two teenage sons often lend him a helping hand after school. Farming solo is a lot of work, but Pablo enjoys having his own business. Before founding Sespe Finest Herbs he worked on ABC Farms, in Los Angeles, CA, and with the University of California, Davis Cooperative Extension in Santa Paula, CA. These agricultural experiences gave Pablo the opportunity to learn how to grow the herbs that he specializes in producing today.
Sespe Finest Herbs offers a wide selection of gourmet herbs, including rosemary, cilantro, basil, chives, sage, mint, bay leaf, oregano, and Italian and curly leaf parsley. Pablo also grows zucchini, Italian squash, arugula, cucumbers and many colorful varieties of beets and carrots. Fillmore’s warm climate can sustain a wide assortment of crops and Pablo hopes to continue expanding his farm’s produce selection by adding new crops each year.
***If you’re a grower and would like information about getting involved with HelloHarvest, please Contact Us.