California Farms & Farmers
The following organizations have resources and information to help with your local Farm to School program.
Gold Coast Growers Collaborative
Gold Coast refers to the four counties from which the Collaborative's farmers yield: Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern. The Gold Coast Growers are an expanding group of sustainability minded small family farmers in the Gold Coast area, currently numbering around 30. GCGC is sponsored and directed by Community Alliance with Family Farmers, a non profit organization dedicated to the small family farmer and the preservation of local agriculture.
For the 2004-2005 school year the Collaborative will provide produce for over 50 farm to school programs. They serve: all twenty-five schools in the Ventura Unified School District, all twenty elementary schools in the Conejo Valley Unified School District, all five elementary schools in the Ojai Valley Unified School District, the Thacher School in Ojai, and Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula.
Certified Farmers
With over 500 certified farmers' markets in California, buying direct from a local farm is easy! A certified farmers' market guarantees the people selling the food at your market grew the food, no brokers, no resellers. Visit http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/search/ for a complete list of markets in your area.
Tierra Miguel Foundation and Farm
The Tierra Miguel Farm and Foundation was created to enhance farmers’ and consumers’ connection to the food they eat, and the earth on which it grows. They have a thriving Community Support Agriculture (CSA) program, and provide the produce for Farm-to-School and CSA in the Classroom programs in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Tierra Miguel welcomes school groups to tour their farm and offers youth internship opportunities.
Pixie Tangerines
The pixie tangerine is a small, sweet fruit that are a real hit in farmers' market salad bars. Grown in the Ojai Valley, local farms supply fruits to the region's farm to school programs. Growers provide fruit for Ventura Unified's seventeen elementary schools, Ojai Unified's five elementary schools, and for the winter of 2004-05, all twenty five elementary schools in the Conejo Valley Unified, Thacher High School in Ojai, Villanova High School in Ojai, and Isla Vista Elementary in Goleta. The pixie tangerine growers are: Mike Shore in Santa Paula, Jim Churchill, Camille Sears, Friends' Ranch, and Will Etchart, all of Ojai.
Ripple-Riley-Thomas
Ripple Riley Thomas works with California Farmers to bring the freshest possible produce to schools throughout the State. In addition and in response to the Childhood Obesity Epidemic, Ripple Riley Thomas has created a fresh fruit and vegetable pack for nutrition education in the classroom. Each month you may order a variety of fruits and vegetables delivered to you with the appropriate curriculum in each box. We pack Cycles I & II from the California Nutrition Network along with the Educator's Newsletter. Ripple Riley Thomas has now added a Harvest of the Month pack with Pre-K curriculum. For more information and to download an order form, please log onto our website: www.ripplerileythomas.com
Lorne Mcquarrie
A small scale greens and garlic farm located in Quincy Ca. We are interested in starting this program here in Plumas county.
Loma Vista Farm
Loma Vista Farm is located in Vallejo and Solano County. The Farm provides school children with experiential learning opportunities that bolster their academic skills in reading, writing, math, social science, language arts, science and health in a farm-based setting. The farm includes a one-acre organic garden, a greenhouse, a kitchen, 100 livestock and poultry. It collaborates with local schools, 4-H, Solano Master Gardening Program, Solano County Mental Health, and Western Career College.
South Coast Farms
South Coast Farms is the last 100% organic farm operation in Orange County. The 28-acre farm is owned by George Kibby an OC native and grows a wide variety of fruit and vegetable crops. They are famous for their strawberries.
The farm has recently developed a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) basket program specifically for schools. The program includes educational materials, fundraising opportunities and farm tours. The CSA uses foods from other local farmers in the Southern California region, thus supporting 5-7 farms depending on the season. Remember CSA baskets can be used as a wonderful in class teaching tool illustrating chemistry, environmental, economic and agricultural lessons. Sign the school up for a rotating classroom basket today. South Coast Farms is also developing a farm based experiential educational program. School children will be taken on an interactive farm tour where they will learn about agriculture, environment and the community.
If you are interested in hosting a CSA, starting a school drop off site, or farm tours contact Sarah at 949 661 9381. Visit the farm at 32701 Alipaz St, San Juan Capistrano CA 92675 or at our website www.southcoastfarms.com
Tanaka Farms
Tanaka Farms is a 25-acre family farm nestled in the rolling hills of Irvine. It is just off the 405 fwy at Jefferson. They are famous for their farm tours and you pick events enjoyed by families across Orange County.
Tanaka Farms has developed a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) school fundraising program. Schools sell CSA baskets as a fundraiser, making $5.00 for every basket sold. Tanaka has 2 successful school sites in Irvine and Tustin. They are looking to expand the program. Remember CSA baskets can be used as a wonderful in class teaching tool illustrating chemistry, environmental, economic and agricultural lessons. Sign the school up for a rotating classroom basket today.
If you are interested in sourcing local foods and healthy school fundraisers please call Tanaka Farms at: (949) 653 2100 or visit their website at http://www.tanakafarms.homestead.com/index.html
Local Harvest Listing of California Farms
This site allows you to search for farms registered with Local Harvest in your area. Farms are categorized under many headings from wholesale to CSA. Take a look.
Jaime Farms
Bob Knight
Phil McGrath