ABOUT MARIQUITA

Mariquita Farm cultivates 40 acres of land between Gilroy and Hollister, 35 miles from the ocean. Our warm climate allows us to grow summery crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants during the hot months and cool season vegetables during the winter. Andy and Julia are currently developing one acre of perennial herb production in greenhouses at their home ranch in Watsonville.

 

Mariquita Farm dropped its organic certification when federal standards were imposed. Certification is a political issue for Andy who sees the federal government as more of an obstacle to small scale sustainable agriculture than a helpful partner. With the dramatic consolidation of the organic food business into just a few hands on both the retail and wholesale levels certification isn't very helpful any longer at helping small farms get sales to large corporate entities. Big businesses that serve a national market find their best partners among other big businesses with continental aspirations. Mariquita Farm is committed to supplying local markets with a diverse range of seasonal produce. Not all the growers working with Mariquita Farm agree with Andy's point of view (ie they certify) but Andy tolerates diversity of opinion as much as he encourages biological diversity in the field. All of Mariquita Farm's products are grown without recourse to any biocides, organic or otherwise, and are fertilized using only O.M.R.I. approved fertilizers.