For almost 35 years, the Beylik Family has been dedicated to producing the very best produce possible from their farm near Fillmore in Ventura County. Sometimes the phrase “family business” is said because it sounds nice. Here it is more than mere words. Four generations of Beylik’s work and care for their crops every day. Their produce is available exclusively through Certified Farmer’s Markets from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.

A really cool thing about this farm is that they keep their plants pollinated and in season year around, to do so these guys have released bees into their indoor facility as well as fans to keep the temperature where it needs to be. You can visit them at www.beylikfarms.com to learn more about their farm.

Specialty Produce distributes produce throughout San Diego County and beyond.  They offer all types of fresh produce and sell directly to many restaurants and catering companies.  Whenever we cannot find produce straight from the farm we go to Specialty.  We especially like their Farmers Market Program, which brings fresh fruits and veggies down from the Wednesday Farmers Market in Santa Monica to San Diego.  We often get stuff from Wiser Farms, Beylik Farms among others through this program.  We can also source certified organic produce for certain items with Specialty Produce.  You can actually go to their warehouse and buy consumer direct.  Learn more about this and more at their website, www.specialtyproduce.com.

Fifth generation farmer Chris Cadwell took over his family’s remaining undeveloped fourteen acres of hillside property overlooking the Pacific Ocean’s Channel Islands in Carpinteria, California. No Cadwell had ever had the desire to work the steep piece of property until Chris, and his family began cultivating it for organic garlic.

The name Tutti Frutti is Italian for “All Fruits.” The Cadwell family has been growing organic produce for Southern California since 1988. Their produce is sold at many local grocery stores and served in amazing restaurants. To find out more about Tutti Frutti farms go to www.tuttifruttifarms.com

Eco Caters loves Sage Mountain Farm, not just for their savory Sage Candy Onions, but for their dedication to educate people on sustainable and organic foods. They are one of the leaders of sustainable farming in Southern California. Owners Phil and Juany Noble have grown their farm significantly over the last 5 years. They are Certified Organic growers, and are located at 40630 Sage Road, in Aguanga, California (about 20 miles East of Temecula – if you want to check out the farm for yourself. Just be ready to pick up a shovel and help out while you are there. One thing you will find out if you visit is just how much they care for the produce and animals they are raising. Their vegetables are grown using sparkling clean natural well water. At their high desert property, they use pure organic guidelines to raise steers, chickens, pigs and goats. You can get produce from Sage Mountain Farms in many different ways other than visiting the farm. You can find their produce at Whole Foods grocery stores around San Diego as well as many farmers markets including Ocean Beach and Hillcrest. You can also join their CSA program to get a fresh box of organic produce delivered weekly. Find out more at www.sagemountainfarm.com.

Jaime Farms has been a family owned and operated business since 1997. Jose Luis Jaime was an immigrant worker who came to the United States looking for the American dream, he was ready to work hard in the fields. As he worked for Taguchi Farms, he learned his trade well and became the right hand of Mr. Joe Taguchi. After fifteen years of loyal and hard work he was given the opportunity to make his dream come true. Mr. Jose Luis Jaime became the owner of Taguchi Farms (renaming or giving birth to Jaime Farms). Now Jaime Farms has four farms to cultivate from the City of Industry land, Chino , Yucca Valley and our newly acquired farmland in Santa Maria. You can read more about Jamie Farms and find out the restaurants that serve their produce at www.jaimefarms.com.

Suzie’s Farm is known for their amazing micro greens distributed under the name Sun Grown but we have found that they grow an assortment of amazing heirloom produce. We often use their beautiful multi-color carrots, strawberries, beets (purple, chioggia and golden), fennel and cherry tomatoes for salads and other dishes. Nestled in the Tijuana River Valley, Suzie’s Farm is producing some of the best veggies we have seen in San Diego.

Robin Taylor and Lucila De Alejandro, owners of Suzies Farm see farm life as an example of a way to live. They named their farm after a dog that was abandoned in the Tijuana River Valley. They took the dog in and named her Suzie. She taught them to live at peace with the world, to get back up when you get knocked down, and to know how to be present and available when opportunities present themselves to you. So eventually when they expanded their operation beyond Sun Grown, the name Suzie’s Farm came naturally. When the breeze blows up from the river and rustles through the acacia trees, you know that the spirit of Suzie is near and guiding Robin and Taylor. Hopefully you will feel it too.

Besides loving animals these two also really like to cook. You must check out their website to find a plethora of recipes that all sound amazing. You can also find all the local farmers markets they frequent which include Ocean Beach, Hillcrest and Little Italy to name a few. Check them out at www.suziesfarm.com.

For about 6 years Sid and Raquel Weiser ran Weiser Family Farms as an orchard. They grew apples, peaches and pears. It was their son Alex who got them into the world of root veggies.

While assisting at the local Farmers’ Market, Alex encountered chefs, the public and specialty produce buyers who wanted seasonal, high quality and superior tasting produce. Listening to this input, Alex began to focus on creating a bio-diverse farm dedicated to applying sustainable farming techniques. His overriding desire was to supply people with unique fruits and vegetables at their peak, rather than picked for commercial usage. Today, Weiser Family Farms grows in the Greater Bakersfield area, Tehachapi and the Lucerne Valley, cultivating a tapestry of high quality produce year round.

Weiser Family Farms is, and has always been, a family farming entity in the true sense of the word. You can count on them to put as much care and effort into serving you as they do in selecting and growing their unique, locally grown produce.

Smit Orchards is located in Linden, California, on your way through the foothills going towards Lake Tahoe. Smit Orchards was established in 1969 by the Smit Family. John Smit immigrated from the Netherlands to Northern California in hopes of starting a dairy.

After primarily raising cows John Smit came across a new apple that would grow well in this region: the Fuji Apple. They proceeded to transform the property from pasture lands to rows and rows of fruit trees. There was some question as to how these apples would taste but now we know that they are absolutely delicious. Good work John!  The Smit Family continued to add a wide range of apples, white and yellow flesh peaches and nectarines, pluots, apricots, apriums, table grapes and cherries to their orchards.

They have had much success selling at the Farmers Markets throughout Southern California – thus you can typically find them at most farmers markets. They have also expanded to offer the option of online ordering. In addition to ordering produce you can find out more about their farm and even see what is ripe and available at the market on their website. With all their growth and expansion they are still committed to the same growing practices that have made them a champion of high quality tree fruit for many years. The Smit family still manages and oversees the farm, from planting the seed to putting the final bow on every fresh fruit gift that is sent!

Maggie’s farm, in Agora Hills CA, is owned and operated by Nate Peitso who learned the business from his parents. Their family farm is dedicated to producing the highest quality organic greens available at the market. It is no shock that you can find their greens at restaurants such as Bouchon in Los Angeles and of course here at Eco Caters. Maggie’s is best known for their “stellar mix.” If you haven’t had this mix you should go to the Santa Monica or Venice Markets and try some immediately. You can also find them at farmers markets in San Diego including the Little Italy market on Saturdays and the new Rancho Santa Fe market on Sundays. Most of the mixed greens and herbs we sell in Los Angeles and San Diego come from Maggie’s. Their mixes have the perfect blend of flavors, and a true cult following. In addition to greens and herbs they have the most amazing farm fresh eggs winter greens and other spectacular produce from time to time.