(Tractor wheel rolling through a farm, and a farmer holding a head of cauliflower.)
HOW THE FARM
GETS TO YOUR TABLE
When you know where your produce comes from, and who grows it, you know that it’s fresh. We know our farmers and we’d like you to get to know them, too.
MOUNTAIN MEADOW MUSHROOMS FARM
Escondido, CA
Gary Crouch runs Mountain Meadow Mushroom Farms in Escondido, CA. He hand picks local customers who share his values. The mushrooms are delivered within hours of harvest for maximum freshness. To Gary, relationships matter. One taste of his Mushroom soup and you’ll be glad we’re friends with Gary.
The fresher that we can get it them, the more flavor it has to it. The flavor profile changes distinctly from the time you pick it to the time it’s eaten.
CAMPBELL RANCHES
Lompoc, CA
Bob Campbell farms 160 cauliflower acres just for us. The harvest is timed to the exact day for maximum freshness. As soon as the cauliflower reaches our kitchens, it’s hand-cut and taken to the restaurant. It’s heads above any other cauliflower.
(A farmer standing in a field, holding a head of cauliflower.)
MURANAKA FARM
Moorpark, CA
You have to be highly skilled to grow a Radish. They grow fast over a short period of time, so if a problem occurs, you have to deal with it immediately or lose the crop. Muranaka Farm is an expert in growing radishes. One crisp, earthy, spicy bite and you’ll know: Muranaka is the radish master.
(Radishes being rinsed off with water.)
CAMPBELL RANCHES
Lompoc, CA
Broccoli Bob Campbell farms 160 acres just for us. The harvest is timed to the exact day for maximum freshness. As soon as the broccoli reaches our kitchens, it’s hand-cut and taken to the restaurant. Taste Joan’s Broccoli Madness. It’s crazy fresh.
(Farmer harvesting broccoli.)
LIMONEIRA
Santa Paula, CA
Limoneira, or “The Place of Lemons,” has been a leader in citrus farming for over a century. Guests enjoy 1.5 million lemons a year in our restaurants. They’re delivered 2-3 times a week. Chopped in our kitchen and squeezed fresh onto our salads and pastas in the restaurant. We don’t like lemons, we LOVE them.
(Knife slicing a lemon.)
MURANAKA FARM
Moorpark, CA
Muranaka beets are tasty, vitamin rich, colorful and delicious. Our restaurants pickle our beets with our artisan blend of pickling spices and vinegar. You can taste the difference.
(Farmer slicing a beet in half.)
CA SWEET POTATO COMPANY
Livingston, CA
“Sweet Potato Joe” started the company right after World War II. Over 70 years later, sweet potatoes have been the mainstay for the Alvernaz family. Their farm is now one of California’s prominent family owned and operated sweet potato operations, shipping more than 300,000 cartons of healthy, vitamin rich, and delicious Sweet Potatoes per year.
Visit CA Sweet Potato Companyleaving siteGREENGATE FRESH FARMS
Salinas, CA & Yuma, AZ
This unique and ever-changing, seasonally-fresh blend of green romaine, red tango, baby spinach, red chard, red romaine, arugula, and Lolla Rose is field crisp and bursting with flavor and goodness.
(Lettuce falling into salad bowl.)
Our farmers
Our produce doesn’t come from a freezer or a big corporation. It’s harvested fresh from the earth from family farmers like Broccoli Bob Campbell and Charles Muranaka. Trusted growers who are our friends, our partners, our heroes. The more you discover them, the more you’ll discover fresh.
Gary Crouch
Years Farming: 34 years
Grows: White Mushrooms, Cremini, Portobello, Oyster, Shitake
Garden Fresh Acreage: 7 acres a year
Favorite Vegetable: Tomato
Favorite Fruit: Banana
“Broccoli” Bob Campbell
Years Farming: 45 years (Since 1970)
Grows: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbages, Iceberg, Romaine, Celery, Cilantro
Garden Fresh Acreage: 520 acres a year
Favorite Vegetable: Broccoli
Favorite Fruit: Banana
Pastime: Family time
Jennifer Westerhoff
Farm Founded: Over 50 years ago
Grows: Citrus, Grapes, Stone fruit
Favorite Vegetable: Asparagus
Favorite Fruit: CaraCara Oranges
Pastime: Singing and Music
Tommy McClosky
Years Farming: 15 years
Grows: Broccoli, Lettuce, Romaine, Green Leaf, Cilantro, Corn, Asparagus, Cantaloupe, Green Onions, Watermelon
Garden Fresh Acreage: 3 acres a week
Favorite Vegetable: Asparagus
Favorite Fruit: Watermelon
Pastime: Family time. Hanging out with the kids.
Charles Muranaka
Family Farm Founded: 1964
Farm Teammate: Since 1994
Grows: Leeks, Kale, Parsley, Beets, Spinach
Favorite Vegetable: Tuscan Lacinato Kale
Pastime: Basketball
David Root
Year Farming: 5
Grows: Iceberg, Romaine, Spinach, Spring Mix, Red and Green Cabbage & Arugula
Favorite Vegetable: Tomatoes
Favorite Fruit: Watermelon
Pastime: Hunting and Fishing
