March 2013 Newsletter

Know Your Farmer: Gaytan Family Farms

On the Farm with the Gaytan Family

Gaytan Family and Diaz Family

Did you know your favorite farmers' market (we mean us, of course!) is operated by a small community-minded non-profit? We at Sprouts of Promise Foundation are not only dedicated to bringing you the best locally grown farm products, but we're also committed to helping you make that personal connection with where your food comes from and who grows it. Farmers' Market Manager, Elle Mari, and Sprouts of Promise Executive Director, Mark Anderson, recently made the trek out to Riverside County to visit Gaytan Family Farms. We're excited to share our farm visit story with you and most importantly, share the story of Gaytan Family Farms. 

A Brief History

Gaytan Family Farm

For those of you who have shopped with us since our beginning in 2010, you're probably already familiar with Gaytan Family Farms. You might have chatted with Jeronimo Diaz at the Gaytan stand and he probably already helped you to a few samples of strawberries or pointed out the newest seasonal crop on the table. For those of you new to our market, Gaytan Family Farm was started in 2001 by Albertano and Edelmira Gaytan. Albertano worked as a farmworker for 14 years prior to establishing his own family farm. Edelmira says they were inspired to run a farm because both she and her husband grew up farming to feed their families and neighborhood. She also says, "Farming is something the whole family can be a part of. It helps everyone." Ain't that the truth! Take a look at our July Newsletter for more on how Gaytan got their start. This month we'd like to give you a more in-depth look at the farm and share what's new over at Gaytan. 

The Farm Tour

Starting Out in Chino

Artichokes in the Fields

Heidi Gaytan Strikes a Pose Amidst Broccoli

Last month on a sunny and cheerful Monday afternoon we met up with the entire Gaytan Family at their farm fields in Chino. We were greeted with much enthusiasm from Edelmira, Albertano, and their four children (and little fluffy dog!) to show us around and point out the new crops in the ground. Jeronimo Diaz, who works the Gaytan stand every Sunday at the market, even came by with his wife and two sons to help guide us on an extraordinary farm journey. In Chino we took a look at the beautiful artichokes popping up and row after row of fresh green onions, broccoli, and a variety of red and green leaf lettuces. 

We even got to pick and taste the delicious crop of new strawberries ripening. It was quite an experience to see the strawberries in the fields after just seeing them a day earlier on Gaytan's tables at the market. The freshness in taste made us very aware how lucky we are to get truly local and fresh produce from our Newport Beach Farmers' Market farmers and how very tangible the idea of "eating local" really is. 

On to Mira Loma

Maricela Gaytan Shows Us Flowering Broccoli

After the visit in Chino, the whole family took us over to another growing location in nearby Mira Loma, which sits with beautiful vistas of the snow covered San Bernardino Mountains. There we checked in on the carrots, beets, herbs, and even more broccoli and green onions.

While Gaytan family matriarch Edelmira picked fresh carrots and cilantro, we chatted with eldest daughter and farmers' market coordinator extraordinaire, Maricela Gaytan. Maricela is currently in her third year studying biological sciences at UC Riverside and stays plenty busy coordinating the family farm's presence at nearly twenty farmers' markets in Southern California. She says it's tough juggling so much but loves being able to help her family bring the best and freshest produce to other families wanting to eat healthfully and locally. 

Green Onions in the Fields

Gaytan patriarch and head farmer, Albertano, says they choose to grow staple vegetables people keep coming back for each week at the market. While they do try new crops and varieties every now and again, the bulk of their farming is dedicated to exclusively growing for farmers' market shoppers who want the best in local fresh seasonal staples like: broccoli, carrots, lettuces, and beets (Yes, beets! They're definitely a seasonal staple!). 

Chickens and Goats, Oh My!

Oliver Diaz Showing a Friendly Chicken a Little Love

On the third and final stop of our amazing afternoon farm tour with the Gaytan Family, we headed just a few blocks away to yet another growing location in Mira Loma at the Gaytan Family homestead. There we saw early spring asparagus poking their way thru dirt to meet the sunshine and a newly built greenhouse dedicated to the upcoming summer tomato season. And of course, we could never forget the over 100 chickens we met in the family's coop, as well as the brand new small herd of goats. 

Albertano Gaytan Inspecting Freshly Laid Eggs

Inside the chicken coop, everyone pitched in to help gather eggs and make sure they're ready to sell at the market. You can get fresh free-range hormone free brown eggs from Gaytan Farms every Sunday at the market for just $6 for 18 eggs. That's a mighty deal. How much are you paying at the grocery store for eggs that likely haven't seen an orange yolk in a week?! (Just sayin'...)

Goats Munching on Grass

And then finally towards the end of the tour, the cutest thing happened...we saw the kids! The goat kids, that is! We had a great time with the Gaytan Family and are thrilled to be able to give you the insider's scoop on the local families who grow your food. 

Want to Know More?

Visit Gaytan Family Farms at the farmers' market every Sunday. Did you know you can visit them in Chino at their farm stand too? Contact gaytanfarms@yahoo.com for hours of operation and to find out which newly harvested crops will be available week to week. 

New Vendor Alert!

Nuvo Olive Oil

Did you know we have a new certified olive oil farmer at the market? Nuvo Olive Oil is a brand new family run business operated by brothers, Nathan and Joshua Mardigian. Their olive orchard is located up north in Oroville. Their California certified extra-virgen olive oil is so freshly crushed you can taste the wonderful minerals and antioxidants that make olive oil such a rich heart healthy food. Come and welcome this team of brothers and sample their olive oil this Sunday. 

Conscious Foods

Local San Diego-based company, Conscious Foods, made their debut last week with their Amygdala line of yummy gluten-free almond spreads. They also have an assortment of handcrafted packaged chai teas available for home brewing. Swing by and give them a try. 

Lily's Lean Machines

Lily Mac-Wentz is local to Huntington Beach and makes the most amazing raw healthy protein snacks you'll ever try. Lily makes a variety of flavors of Power Bites and will start selling them at the market on April 7th. Get ready for a new addiction! 

Upcoming Market Hours Change

Open 'til 2pm Starting 3/17

For a long time now many of you have told us you're rushing to get the market every Sunday before 1pm because, like many folks, you like to go to the later morning church services nearby. Well, we heard you and we're going to stay open an extra hour! Starting 3/17, we will be open from 9am-2pm. If we find we have enough shoppers in that last hour, we'll continue the new hours. So please tell your fellow church patrons and neighbors that we're open 'til 2pm! :) 

Closing for Easter and Boat Show

We will be closed on 3/31 for Easter to give our farmers and vendors the day off to be with their families. Additionally, we'll be closed on 4/21 for the semiannual boat show at Lido.

Want Free Farm Fresh Goodies?

Come and give us a hand! Are you a savvy community-minded individual interested in helping sustain the local food system? Maybe you're in high school or college and interested in pursuing academics or a career in sustainable agriculture? We want to know you! We want to get a CSA program rolled out soon as well as build up our activities for kids onsite at the market. Interested? Please email us at newportbeachfm@gmail.com or come see us at the market in the Information Booth. 

See you this Sunday!

-NBCFM