The Foodie Guide

Chileno Valley Ranch

Brandon — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:36:23 +0000

“Chileno Valley Ranch has been in Sally’s family since 1862, when her great-great grandparents, Carlo and Katerina Martinoiya, bought the ranch from Henery Halleck, President Abraham Lincoln’s Chief of Staff. Since then, the ranch has passed through 5 generations, all the while producing butter, cheese, milk and beef. In 1993, Sally and Mike began restoring the ranch, as it had fallen into disrepair. Not only have the house, barns, fences and fields been restored, but the creeks have been replanted to allow neotropical migratory songbirds and steelhead trout, and salmon to once again live at Chileno Valley Ranch.”

Canvas Ranch

Brandon — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:31:47 +0000

“We’re a small family farm in the idyllic Two Rock Valley north of San Francisco, something like you might find in the countryside of France or Italy. Together with our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members, our farmworkers and friends, we’re a community, a village of sorts. We work together to feed each other, support each other, fulfill each other’s needs”

“Creating something from the earth demands that you get to know the land in a most intimate way. From the soil come nutrients that feed the crops, the livestock, and the soul. For this reason Canvas Ranch is sustainably farmed to ensure it supports this nurturing cycle season after season. What we take from the earth comes back to us in juicy, hearty, flavorful fruits and vegetables. ”

“We share our 28-acre home with Olde English Babydoll Southdown sheep, cashmere goats, Araucana chickens, Maremma livestock guardian dogs, some cats, and a few barn owls. It is teeming with life, full of energy and renewal. Come visit!”

Blackberry Farm

Brandon — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:24:06 +0000

“In 1972, Aggie and Walter Murch bought four acres known as the “old Peters Dairy” on Gospel Flat in Bolinas. There the Murchs raised children, horses and vegetables until the children grew up and the horses died. Now Aggie concentrates on her orchard of English and American heritage apples, twenty-four different varieties in all, one of which has survived from Mrs. Peter’s original garden. Roaming the orchard is a flock of flamboyantly feathered chickens. Each fall Aggie, with John Perry of Stinson Beach, who built the cherry wood apple press at Blackberry Farm, hosts a community apple pressing. Farmers and families from all over West Marin bring their apples and spend the day making cider together.In addition to the eating and cooking apples, Blackberry Farm produces magnificent Bonne de Jersey pears, Meyer lemons, Greengage plums, Rhubarb, Jerusalem artichokes, Lavender, honey and eggs. Most of the produce is sold within a twenty-five mile radius if not directly from the farm.”

Will’s Avocados

Brandon — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:40:57 +0000

“Our Watsonville facility is very small, so we have to operate with a quick turnaround time thus insuring maximum freshness. For example, we can easily guarantee that our ripe avocados will stay 100% perfect (if refrigerated) for at least one week. Seriously!

Our hard avocados, delivered wholesale or by mail-order, are guaranteed no more than one day off the tree (at the time of mailing), with zero refrigeration time. This, and our gentle handling, ensures the very highest quality and storageability.”

Bodega & Yerba Santa Goat Cheese

Brandon — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:31:54 +0000

“In keeping with South American farmstead traditions, the cheeses are produced from 1-2 day old milk in a 50 gallon vat. The goats are first milked mechanically, then finish off by hand. About half the cheese is used in making fresh pasteurized cheese while the other half is kept raw and used in aged cheese. The fresh cheese is immediately sold in markets and restaurants while the aged cheese must mature for 60 days. Javier only uses vegetarian rennet, high quality cultures, and organic herbs to produce his cheese. All of the cheese is produced by hand on-site in small batches to ensure quality.” -CUESA

Blossom Bluff Orchards

Brandon — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:25:48 +0000

“In addition to being certified organic, Blossom Bluff Orchards is a member of California Clean, an organization started in the early 1980’s by Central Valley small family farmers committed to environmentally responsible farming. Fran and Ted’s main criteria for selecting new varieties is flavor, and most fruit is picked at the highest maturity, so what you buy is ready to eat. “

Bella Viva Orchards

Brandon — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:15:40 +0000

“Farming the rich soil of the Central Valley is a Martino family tradition that Bella Viva carries out with pride. We produce and sell exceptional fresh and dried fruit, nuts and chocolate to loyal customers at our stands in northern California’s celebrated farmer’s markets, in select restaurants and to our online customers across the country

Named for our daughters, Vivian and Belle, Bella Viva means beautiful long life in Italian. The name captures the essence of Bella Viva Orchards and all we at Bella Viva aim to provide for our customers.Quality is of utmost importance to us here at Bella Viva. Growing the fruit that we dry and market enables us to have complete control over the fruit quality from the initial growing phase on through the final packaging and delivery.

To our long-time customers, we say welcome back. To our new ones, we say welcome home to Bella Viva .”

Bariani Olive Oil

Brandon — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:10:29 +0000

“Bariani Olive Oil is committed in producing an authentic extra virgin olive oil which is raw and once only available thru the turn of the century. Produced in a limited quantity, the olive oil is a registered organic product and with the particular and discriminatory taste of the family, the quality is always guaranteed.”

“An aspect of our extra virgin olive oil is that it will differ in flavor and taste every year due to our traditional process of extraction. However, you will always find the same subtle characteristics that differentiate our olive oil from any other and that accommodate even the most discriminating palate. A great complement to any food and a perfect choice at any special occasion. Available in 250ml, 500ml, and 1000ml sizes.”

Philo Apple Farm

Brandon — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:14:16 +0000

“We love our foods fresh and are happiest when we can have them that way. We believe that eating in season is the best path to a long and healthy life. Most of us are lucky enough to be able to choose from a wide array of foods throughout the year, but many of those foods are traveling long distances and are costing us in ways we cannot always foresee. Our next preference is to eat foods that have been processed as close to the source as possible. Food preservation is a time honored way of stretching the harvest bounty between seasons. In our not too distant past it was an absolute necessity for our rural population. Many of the techniques and recipes that used to be handed down from mother to daughter are being lost in our fast-paced times. We hope to carry on the tradition. “

Allstar Organics

Brandon — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:03:17 +0000

Allstar Organics is two acres of aromatic plants and antique roses at our home in Lagunitas, and 10 acres of over one hundred and fifty varieties of certified organic, specialty and heirloom crops grown on our production field located in Nicasio, in Marin County, CA. halfway between San Francisco Bay and Pt. Reyes Station.

Allstar is a warm weather farm with distinct seasons, and a highly mineralized, clay-based soil. Our soil enrichment program includes a diverse cover cropping system, microbiological drenches, and aged nutritional mulches. As a result, our vegetables acquire vivid color, distinctive texture, and intense fragrance and flavor.