Farm Tour: Black Sheep Farms

There is not much more enjoyable than a farm tour. It is a great feeling to see the pride in a farmer’s eyes as they show off the land on which they grow food. It is also a humbling and grounding experience to see all that is involved in the start of the farm to plate journey.

Edgar Jaime, owner, gave us a tour of Black Sheep Farms. Edgar currently grows on two leased parcels (totaling about 10 acres) in Riverside. Black Sheep Farms is a specialty grower for restaurants and farmers’ markets. Edgar likes to focus on varieties that local restaurant chefs seek. If the chefs haven’t gobbled up all his production, you’ll find specialty items such as mini sweet peppers, watermelon radishes, flying saucer squash and heirloom tomatoes adorning his farmers’ market table.   

Edgar Jaime educating Farmer Mark about his production. 

Edgar grew up in a farming family. His father immigrated from Mexico and worked at a farm growing Asian produce before starting his own farm. Edgar’s siblings chose the farming life as well. However, it wasn’t Edgar’s first choice. He graduated college with a BA in Business and pursued the business world before the economic downturn of 2001 made him rethink his farming roots. He returned to work with his father and quickly realized the opportunity in growing specialty produce offerings for sales to chefs (via wholesalers). Eventually, Edgar branched off from the family farm and started Black Sheep Farms on his own. A name derived from his decision to stray from the family farm.

Tasting a freshly picked ripe watermelon from the vine. Very refreshing in the 95 degree heat. 

Like many small farmers, Edgar hopes he may be able to purchase some land of his own in the near future. Cost and water access are major hurdles in this goal. He recently had to upgrade his 1973 tractor for a new one. No small act with a new one going for around $40k. 

Although Edgar currently follows organic farming practices, he is not permitted to call his produce Organic without USDA Certification. (Read more about Organic) He has applied for organic certification with CCOF and is in the transitional period. 

Top 5 Reasons to Shop Local

There are endless benefits to shopping local. Here’s our top 5!

1. Get Fresh: Local food travels less distance (leaving a smaller carbon footprint), and is typically picked within the last 24 hours. That means crisper and fresher than the produce picked three weeks earlier and shipped across the globe. Supermarkets typically select for durability and long shelf life rather than flavor. Eggs and animal protein follow the same rules. You’ll often find eggs at your local farmers’ market hatched that same morning!

2. Tis’ the Season: Years ago, supermarkets were few and far between and people would only eat what they grew. Nowadays, supermarkets carry every fruit and vegetable imaginable even if the season has passed and it’s not natural for that region. There is great fulfillment and a lot of health research on the benefits of eating in tune with the season.

3. Cultivate Relationships: By cutting out the middleman and buying directly from local farmers, you establish a direct relationship with your food source. Knowing where your food comes from is important.

4. Getting Deep: Supermarket produce is shallow. It is selected based on ‘prettiness’. Your local farm favors the often ‘not so pretty’ varieties because they possess superior flavor and pack more nutrients. The farmers’ market is the perfect place to find the produce grown for taste and not for show. Spend your money on flavor not looks.

5. Support Your Neighbors: Shopping local keeps dollars within the community, thereby bolstering the local economy and strengthening your own neighborhood.