People

Ed George and his children, along with 9 part-time, seasonal employees.

Farmland

18 acres in Esparto, and 43 acres in Winters, about 67-80 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

Farm History

Ed grew up on his family’s farm and after college decided to try farming. Over the years, his product mix has changed in response to the customer feedback he receives at farmers markets. All of the Peach Farm’s crops are picked fresh and are never refrigerated before going to the market.

Certification

None

Soil

Ed maintains the farm’s soil fertility by keeping a cover crop in the ground for more than half of the year. In addition to only farming one season, Ed rotates crops every summer. His low intensity farming allows the soil to recuperate faster, thus making it stronger. His cover crops include a variety of beans, peas, and grasses, all of which help prevent nutrient loss and fix nitrogen into the soil. All vegetables that are not picked and sold are disced back into the ground. Ed uses a balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (15-15-15) fertilizer (synthetic) as well as organic composts to promote healthy plant roots and growth.

Pest Management

Ed rotates where he plants crops every year, and the farm provides habitat for beneficial insects. Ed’s main crop is tomatoes and he transplants all of them from seedlings. This eliminates vulnerability during early growth and helps protect the tomatoes from diseases. Ed believes that if he keeps everything neat and clean, he will stay ahead of any disease and pest outbreaks.

After years of focusing on vegetables, the Peach Farm has only recently begun growing peaches, as well as figs, pomegranates, and other fruit.