Agriculture & the Land
From Apple Orchards to the Farm-to-Table Movement · Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County has been an agricultural powerhouse since the mid-19th century — from apple orchards in the Pajaro Valley to Brussels sprouts along the coast to today's organic farming revolution. The county's commitment to sustainable agriculture helped birth California's farm-to-table movement.
Timeline
The Apple Kingdom
The Pajaro Valley around Watsonville becomes one of California's premier apple-growing regions. At its peak, the valley ships millions of boxes of Newtown Pippins and other varieties worldwide. The Apple Annual festival draws visitors from across the state. Though production has declined, Watsonville remains important for strawberries, raspberries, and other berries — Santa Cruz County farms generate over $600 million annually.[3],[4]
The Organic Revolution
Santa Cruz County becomes a cradle of the organic farming movement. Alan Chadwick establishes the UCSC Farm and Garden in 1967, pioneering biodynamic French intensive growing methods. The influence spreads — today, dozens of organic farms operate across the county, supplying local restaurants and farmers' markets that are central to the regional identity.[1],[2]
Farm-to-Table Pioneer Region
The combination of world-class farms, visionary chefs, and counter-cultural values makes Santa Cruz County a pioneering region for farm-to-table dining. Restaurants like La Posta, HOME, and Mentone build their menus around what's harvested that morning from the fields and forests of the coast and mountains.[1],[3]
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Sources
Citations behind the dates, names, and numbers on this page.
- 1UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology — History
Institutional history of the UCSC Farm and Garden and the regional agroecology movement.
- 2UC Santa Cruz Library — Early History of UCSC's Farm and Garden
Archival history of Alan Chadwick's 1967 garden and French-intensive methods.
- 3Pajaro Valley Historical Association
Local historical resources on Watsonville, Pajaro Valley agriculture, and agricultural communities.
- 4Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner — Crop and Livestock Report
County agricultural production data and crop history.