NATURAL AGRICULTURE AROUND THE WORLD
United States

Shumei’s Santa Cruz Farm

  In 2004, Shumei established a 22-acre Natural Agriculture farm in located in the mid-mountains of Santa Cruz. This was the first official Shumei-operated farm outside of Japan managed by Shumei Natural Agriculture farmer Masaharu Noda along with five other staff members. They are California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), cultivating more than twenty kinds of vegetables including lettuce, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, soybeans and pumpkins using the Natural Agriculture approach. There are also peach, apple, orange, lemon and mandarin orchards that are maintained without the use of chemical pesticides. 

Recently, the Santa Cruz farm began selling fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets and supplying fresh produce to grocery stores and restaurants in Santa Cruz. They also participate in a nationwide ‘Farm to School’ program that connects farms with local schools to improve student nutrition. The program includes classroom presentations on health, nutrition and agriculture, and field visits to the farm, where students are able to participate in planting and harvesting crops.  Shumei also organizes educational events for the local community, including an Annual Open Farm event during Labor Day weekend.

BASIC FARM FACTS
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 22-acres
Farm Director: Masaharu Noda
Established: 2004