Tutti Frutti Farms, Lompoc, CA

In 1990, we moved family -- 5 children, 3 goats, 1 horse -- and farm to Santa Rosa Road, to a more remote piece of land between Buellton and Lompoc. Here we raised our children and farmed for local markets and honed in our variety selection for flavor and uniqueness. Our most famous crop is our heirloom tomatoes.

TFF is a family farm located in the Santa Ynez Valley, halfway between the towns of Buellton and Lompoc, CA.

 

Chris is a fifth generation farmer, and we started farming on fourteen acres of hillside property in Carpinteria planting a variety of fruit trees. We named the farm "Tutti Frutti" (Italian for "all fruits") and soon branched out into growing produce for the coastal communities of Southern California. From the start we believed in organic growing practices and have always followed those guidelines. All of our produce is certified organic (www.ams.usda.gov/nop).

 

 

Over the years, our farming operation has grown to 300 acres. We only grow organic produce, from a variety of tomatoes and peppers to cool weather crops, like artichokes, peas and greens. We market our produce through Farmers' Markets and select nationwide organic specialty distributors.

 

As one of the few remaining vegetable growers in an area now better known for its pinot noir grapes, we attribute our success to our location: situated on the Santa Ynez River, far from polluting highways, our farm is surrounded by wilderness guaranteeing a wealth of natural predatory insects. Fifteen miles inland from the Pacific coast, a coastal breeze minimizes mildew while evening fog slows the ripening process, a truly natural flavor enhancer! We religiously plant cover crops, like vetch and clover, to keep our soil healthy and mineral rich. The natural rhythms of our unique micro climate offer additional defense against pests and plant disease.

 

Bon Appetit!