• Farm 2 Cafeteria: Bringing Organic Salad to High Schools

    Farm 2 Cafeteria is a student-led program that focuses on bringing local organic produce to schools in the form of a salad. It began in August 2021 with field trips to Esperanza Community Farms co-led by Mireya Gomez-Contreras where students planned and designed the program.

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    Spotlight on Equity: Esperanza Farms

    We recently spoke with Mireya Gomez-Contreras Co-Lider (co-leader) at Esperanza Community Farms (ECF). She is an activist, farmer, mother, leader, storyteller, and more. Along with Guillermo Lazaro (Co-leader) and the team of diverse community members (Latino/Mexican immigrants, students, activist, community members in Pajaro and Salinas Valleys, and others), they are making a positive impact through their food justice efforts.

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  • Santa Cruz County holiday foodie gift guide

    By Tara Fatemi Walker

    It’s the holiday season and for many, it’s also gift-shopping season. Have a foodie on your shopping list? Santa Cruz County has an incredible number of local businesses where you can find fabulous food- or kitchen-related gifts. Here are some recommendations.

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  • USDA awards two grants to local farms in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.

    By Derrick Ow

    SAN FRANCISCO, (KION-TV)- The United States and Drug Administration has awarded $10.7 million to fund 103 projects across the country which include two in Monterey and Santa Cruz County.

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  • On the Farm: Genius and Justice.

    By Ellen Farmer to Edible Monterey Bay

    Organic agriculture and activism intersect at UCSC’s farm apprentice program. For 20-some years, while sitting in her office and working as a bilingual counselor at Santa Cruz High School, Ana Rasmussen longed to…

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Unsung Santa Cruz: Pajaro Valley High School seniors bring local, organic salads to their school

By Hillary Ojeda to LookOut SC

Pajaro Valley High School senior Karla Breanna Leyva remembers visiting Esperanza Community Farms for the first time last fall and how it impacted her.

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Community farm wraps up series of outdoor art workshops

By Johanna Miller To Pajaronian

WATSONVILLE—Situated on the outskirts of Watsonville, just down the road from Pajaro Valley High School, sits Esperanza Community Farms. Established in 2017, the farm

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