The Sustainability, Adaptability, and Good OldFashioned Hard Work of Stehly Farms Organics JOE C AMPB ELL MARKE TING & COMMUNIC ATION S S PECIALI S T
When we think of natural food, there are always a few things that come to mind. Local. Sustainable. Regenerative. Innovative. Our small but mighty and ever-growing industry is a space that has been home to imaginative pioneers since the beginning. From coast to coast, Alaska to Puerto Rico, INFRA Members embody the spirit of the movement, feeding their communities with healthy, natural food. In the north of San Diego County, CA, in a town called Valley Center, is one such member. Nestled among the rolling green hills of Southern California is a 300-acre family-owned farm that has been quietly setting the standard for decades. You might not see them tooting their own horn online or going out of their way to be noticed, but they’re there. And they’re one of the biggest in the business. That INFRA Member is Stehly Farms Organics. The land has been in the Stehly family for generations, since Jerome Stehly, Sr. purchased the land in 1964. Stehly Farms Organics began in 2002 when his children, Noel and Jerome, acquired the land and transitioned it to organic farmland. They didn’t stop there – they transitioned the land of the other farms they managed as well or found new organic groves altogether. Stehly Farms Organics began with a mission to bring the best natural and local produce, free of harmful pesticides, to San Diego and beyond and, for 20 years, has continued to raise the bar. Just this year, Stehly Farms Organics’ San Diego retail storefront, Stehly Farms Market, was featured as a “Best of California” in San Diego’s Urban Gems. Stella Stehly, co-owner of Stehly Farms Organics and general manager of Stehly Farms Market, discussed with us what this recognition means to them, the spring growing season, and their dedication to sustainability and innovation in an increasingly difficult environment. (INFRA) Stehly Farms was recently featured as a “Best of California” in San Diego’s Urban Gems (congratulations!). Can you tell me about what that means to you? (Stehly Farms) Being voted as one of California’s hidden gems is validation of our hard work. We are being noticed not for glitzy social media posts or gimmicks, but good quality food, products, and people. It makes us immensely proud. (INFRA) With the spring growing season coming into full swing, what can your shoppers expect to see more of? (Stehly Farms) Springtime is our favorite season. Our strawberries are in full production, blackberries will come along next. A variety of citrus and avocados, vegetables. We are known for our Reed Avocados. A favorite in our house! All around more fruit and vegetables. (INFRA) Grocery stores that grow their own produce are something of a rare breed. Do your shoppers see this as a value add? (Stehly Farms) Yes, we believe so. For our consumers it is not just about supporting local farms, but the health benefits from eating locally grown produce, eggs, and honey. The quality is in the product! There are no ripening rooms, our products are picked at its peak and delivered to stores only when it meets our standards. It has to taste good; we will never pick a vegetable or fruit before its time. Our consumers taste this difference and appreciate this difference. It may not always be pretty, but the flavor cannot be duplicated. Our customers may not return, but they tell their friends about us.
Provided by Stehly Farms Organics