Esparto, California
Farm Size: 950 acres
What They Grow: Asparagus and Melons
Durst Organic Growers carries on a family farming tradition in Yolo County, California, that dates back to the late 1800s. While the first three generations of the Durst family primarily grew large-scale commodity crops, Jim and Deborah Durst helped take the farm in a new direction with a focus on organic agriculture and fresh market produce.
Jim and Deborah planted their first organic crop, processing tomatoes for Muir Glen, in 1988. They soon expanded into organic alfalfa, sunflowers, sugar beets, and grains before growing their first fresh market organic tomatoes and mixed melons in 1989. Over the years, they continued to diversify, adding crops that would become Durst favorites, including asparagus, first planted in 1997.
In 2000, Durst Organic Growers transitioned away from processing tomatoes to focus more heavily on fresh market produce. Today, the farm is especially known for its flavorful heirloom and cherry tomatoes, asparagus, melons, squash, and other seasonal crops.
From the beginning, Jim and Deborah have worked to build a thoughtful, ecologically minded farm where both people and the planet are treated with respect. The health and well-being of their customers, employees, and land are central to the decisions they make in the field.
Above all, the Dursts believe that thoughtfully grown produce should also be delicious. As Jim puts it, “If it doesn’t taste good, what’s the point?”
