Caritina Maya (left) and Irene Segura demonstrate how Esperanza Community Farms new mobile produce stand will work Sunday at the Día de Esperanza Community Festival. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Local organic farming and the healthy foods that come from them took center stage June 16 at the first ever Día de Esperanza Community Festival.

The event, put on by 40 volunteers and drew around 300 people, was staged across the rolling slopes of Esperanza Community Farms on Lee Road for “the community to celebrate and promote the richness of organic agriculture on the central coast of California.”

Organizers said the five-hour festival honors “the interdependence of the many players and elements in the food supply chain. From soil experts, seedling growers, distributors, consumers, and farmers. To sun, wind, water, composting, and waste processing.”

Mireya Gomez-Contreras, Co-Leader of Esperanza Community Farms, said the day included an Organic Farmers Market, Culinary Delights, educational and interactive tables, demonstrations, activities and live music and dance performances. 

Caritina Maya (left) and Irene Segura demonstrate how Esperanza Community Farms new mobile produce stand will work Sunday at the Día de Esperanza Community Festival.

“We’re excited to present a non-alcoholic family- friendly, bilingual, health-conscious festival in Watsonville,” Gomez-Contreras said.

Irene Segura and Caritina Maya showed visitors a new mobile farm stand by Esperanza Community Farms that stands on wheels and can be towed around on a trailer to farmers markets, events and such.

“We want to make our organic produce affordable and available to everyone,” Segura said.

Creative Director, Edwardo Rojas, said his vision “came to life with offering the public a bilingual, multigenerational and healthy environment for all to have fun and learn. I am proud of having offered a unique cultural event in Watsonville that centered on local artisan vendors, entrepreneurs, vegan food options, and a popular kidszone.” The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County along with other local sponsors helped make the event possible, including Community Action Board, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, and Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

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Tarmo Hannula has been the lead photographer with The Pajaronian newspaper in Watsonville since 1997. More recently Good Times & Press Banner. He also reports on a wide range of topics, including police, fire, environment, schools, the arts and events. A fifth generation Californian, Tarmo was born in the Mother Lode of the Sierra (Columbia) and has lived in Santa Cruz County since the late 1970s. He earned a BA from UC Santa Cruz and has traveled to 33 countries.

2 COMMENTS

  1. This is wonderful. Wish I knew about it in time to go. What farmers market will they be at? When and where. Also I would live to go an a farm tour of an organic fame. It’s so important for the public to learn about the differences between a Conventional vs. Organic farm. Not enough is being done to educate the public on this subject. Farms tours is an easy and very enjoyable way to do this.

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