McGinnis Ranch

People

Sandi McGinnis-Garcia and Sara Evett, with 7 full-time employees

Farmland

17.5 acres in Watsonville, about 99 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

About

Howard McGinnis started the farm in 1968. When he decided to retire, he began mentoring his daughter, Sandi, and his granddaughter, Sara, to pass on the many hard-learned lessons of the trade. Sandi and Sara have continued farming, keeping all the long-time employees. All products are directly marketed through farmers markets. Sandi and Sara have diversified the farm’s crops and transitioned to organic. They have been certified by CCOF since 2019. The farm’s soil fertility is maintained by cover crops, compost, and crop rotation. They have a diligent weed management regime and add hedgerows and beneficial insect attracting plants for pest management.

Certification

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) since summer 2019