Open Harvest Tours Produce Farms

by Michael Walter, produce manager

Nearly every Sunday morning I bike to the Old Cheney Farmer's Market. I go because I want to see the farmers in person, to say hello and see what they have harvested. Though I can no longer consider myself new in our community, I still meet new people involved with Open Harvest. Until recently, the farmers were merely faces I recognized.

On a hot August Monday morning, five of us from the Co-op took a day to tour area farms. The reason was simple: we wanted to see these farmers' land, to see the place where our food grows from the soil, and we wanted to make friends. The Co-op's future General Manager Kelsi Swanson tagged along, as did the Assistant Produce Manager Joe Foreman and two passionate and hardworking employees, Teal and Lindsay.

The route itinerary took us north, then briefly west. In fact, we made what looked on a map like a flattened figure eight or an ampersand. Our first stop was Common Good Farm, in Raymond. Evrett Lundquist and Ruth Chantry own Common Good, one of two certified organic farms who supply produce to the Co-op and one of about 125 certified biodynamic farms in the U.S. (Biodynamic farming is, very basically, the idea that a farm - from the soil upward - is a self-contained, self-sufficient entity utilizing all aspects of nature to sustain itself. For more information on this, visit www.biodynamics.com. -MW) Evrett and Ruth have been farming here, on a rolling acreage high above the flood plain, for over ten years. In keeping with biodynamic farming, the farm utilizes every aspect of itself: integrative methods of pest control, fertilization by the very animals that inhabit the farm, and thoroughly sustainable practices.

We stayed for an hour and a half, admittedly not long enough. We were collectively impressed and individually amazed. They are great people, they live on beautiful land, and their methods of living and farming are carefully cultivated as to not disrupt our earth.

Northward in Valparaiso sits a house on land with many walnut trees. From the main highway it's noticeable but only when, as a passerby, one notices the size of those trees. They seem out of place, almost. Here is Walnut Springs Farm, the beloved project of Celia Sherman. She was kind enough to show us around her land and spoke enthusiastically about the rich history it possesses. The property is along a naturally occurring spring - the explanation of the trees and the name of the farm - and boasts a large garden of summer squash, edamame, and cherry tomato plants.

Celia's labor of love - the farm is more or less a continuation of the spirit of her late father - produces naturally grown, delicious produce: she sells to us mostly patty pan squash, a delicious saucer-shaped summer squash that is rather versatile (it's delicious cooked or raw, in nearly every form). We left feeling that we had made a friend.

Joe and Lindsay, with Teal in the background, explore a row of tomato plants.

Further north and then west, we drove into Brainard. It's here, on the western edge of town, that Fox Run Farm grows fruit and vegetables. It's a quirky, vibrant place - a bit of a California vibe (from where Yolanda Bailey, the farm wife/mother, hails) in an otherwise quiet, charming town. This is Fox Run's first year selling to the Co-op and running a CSA. So far it's been a success, and Open Harvest carries a variety of their vegetables.

The farm is run by the Kovar Bailey family on land that has been in the family for over one hundred years. The red barn out front, that looming and beautiful specter of agricultural persistence, has been on the property longer than they have owned it. Their passion was contagious, and while we toured their farm and saw neatly-drawn-up blueprints of what was planted where and appropriate harvesting schedules, we were also treated to grapes off the vine (yes, they have a vineyard out back).

Fox Run Farm's future seems bright. They care deeply and passionately about the land, about food, and about community; in addition, their produce is delicious. As they too are aligned with Cooperative Values, we all expect a continuing relationship that ultimately benefits our customers.

After lunch, the tour continued to southwest Lincoln at Caruso-Rozzano Farm. Operated by Jim Caruso and his daughter Julie, the land sits in front of Sunset Community Farm, used by Community CROPS. There were tomatoes in the hoop house and sweet peppers in the sun. The land is beautiful, if occasionally loud: it's under the trajectory of outgoing aircraft from the airport.

Jim is a soft-spoken, contemplative man with a surprising sense of humor. He seems like an old friend if you've only spoken to him for a few minutes. His past is fascinating; he has been involved with community development in Ohio, Michigan, and New York, in addition to Nebraska. His daughter, Julie, is as passionate, energetic, and knowledgeable as they come: she can inspire anyone to get into the kitchen and create.

They took time out during the most sweltering part of the day (we later checked: the heat index was 111 degrees) to show us their naturally grown Italian heirloom vegetables and let us taste, right from the earth, delicious sweet peppers and aromatic basil. Their heirloom tomatoes are popular here at the Co-op as are most of their other items.

Ending the day were new friends at Robinette Farm. Chloe Diegel and Alex McKiernan started Robinette just this year and have already developed quite a following from local restaurants and at the Farmer's Markets. They showed us their current farm, near 84th and Havelock, and talked about their search for land they can farm on and eventually certify organic. As we walked, Alex cut open melons for us to sample and we picked cherry tomatoes off the vines to eat. We hope to be carrying some of their produce next season.

The most rewarding part of the tour was being able to get to know the people who bring us our produce. We felt better connected to them as people and we felt better connected to our land. It's a connection we in the produce department hope to pass on to you. By truly knowing where our food comes from - in terms of both the people and the land - it helps create a stronger community. And with that sense of community comes a bigger idea: if we truly care about each other, then no matter what occurs on a larger scale - be it rising gas prices, a bad economy, any hardship - we will always look out for one another.

My first Sunday at the Old Cheney market, early this season, a well-meaning acquaintance asked if I was there to check out "the competition." "These farmers aren't competition," I explained. "They're friends!" I thought it then, but it's apparent now.

Look for Farmer Profiles, the newest addition to Open Harvest's Harvest to Harvest program, to appear in our store soon. These profiles will help put a face with your food. In the meantime, Open Harvest will strive to continue educating our community on the importance of thinking local first.