Leader in Organic Farming Named Farmer of the Year for Santa Cruz County

Submitted by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau

Kenneth J (Ken) Kimes of Corralitos has been selected by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau as the Farmer of the Year for 2013.

This award is presented annually to the farmer(s) who have contributed beyond their normal farming duties to help the community. The presentation was made during its 96th Annual Meeting held Thursday at Rancho Santa Maria in Watsonville.

The board of directors felt it was appropriate to honor Ken, who made significant contributions within Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley.

Featured speaker for the evening was Cathy Calfo, Executive Director, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), who spoke about “Organic Seeds Sown in Santa Cruz”. Master and Mistress of Ceremony was Cynthia Mathiesen, President, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and David Van Lennep, 1st Vice President of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau.

Here's a biography on Kimes: 
Grandfather and great-grandfather grew plums in Fresno, California. They lost their farm after shipping their crop to the east coast and never received payment. Ken’s father sold farm machinery in Southern California and the Southwest until their farmland was sold for residential and commercial properties. Then his father switched to construction machinery.

Shortly after moving from Southern California to Santa Cruz with his wife Sandra, he began delivering produce while his wife began growing some greens. In 1982 they started the business New Natives by leasing a 12,000 square foot greenhouse and growing sprouts, the same crops they are growing now.

Today their operation consists of 40,000 square ft of greenhouses with 10 full time and 5 part time employees. Both are quite active in the business with crops grown year round and marketing to wholesalers, direct to retail and farmers markets. Ken’s interest in preserving farmland and the small producers has prompted him to join people with the same earnest motivations.

In his early days in Santa Cruz, he spent his time, when off the farm, contributing to the organic farmers’ movement and helped other early adopters to form up the foundation for the California Certified Organic Farmers.Founding member and President of Farm Fuel, Inc., which was founded in 2007 with the aim of growing mustard for biofuel.

“Five years later, the company is marketing mustard seed as an organic fertilizer and is looking into its potential to replace chemical fumigants in the production of strawberries and other crops," a newspaper article reported.

Ken’s farming accidentin August 2010 (lost right hand, forearm and fingers on his left hand) did not deter him from his goals and passion. It’s been amazing to see his transition from two very busy hands repairing, replacing and maintaining everything within his reach, to a one hand and hook without losing a step. Sandra Ward, his wife, thinks he is very amazing and is very proud of his mind’s and heart’s ability to make the most from life’s gifts and challenges.

Served on the following boards, commissions and committees:
• Santa Cruz County Land Trust Board of Directors 
• Santa Cruz County Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission
• Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets Board of Directors
• Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau Board of Directors
• Founding member of Farm Fuel
• Steering committee for Slow Foods
• Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) Board of Directorso Chair, Pajaro Valley Futures (CAFF project to study urban infill)