For Immediate Release
Contact: Deborah Yashar
Communications Coordinator
Ecological Farming Association
Phone: 831.763.2111 x 13
deborah@eco-farm.org
How EcoFarm Supported an Aspiring Farmer's Path to Success
“In 2011, I attended the EcoFarm Conference for the first time, thanks to my Scholarship. It was
there that I met one of my most important customers. At the time I had nowhere to sell and
didn't know who to approach. While attending a Marketing to Retail workshop, I got up in front of
everyone, introduced myself, and explained my search for a customer. My pitch? I was a small
beginning farmer and just needed a chance to get started. One retailer gave me his business card
and told me to call him when I was ready. And this customer is now my largest account!
EcoFarm has been a blessing to me. Not only did it
get my foot in the door - I learned so many valuable
farming and marketing skills. I got to hear directly
from buyers what they want and how they want it. I
made important connections I had been lacking.
Being a small organic farmer myself, I know how
difficult it can be to afford the conference. That’s
money that could be used to purchase things like
drip tape or boxes. That’s why the gift of a
Scholarship or Fellowship is so invaluable.
As a farmer, you just can’t do it yourself. The
business of farming is really tough. If you don’t have a strong support network you’re going to
struggle. In 2013, I became an EcoFarm Fellow and got to work with other farmers and ranchers
on the Fellowship goal of getting food to local food deserts. I focused my Fellowship on addressing
the absence of healthy local produce in my community of Watsonville by growing ethnic produce
varieties that would meet the food customs of Latino cultures including jicamas, verdolagas,
papalo, and chilacayote. So much food is produced in this region but most of it gets distributed
elsewhere. I’m starting to see this change, and the difference it makes. It’s very rewarding to see
people in my community enjoy what I grow. One day I plan to open a fresh produce market.
Javier Zamora owns JSM Organics, cultivating 29 organic acres of strawberries and unique
varieties of vegetables and flowers in Royal Oaks, CA. He earned his landscaping degree from San
Joaquin Delta College and his organic production degree from Cabrillo College. Javier trained at the
Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) in Salinas. He is now a successful farm
owner and plans to double the size of his operation within the coming year.
Help us fund the EcoFarm Scholarship & Fellowships to provide training and support for
the ecological farmers of tomorrow!
Imagine supporting more scholar fellows like Javier, making a difference in their lives,
their communities, and the broader food system. You can make this a reality by donating
to the EcoFarm Scholarship & Fellowship Fund.
Fellows receive a full EcoFarm Conference with meals and lodging and membership in the EcoFarm
Farmers' Association. Scholars receive a single conference day. Your generous donations will
directly sponsor their attendance and opportunity for success.
Give an aspiring farmer a solid foundation by donating to the EcoFarm Scholarship &
Fellowship Fund. For scholars, every $1 you donate provides $4 of funding. Help us reach
our $35,000 goal by sharing this with your friends, family, and networks so we can
secure our goal of 200 Scholarships and 35 Fellowships!
Thank you!
The farmer-led EcoFarm Farmers’ Association supports the success of triple bottom line
agricultural businesses by providing democratically developed, member-led, collaborative
support programs. This includes information resources; business development; financial
management; legal services; access to affordable inputs; equipment sharing; and work for viable
farm-gate prices, liability and health insurance, and policy advocacy. Working together we can
secure the health of people and the planet through a safe, healthy, and just food and farming
system.
Reminder - Register by December 5, 2014 for the EcoFarm Conference and SAVE!
The Ecological Farming Association nurtures healthy, just food systems and communities
by bringing people together for education, alliance building, and celebration.
To learn more, visit www.eco-farm.org.