Frog Hollow Farm is committed to growing fruit and making products that are socially and environmentally sustainable. They share their harvest directly with customers through their CSA, farm-to-table cafe located in the Ferry Building, website, and farmers markets.
My relationship with this rockstar organic farm first started in July 2017, when I signed up for a walking tour of their property. It’s been an ongoing love affair ever since! Filled with visits back, getting to know rad Farmer Al and his team at the ferry building farmers market, and cooking up lots of delicious creations with all their fresh fruit bounty.
This thriving 275 acre farm in Brentwood grows some of the best stone fruit around in addition to pears, persimmons, olives, quince, apples and their news crop: heirloom tomatoes! They also have a line of conserves, chutneys, marmalades, pastries, dried fruits, and olive oil.
If you’re local to the SF bay Area, you most likely recognize the name Frog Hollow from either their Farm-to-Table Café at the Ferry Building, their farm stand at the Sat Ferry Building Farmers Market, where they’re always happily giving out samples, or from their produce being sold at your favorite local grocery store.
The images are from my most recent visit when rad Farmer Al gave me a tour of the property on his golf cart. We got to talk all things sustainable farming and food systems, which was both very inspirational and informative. We ended the day with a scrumptious home cooked dinner and his daughter Maddie joining us at the table. It was a true delight to hear Al talk about his journey, where’s he come from, where he is now and where he hopes to go. I feel immensely lucky and grateful to call this true steward of the land my friend!
Brief Frog Hollow History
Rad Farmer Al (full name Al Courchesne)grew up in the Bay Area, graduated from UC Berkeley then moved to Hawaii to work as a teacher. After a 10 year career as a school teacher on island, a buddy convinced him to give farming a try. After 2 years farming in Hawaii, he moved back to Cali and purchased 13 acres in Brentwood in 1976. Originally calling it Brentwood farm, he first planted his all-time favorite fruit, peaches.
In 1989 Farmer Al went all organic and changed name to Frog Hollow Farm.
Currently, the farm has about 50 full time employees, with an additional 50 seasonal workers. Concerned about the lack of affordable housing in the Bay Area, as a general rule, Frog Hollow provides subsidized housing to its farm workers. They’re committed to treating their workers very well… just like family!
Some Frog Hollow Facts
Certification: California Certified Organic Farmer (CCOF) since 1989
Soil: Deep clay loam is built with compost, limestone dust, kelp, gypsum, and fish emulsion.
Water Use: Irrigate with micro-sprinklers.
Weed Control: Mechanical and hand cultivation.
Pest Management: Beneficial insects, pheromone disruption, reliance on good soil.
Visions for Frog Hollow's Future
From the beginning, Frog Hollow’s mission was to grown great tasting fruit and sharing the bounty of the harvest both with local Bay Area customers and around the country. They want to keep doing just that, only more it!
They’re stoked to have such great terroir and growing ground. The Frog Hollow team plans to keep growing and providing as my as much access to their good, clean and organic produce and products as possible. I support!
Have ya enjoyed this post? I’d love to hear about it! Please leave a comment below and if you’re in come across and Frog Hollow country take a pic and tag it on Instagram with #wavesinthekitchen cause I’d love to see it! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious food and all sorts of awesome adventures!
Have ya enjoyed this post? I’d love to hear about it! Please leave a comment below and if you're on a farm take a pic and tag it on Instagram with #wavesinthekitchen cause I'd love to see it! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious food and all sorts of awesome adventures!
Let's make waves in the kitchen!
Gorgeous pics???
You are so sweet! Thank ya :).