Sonoma State Star

Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Features

Valley End Farm began their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in early March. For $20 CSA members can receive a fresh box of organic produce weekly. [Click to enlarge]

With the push to support the local economy and eat organic, Sonoma State students and faculty might be interested to learn that there is a large organic farm just a stone's throw from campus.

Valley End Farm located on Petaluma Hill Road is the largest organic farm in Sonoma County. Sharon Grossi runs the 70-acre farm with the help of her son, Clint.

Grossi was raised on a farm in Santa Rosa and went to college at Cal Poly, located in a large agriculture community.

"I just fell into farming," said Grossi, a former Home Economics teacher. "I think food is a really fun, diversified area that has a lot of versatility."

The farm began offering the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to local residents at the beginning of March. For a nominal fee of $20 dollars per week, members will receive a box of freshly picked produce each week.

"The box includes some staple items like carrots, lettuce and spinach but at the same time I want our members to experience a little bit of the uniqueness and versatility of vegetables they wouldn't run across in their every day life," said Grossi.

Including vegetables like green garlic, leeks and baby beets in the CSA boxes will encourage people to try new foods and diversify their diets.

With the emphasis being placed on farm fresh vegetables and people being urged to support the local economy, Valley End is jumping at the opportunity to reach both students and professors at Sonoma State.

"We are so close to the campus. Students can just hop on their bike and come by to pick up their box of vegetables," said Grossi. "When we have our farm stand in the summer, both SSU students and professors stop by several times a week."

Not only are the vegetables fresh, they are all organic and free from pesticides.

"People are becoming more conscious of what they are eating," said Grossi. "We want to reach out to the local community and offer them the opportunity to experience the taste of farm fresh vegetables and form a relationship with the farm that grows them."

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