Back in the 1960s, brothers Rob and Bob Grimm opened a roadside produce stand. Their company Grimmway Farms grew into a massive agribusiness operation and became one of the largest carrot growers in the world and with the acquisition of Cal Organic one of the largest producers of organic vegetables in the United States. In 2020, Grimmway Farms announced its sale to Teays River Investments. While the company’s operations have remained the same, the Grimm Family used a part of the proceeds of the sale to make a $5 million donation to Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The money is being used to establish a Center for Organic Production and Research with the overarching goal of increasing organic agricultural acreage in California through research and education.
Improving soil health
The college is currently remodeling a lab where research will be done by students and faculty on soil health and improving organic soil fertility. At the research center, students, industry and government from across California and beyond will come together to advance the organic industry. “What is unique about this setup is a combined partnership between the university (Cal Poly) and external stakeholders,” says Matt Grieshop, director of the Center for Organic Production and Research. “It truly is a hybrid organization where the university provides space while personnel costs are funded through industry partnership.”
A group of organic students meeting with a grower in Salinas.
Learning by Doing
In addition to research, the center will create pathways for students to enter the industry. The organic industry is a fast-growing segment of the agricultural sector and an emphasis on organic production is particularly important in California, as the state accounts for about 40 percent of all organic production in the nation. “It is important for students to spend time in the classroom as well as offer them training in the field, so they are ready to lead when they enter the workforce,” said Grieshop.
Cal Poly’s campus is surrounded by more than 10,000 acres of land for hands-on research and training. In addition, the location on California’s Central Coast is surrounded by numerous specialty crops that give students an opportunity to work directly with growers and shippers of organic produce through internships and research collaborations.
Student Shane Eglestrom presenting organic fertilizer research at a conference.
Public engagement
In addition to research and offering a better learning environment for students, the center also provides outreach and education to consumers of organic production. “It is important to engage the public as they need a better understanding of organic production and realize there are trade-offs to everything. Getting the public to understand organic agriculture could help in keeping their requests and demands in line with realistic expecations,” Grieshop added.
Grieshop is hopeful the efforts and impact of Cal Poly’s Center for Organic Production and Research will eventually play a role beyond California and U.S. “Given how globalized the food system is, this is something that is very important to me,” Grieshop said. He believes the research and training that will be done in California will prepare students for work in other countries with Mediterranean climates including Peru, Argentina, Chile, Spain, and the south of France.
For more information:
Matt Grieshop
The Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research
Tel: 805-540-9527
[email protected]
https://organic.calpoly.edu/