Lakeside Organic Gardens owner Dick Peixoto will receive the seventh annual Grower of the Year award at the Organic Grower Summit, which runs Dec. 4–5 in Monterey.
Organizers said Peixoto leads the largest family-owned and operated solely organic vegetable operation in the United States and was selected for his “longstanding commitment to organic farming, sustainability and leadership in the organic industry.”
Peixoto will receive the award at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey.
“I am extremely humbled and honored by this award, but this tribute should really go to all my employees who make us who we are,” Peixoto said. “I’m the guy that gets all the credit; all these workers are what make this happen. I’m just the guy steering the ship but they’re the ones with their oars in the water making this thing go forward. Without them I’d just be going in circles.”
About 600 workers in the Pajaro Valley area keep the ship moving, Peixoto added.
Peixoto, a third-generation farmer, started his career early by hiring neighborhood kids to help him pick tomatoes on his family farm in the Pajaro Valley.
Since founding Lakeside Organic Gardens in 1996, he has expanded his operation from 55 certified acres to 3,300 certified organic acres in California. Lakeside Organic Gardens now grows over 50 different organic commodities, available year-round, and distributed across the U.S. and Canada.
Peixoto also operates the California Grill, his farm-to-table restaurant in Watsonville, which serves fresh organic vegetables from Lakeside Organic Gardens.
In addition to the annual Grower of the Year award, the keynote presentation will include a panel discussion about what’s next in the organics industry, hosted by Western Growers Association CEO Dave Puglia.
Other topics covered in this year’s educational seminars include ag tech profitability, regenerating soil health, pest and weed management best practices, and resources for growers new to the organic space.
For information, and to register, visit organicgrowersummit.com
