WINTER 2020 MALT.ORG
Kale and winter greens line the valley floor at Fresh Run Farm
Paradise Valley Ranch, Bolinas 239 acres, MALT protected since 2014 When you think of MALT farms and ranches, do you imagine golden, rolling hills and pastures with grazing dairy cows? Or perhaps beef cattle scattered among oak woodlands? Or maybe woolly sheep and wheels of cheese? Well, there's another kind of MALT ranch we want you to know about — the kind that produces fresh local vegetables! The fertile floor of Paradise Valley Ranch near Bolinas was first certified as organic row crop land in 1983; Peter Martinelli’s Fresh Run Farm, which he operates on the ranch, continues this tradition. From deep green kale to squash and sweet strawberries, this farm produces organic fruits and vegetables for iconic Bay Area restaurants Quince, Cotogna and Verjus. Peter’s sought-after produce is just part of the story here; Paradise Valley Ranch has a rich history as well.
Peter is a third-generation landowner. His grandparents purchased this land along Pine Gulch Creek in the 1940s, and his father raised beef cattle on the property in the 1950s. Much of the ranch was then transitioned to artichokes until 1983, when organic farming pioneer Warren Weber began leasing land here to grow fruits and vegetables. Peter started Fresh Run Farm in the 1990s on a quarter acre, ultimately taking over the entire ranch's operations in 1999. In the years since, Fresh Run Farm has flourished, thanks to his flavorful produce. Paradise Valley Ranch is a fitting name for this lush, productive landscape. Forty varieties of produce sprout in orderly plots and orchards, surrounded by a riot of wild blackberry bushes, mushrooms and nettles. Equipped with a comprehensive habitat management plan, this ranch is