Chamomile tea for your tummy aches, oregano and sweet basil for your tomato sauce, whatever your herb needs, you can find them at the Fillmore Community Farmer’s Market. You can purchase the herbs you need from ABC Farm.
The ABC Farm is a family owned business. The business began in Santa Paula where they primarily grew rhubarb. In the late 1980’s, they sold their property and moved ABC Farm to thirty one acres in Fillmore where they began growing different varieties of herbs. At the farm they grow oregano, basil, dill, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, the list goes on and on. As I toured the ABC Farm with Albert, the eldest Baltazar son, he explained to me how the business has grown. Years ago, Albert would sell 5 bundles of watercress at each market, but today currently sells over 50 bundles a market. Why the sudden increase in watercress sales? Apparently Dr. Oz had a TV episode on watercress and its health benefits which prompted costumers to ask for more watercress. Other than watercress, their top seller is mint. Albert told me that the herbs they sell are not only used for food but some costumers choose to use herbs like rue, chamomile and aloe vera for their medicinal benefits. To help keep their herbs organic they grow the plants on top of mulch piles instead of the ground. ABC Farm is in the process of being certified organic, they currently do not use any fertilizer or sprays on their plants. It takes approximately four to six years to become certified organic and ABC Farms have about 18 more months until the process is finished. They have a certificate that allows them to sell at farmer’s markets. Each year, an inspector from the Ventura County Agriculture Department comes to the farm to make sure they are growing what they are selling at the farmer’s markets. Albert sells to markets around Ventura County, but his daughter-in-law Sandra helps with the sales at the Fillmore Community Farmer’s Market. Albert enjoys the farmer’s market because he meets many people of different cultures. Albert’s goal for the next year is to grow more Asian and Persian herbs. In the mean time, stop by for a bundle of Rue, Albert tells me it’s a great natural air freshener. The Fillmore Community Farmer’s Market is every Wednesday from 3:30-7pm. Hope to see you there!