Dick Peixoto, owner and sole grower of Lakeside Organic Gardens, headquartered in Watsonville, CA, said, “We love what we do, and we think it shows.”

Peixoto has been farming since he was 16 years old. He says he loves what he does and he would never dream of stepping out of the field and into an office. He brought organic produce to the market for the first time in 1996, and for him it was a dream come true. He began by successfully conquering the challenge of converting more than 1,000 acres to certified organic land.

“My peers called me crazy for trying,” he said. “I now farm over 2,000 [organic] acres, and I am as intimately connected with all aspects of my family-owned and operated business.”

Peixoto’s sister, Joanne, is the company controller. His nephew, Brian, is the sales manager, and his three children; Ashley, Amanda and Ricky, all play active roles in the business.

Peixoto works hard to keep all aspects of the company within arm’s reach. He walks every field and cooler every day and brings daily report yields back to his sales team. By doing so he can instantly make production changes that better suit the needs of his customers.

“Lakeside Organic Gardens is genuinely committed to organics and to our loyal customers,” said Peixoto. “Our management team strongly believes in the organic way of life and they do all they can to encourage a healthy lifestyle among all of our employees. Our popular ‘Lakeside Farmers Market’ is available for employees to bring produce home to their families. The market features leafy greens daily, and often unique items like sweet baby broccoli, rainbow carrots, celery root, beets and rutabagas.”

He added that if anyone spoke with someone from the company’s sales team, they would learn that they juice fresh vegetables twice a day.

“It’s not uncommon to hear one of them bragging about how great it makes them feel,” said Peixoto. “We also promote a safe workplace by awarding employees with gift cards and apparel when safe work habits are demonstrated. Every employee, from the person who plants the seed to the person who ships the product, has received an annual bonus the past two years. My hope is to have the opportunity to continue these practices for years to come.”

Peixoto stressed how passionate Lakeside Organic Gardens is about organic farming.

“We strive every day to grow the highest quality produce under the safest conditions,” he said. “We are totally committed to sustainable agriculture, our customers and employees. Our plan is to remain firmly rooted in our beliefs and culture as we head into the future.”