The creation of Babé Farms Specialties can be credited to its visionary founder, Will Souza, a third-generation farmer from a pioneer farm family in the Santa Maria Valley, CA.

With over 600 SKUs and growing, it is one of the busiest specialty vegetable farming operations on the West Coast.

While in Europe in the early 1980s, Souza, who is an avid traveler, noticed the popularity of delicate salad greens called “mesclun” and mini baby-size vegetables.A bright, colorful and healthy crudité platter of vegetables from Babé Farms Specialties.

An innovator by nature, Souza returned to the family farm to capitalize on the idea of growing the European lettuce varieties and mini baby vegetables.

Ande Manos, marketing and new business development director for the company, said that in 1986 Souza and his founding partners — Frank and Judy Lundberg and Greg and Cherrie Pedigo — established Babé Farms.

“Babé Farms was one of the first companies to introduce packaged European salad mixes, or mesclun, hand-selected specialty greens and a colorful array of baby vegetables into the United States and Canada,” said Manos.

Today the company is owned by founding partner Judy Lundberg-Wafer and her son, Jeff Lundberg.

“Babé Farms Specialties has expanded its line of couture vegetables, and we now grow and harvest over 70 different varieties of specialty vegetables, lettuces and greens, in addition to organic kales, spring mix and spinach,” said Manos.

She explained that packed in the “Coastal Valley Farms” label, the company’s organic Lacinato, Green and Redbor kales continue to show longevity in today’s marketplace, noting, “And there is no sign of changing until the next superfood makes its debut.”

Spring and summer is the time of year to freshen up menus with light, bright, fresh vegetables with vivid color appeal, and Babé Farms Specialties offers a plentiful array of brilliant colored vegetables for any summer menu.

“We offer baby carrots, radishes, colored cauliflower, baby squash, baby beets, baby lettuces and much more,” said Manos. “We really want to inspire chefs by providing them with a spectrum of gourmet vegetables; it’s like ‘paint for the plate.’

“One of our favorites is the crudité platter using our crisp petit vegetables artfully arranged on a platter,” she continued. “This is attractive to the eye and a healthier alternative to heavier appetizers. Crudité’s are a great centerpiece for any party, brunch or summer barbeque.”

Babé Farms Specialties offers year-round supplies of its beautiful vegetable line, which is available nationwide.

Manos also announced a “new face” at Babé Farms Specialties. Adrian Duncan, a Santa Maria local, recently joined the sales staff.

“Adrian has worked in the fresh produce industry for eight years in sales and customer support,” said Manos. “She previously worked with Beachside Produce in Guadalupe, CA.

“Adrian brings with her millennial philosophies; she is relevant and great with our customers,” she added.