Center Director Attends USDA Southwest TOPP Gathering at Paicines Ranch

Dr. Matt Grieshop, director of the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research, participated in the USDA Southwest Region Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) gathering from November 17 to November 20 at Paicines Ranch. The meeting brought together the full Southwest TOPP team for the first time to assess progress, identify challenges, and outline priorities for the project's final year. Discussions also included updates on several collaborative efforts funded through the program, including the center’s podcast series focused on organic agriculture.

In addition to the meeting sessions, attendees took part in field visits across the region to observe organic production and post-harvest practices in diverse contexts.

Stops included:

• Lakeside Organic Gardens
• Reiter Ranch, a Driscoll’s grower specializing in blackberries and raspberries
• Earthbound Farm's vegetable packing facility
• U.C. Santa Cruz's Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

These visits provided valuable insight into production systems, innovation in protected culture, and strategies for scaling organic operations while maintaining soil health and ecological balance.

As part of the ongoing work highlighted during the gathering, the Center released episode two of its podcast series on November 26, featuring an interview with Blake Alexandre of Alexandre Family Farm, who shares his perspective on soil health, grazing systems, and the evolution of his family’s operation.

The center looks forward to continuing its collaboration with partners across the Southwest TOPP region as the project advances into its final year.