How it Started…
Katie and Jason Lesh co founded Farm Cart Organics twelve years ago with one goal in mind: to bring as much local food into the hands of people as possible. It started off with just a single farm and farm stand in Carpinteria. Every morning, Katie and Jason would harvest produce from Katie’s dad’s farm and sell it to the community. And for the next ten years they worked with many more small farmers to build a better food system and reach more people. Through their extended CSA farm box program, they reached thousands of people per week and tried to make it easier for people to access organic, local food. But when the pandemic hit in 2020 they realized how broken the food system still was, and how the majority of people didn’t know how to support their local farmers. The pandemic showed just how important a local food system is and that’s when the entirety of the food hub was born.
Farm Cart Organics has pivoted away from their CSA boxes but their goal & mission is the same. FCO is dedicated to bringing the freshest, most nutrient dense farm foods to families in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. They continue to partner with farmers who share the same dedication to creating a healthier, happier planet and community by supporting biodiversity, workers rights, and regenerative practices with every seed they sow. Through their partnerships with Food Banks and local school districts, they are increasing the access to families that are food-insecure. All by doing so while empowering traditionally underserved farmers. Together, they are building a robust local food system.
My father, Tom Shepherd, has been an organic farmer since 1973 in Santa Barbara. He was one of the founding members of the farmers market and he’s been an organic farmer before organic was even a thing!
-Katie Lesh, co founder