Knoll Organic Farms
At Raw, we often say roots over fruits. Strong roots can produce delicious, nutrient-dense food for generations. Healthy soil gives back in ways you never expected.
That's what comes to mind when I think about Knoll Organics.
Founded by Rick and Kristie Knoll two people deeply committed to biodiversity, not just profit, Knoll is a place where you can see the passion in every row. This is a farm built by soil stewards. People who have dedicated their lives to nurturing the land and inspiring others to do the same.
Walking the fields, nearly every crop was paired with pollinator plants or companion crops. Some fixed nitrogen. Others attracted beneficial insects that help keep pests in check. What first looked like wild, unintended growth revealed itself as a carefully designed ecosystem.
Those aren't weeds. They're part of what feeds.
They're part of the biological resilience that allows a farm to thrive with nature instead of constantly fighting against it. It's a level of complexity and self-sufficiency that a system dependent on endless inputs simply can't replicate.
Even the compost tea tanks were filled with tadpoles, a small but powerful sign of a thriving ecosystem and healthy biology. The farm is surrounded by towering eucalyptus trees that help buffer neighboring influences while creating a sense of enclosure and protection.
Beneath the fruit trees, the greens benefit from filtered sunlight and a gentler growing environment. The spinach was so delicate it reminded me of butter lettuce. Tender, vibrant, and alive.
As one of the first certified organic farms in the Bay Area, earning certification in 1979, Knoll is approaching 50 years of transforming what was once an alfalfa field into something closer to a living medicine cabinet.
We're excited to source many of their incredibly flavorful, nutrient-dense crops and share them with our members.
One final detail that makes this place special: Knoll is structured as an employee-owned trust. The goal isn't simply to operate a successful farm today. It's to ensure the farm remains in the hands of people who care for it, allowing it to continue growing, evolving, and stewarding the land for generations to come.
Some farms grow food.
The best farms grow life. 🌱