Walnut/Concord/Payne Farm Area

Homes sold in May 2008:

* None

Information extracted from EBRD MLS, deemed reliable but not guaranteed.  The information here is not maintained by the owner of this site.

Background info by David Navarette:

With some of the best soil in the state it’s no wonder our Ag Core can grow some of the best fruits and vegetables known to man.  When Balfour, Guthrie and Company purchased the Marsh Ranch (over 12,000 acres) in 1910 the area was know for agriculture.  In 1890 Brentwood was the largest shipping point for grains between San Francisco and New Orleans. In 1922 the first orchards were planted in Brentwood and in 1925 the first Apricot Festival was held.  The year 1945 saw the first sweet corn planted in Brentwood and in 1992 the first festival celebrating corn was held, the Brentwood CornFest.

Although Brentwood agriculture has decreased from the days of Balfour and Guthrie, we are still blessed with the rich soil of the Delta and a climate that is conducive to growing premium produce. Though Brentwood has  traditionally been known as farming community, urbanization has permanently removed valuable agriculture land. Fortunately, Contra Costa County saw the need for viable agriculture and developed the Ag Core, which consists of 6,500 acres in East Contra Costa Irrigation District (ECCID). The Ag Core area is protected from development as it exists outside the urban limit line, zoned for large parcels and subject to land easements that will guarantee agriculture production.

The action by Contra Costa County was followed by the City of Brentwood and allowed the City to impose mitigation fees on developments for preservation of agriculture. Funds generated from the mitigation fees City are to be used to preserve agricultural land through conservation easements. For this land conservation to work, however, farming must be economically viable for family farmers in our region.

To aid in the viability of farming we now have a Farmers Market held on Saturdays from 8-12 in the heart of downtown. New ordinances by Contra Costa County allow for larger fruit stands, wineries and olive oil producing facilities.  The Harvest Time Organization helps promote farming and local products and gives local farmers a voice in numbers.

Local branding with the slogan “Brentwood Grown”, initiated by David Navarrette and later given to the City of Brentwood is now Trademarked by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office #78737384 will also help in creating economical viability.  Studies have shown that through the marketing efforts of “Brentwood Grown” that consumers recognize Brentwood to be a premier source of local fresh fruit, vegetables, wine and olive oil.

We are all fortunate to live in such a great city. What began with grains, then stone fruit, to sweet corn and now wine and olives will ultimately be a legacy to the beginning farmers as well as those to though “out of the box” and planted crops that some thought would never be viable.  This is most evident with the rapid plantings of grapes for wine and olives for olive oil.

 

What’s the next crop for Brentwood……..only time will tell.