Every day, California’s farmers and farmworkers help bring nutritious, fresh food to our tables—and Hispanic farmers are an important part of that story.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, the California Department of Food and Agriculture celebrates the many Hispanic farmers and farmworkers across our state whose hard work, knowledge and dedication help make California agriculture what it is today.
One of those farmers is Gerardo Pérez of Pérez Farms (El Dorado County, California), who has spent more than three decades bringing fresh, locally grown produce directly to customers at farmers’ markets. From peppers and tomatoes to strawberries, potatoes, garlic, onions and more, Gerardo and his family grow a diverse array of crops while building a direct connection between the farm and the community.
For Gerardo, that connection is at the heart of what he does: helping people have access to food that is fresh, healthy and grown close to home.
We caught up with Gerardo and his wife, Vicky—at the Cameron Park Certified Farmers’ Market, where you can find them each Friday morning from 8 am – 12 pm – located at the Cameron Park Community Services District.
Tell us about yourself?
Hi, I’m Gerardo Pérez from Pérez Farms. We’re here at the Cameron Park Farmers’ Market at the Cameron Park Community Center. We’ve brought produce here to sell.
What kinds of products do you bring to the farmers’ market?
We bring different varieties of produce. We also bring some sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes, and we grow strawberries as well. Here we have chicken eggs, what we call blanquillos, as well as poblano peppers. We have hot peppers, potatoes, garlic, and plenty of onions. And a few flowers here and there.
How long have you been selling at farmers’ markets and working on your own farm?
I’ve been doing farmers’ markets for 32 years, and I’ve been working for myself since 2010, working full-time for our business, Pérez Farms, which is my own family business.
Why is it important to you to bring your products directly to farmers’ markets?
We do this, so people can come and have the opportunity to get everything fresh at these markets. All of this was picked just a day before, compared with stores where produce can spend weeks in warehouses.
What is the importance of connecting directly with your customers?
So everything here is fresh. And that’s the importance of connecting directly with the public—from the farmer to the customer. There are no middlemen between us, nobody buying and reselling everything. We’re (Certified Farmers Markets) selling directly to the public. And that’s important so people can eat healthy, fresh food.