Since 1962, father and son team Louis and Mike Iacopi have been farming 200 acres in the cool, seaside town of Half Moon Bay. A three-generation farming family originally from central Italy, they are best known for their fresh shelling and dry bean varieties including Italian butter, cranberry, borlotti, gigante and cannellini. These heirloom varieties were brought to California in the 1930’s by the family’s patriarch, Michele Iacopi, and are cherished by some of the most prominent restaurants in Napa, Sonoma and San Francisco counties.
Father and son use farming methods that are respectful of California’s scarce water supply. More than half of what Iacopi Farms grows is “dry farmed” meaning it is grown without any water. The natural moisture of California’s foggy coast, combined with special soil tilling techniques, enables them to grow much of what they plant with little or no irrigation. They use both mechanical and hand cultivating methods to promote healthy soil nutrition.
Iacopi Farms also grows fava beans, blue lake and romano beans, English peas, sugar snap peas, Swiss chard, kale and broccoli. Most crops are harvested by hand, enabling Iacopi Farms to filter out imperfections and select only the highest quality produce.
You can find them and purchase directly at the College of San Mateo Farmers' Market, Burlingame Farmers' Market and Palo Alto Farmers' Market (California Ave). Click here for more Farmers' Markets information.