All this week at Farm Journal, we will be talking to and about the next generation of farmers, ranchers and growers.
It’s a critical time as the industry is poised to see 300 million acres change hands in the next 20 years.
Today we meet a California family making plans for the future.
Welcome to the Coachella Valley and the North Shore Living Herbs and Greens, where 30 years ago, Leo and Suzette Overgaag started their family farm.
“My husband’s a third-generation greenhouse grower, and he knows all this technology,” said Suzette Overgaag, vice president and CFO of North Shore Living Herbs and Greens. “And we started from nothing and we grew it to where we could afford to buy a full-blown automated greenhouse.”
They started by first growing cucumbers but eventually transitioned to fresh herbs in the mid-1990s.
“I would get home with my herbs, and I’d put them in the lower drawer, and I would forget about them,” Overgaag said. “So I was like, you know, there’s got to be a better product out there.”
The idea took off. Today, North Shore has more than 10 acres of hydroponic greenhouse space. Some herbs are potted, others are in a special plastic clamshell.
“Everything has the roots attached, and why that’s amazing is that when you get your product home from the grocery store it’s going to last longer,” said Brittany Bubb, creative director for North Shore Living Herbs and Greens. “It’s going to be an amazing product; the moment you need it you’re harvesting it.”
One of three siblings, Bubb is now the fourth-generation working as the creative director for a business that’s all about family. Bubb’s other siblings, Ashley Cullen-Carrol and Tony Overgaag, have also supported the company in different ways. Tony Overgaag works in IT and finance for the company.
“Food really is an experience, and that’s what we want to do here at North Shore is it’s all about gathering people at the table making moments, sharing time with your family,” Bubb said.
And together, their family has big dreams for sharing the idea and passion for living herbs with others.
“My dream is to see an instant herb garden in every kitchen across America. So I am really trying, along with my family, to come up with ways and, of course, all of our team here to make that happen,” Suzette Overgaag said.
Bubb added it’s something the family takes to heart.
“Food is so important, and I think it’s just really awesome that we have people here that are passionate about making good food and good products for consumers to have,” Bubb said.
