Gary and Natasya Gundersen have been farming on their 2.5 acres in Jacona, just down the road from Phil Loomis, since 2001. Prior to that, they farmed for 12 1/2 years on 12 acres on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, mainly wholesaling ginger to the mainland.
Owner of Mr. G’s Organic Produce, Gary Gundersen received a certificate in biological horticulture from the University of California Santa Cruz Farm Project. He spent six years landscaping, specializing in herbaceous borders and drought tolerant design schemes in the Santa Cruz area. He met his future wife, Natasya, while planting a downtown community garden. He moved with Natasya to Hawaii in 1989, where they began farming on leased land on the island of Kauai. His farm was one of the first certified organic farms on Kauai. He eventually purchased 13 acres and specialized in mixed vegetables for local markets and ginger root, which they shipped wholesale all over the United States. He moved to the Santa Fe area in 2001, where he downsized to two acres for intensive vegetable production. Including Hawaii and Santa Fe, his farms have been certified organic for 29 years
Read the New Mexico Farmers’ Market Association’s bio about Mr. G’s
In 2018, Mr. G’s was given the Organic Farmer of the Year Award at the New Mexico Organic Farming Conference.
A chat with Natasya in May, 2018
What is a signature item that you sell? We sell greens and have been selling them for many years.
What’s the best way to store them? The best way to store them is to put them in the fridge but for root you want to separate them, cut the top off, and then store them. That keeps them more fresh.
How long have you been farming? We have been farming for 29 years.
How long have you been a member of the Market? We’ve been here 17 years, but before this I was at another market.
Share a favorite memory of the Market: When I first started farming and coming to the market I was with my husband coming to the first market and we were late. We arrived and there were lines at all the booths and it was then that I realized that this was our place and that we would stay.
How did you get into farming? I was never a farmer but I got into it through my husband. He loves it so I started doing it with him.
Do you own or rent the land you grow on? We owed our previous land before this but now we farm under a trust foundation and we use their land for all our farming.
Are you certified organic? Yes we have been certified for 29 year. Ever since we started farming we have been certified.
How was your growing season last year? Last year was very good because we had good weather and this year is looking good so far but it is still early and this is only the third market.
What crops are coming up next, seasonally? Right now we are selling carrots, beets, escarole and broccolini. Then in the summer we will have tomatoes, eggplants and flowers.
Besides farming, what takes up your time? Being a farmer there is this not much free time because we work all the time but the only time that there is not as much work is the winter when we aren’t growing.
Do you speak any other languages? I don’t speak any other languages but my husband speaks Spanish.
Are you celebrating anything special this year? We are in our 30th year of farming and in our 32nd year of marriage.
What is your favorite dish to make? I love anything with our fresh vegetables. For example tonight I am eating Bok Choy on the grill with a fresh salad with greens and a fish.
Red or Green? Christmas
If you were a super hero what would your powers be and why? I don’t need to be a super hero – I already am.
What’s your power vegetable? Meaning – which veg/fruit speaks to you on a personal level and how? I love beets, carrots and pretty much all vegetables.
What is the strangest thing you’ve eaten? I think I ate blood sausages or intestines once in France. It was really bad.
What have you done that you are most proud of? I am proud of raising my daughter and working with my husband to help people stay healthy and happy by eating good food.