Jose is featured in Local Flavor’s June, 2018 edition. Click here to read “A Farmers Dream”.
Gonzales Farm is acequia-irrigated and has been in the family for many years. They have been vending with the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market since 2006.
Gonzalez Farm received the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s “Farmer All Star” award in 2015.
Don’t let Jose Gonzalez’s youthful appearance fool you. He grew up on a farm in a small village in Guanajuato, Mexico and has over twenty-five years of experience in agriculture in this country! For much of that time he worked for fellow market vendors Phil Loomis and Salvador Corona.
But since he met his wife, Maria who is also from Guanajuato ten years ago, they have run their own farming operation on two plots of rented land near Espanola.
Jose grows squash, cucumbers, corn, potatoes, beans, sunflowers, and the signature peppers Maria uses in her ristras and decorations. Although he is not Certified Organic, he grows all of his wonderful products chemical and pesticide free. Jose is a family man and believes in only growing food that he would feel comfortable feeding to his family.
Because Jose farms with only Maria’s help, there’s no getting around the fact that he works long farmers’ hours. During harvest months, he wakes at 4:30 in the morning and works until 9 at night. In the winter months, you can find him pruning trees for many of the Market’s orchards.
He and Maria are raising their children, Mia and Dominic with good values and a strong work ethic. He loves the hard work, being outside, and seeing what he’s produced with his own hands. When asked what may make his life as a farmer a little easier, he says it would be the ability to own his land, rather than rent. Jose and Maria have used the Institute’s micro loan program wisely to build their credit, working towards their dream.
Their constant presence at almost every Tuesday and Saturday market all year long make them some of the most recognizable and faithful vendors of the Santa Fe Farmers Market.
In the warm months, they sell their wonderful produce by the water tower and in the cold winter months, you can still find them outside selling sage animals, chile ristas, and other flower art produced by Maria. You can find her beautiful creations at the Gonzalez Farms booth, or stop by and see them in person tonight at the registration tables!
A chat with Jose in May, 2018
What is a signature item that you sell? Produce, decorative ristras, and sage bundles in the shapes of animals (made by Maria), Customer comment- “Very talented”
How long will the ristras keep? They have been dried so they will last indefinitely
How long have you been farming? I have been farming all my life.
How long have you been a member of the Market? 12 years. I started when I was 17 years old by helping other farmers before the new pavilion was built.
Share of favorite memory of the market: I always loved helping the other farmers at the market.
How did you get into farming? I grew up on a farm in Mexico.
Do you own or rent the land you grow on? We rent a 4-acre plot.
Are you certified organic? We use only organic methods and seeds.
What crops are coming up next, seasonally? Tomatoes, squash, potatoes, beans and corn
Besides farming, what takes up your time? My three kids take up most of my time. They are ages 1, 5, and 8. We watch a lot of cartoons after work.
Do you speak other languages? Spanish and English
How would you describe yourself in one phrase? Fun Dad
What is your favorite dish to make? Mole
Red or Green? Red
What’s your power vegetable? Chiles. I like hot and spicy. I often put it on all my food.
What have you done that you are most proud of? Farming. It’s fun, too.
Day in the life of a farmer: Gets up at 5am, has coffee, starts watering the starts, sends his oldest daughter to school, Drives 20 minutes to his 4 acre farm. Weeds, plants or does whatever is needed. Stays working till dark or later. Favorite part is coming back home to his growing family.