Monte Vista Farm

CONGRATULATIONS on winning third place for the Best Vendor at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market in the 2019 Best Of Santa Fe Competition.

David and Loretta have been farming for over 40 years and have been vending at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market since 1989. Their farm has been certified organic since 1995.

Monte Vista Organics received the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s “Farmer All Star” award in 2015.

You know you’re at the Monte Vista Organics’ booth when you’re greeted by smiling faces, kind words, and bins full of bright red, orange, and pink tomatoes. They also wow customers with a diverse array of organic goods, such as raspberries, grapes, fava beans, and GMO free corn!

David and Loretta both grew up in Española. Their large families may not have been farmers, but they did grow food out of necessity. When they married, David and Loretta started their own garden, growing sweet corn and tomatoes. After that first year they decided to share their bounty by selling at local markets.

David and Loretta left their jobs in Los Alamos, and by 1995 they were farming full time and selling at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market twice a week. They now also sell to restaurants such as Restaurant Martin and Joe’s Diner. Make sure to try the margarita pizzas at Joes’ Dining and Pizza Etc. which feature David’s tomatoes!

In 2001, they expanded their operation with the purchase of land in Taos County where they grow winter crops, like potatoes, garlic, and squash. David and Loretta have managed to turn their favorite hobby into a lifetime career. David even finds weeding relaxing – like a walking meditation.

David is an innovative farmer and a tomato connoisseur. He creates new tomato varieties, raises chickens, tends to bee hives, and saves his own seeds. He built his home and farm, transplanted Blue Spruce as a wind barrier, and hauled rock for walls. He carved morning glories into a gate, accidentally tricking the local hummingbirds into trying to feed off of it!

He has a large greenhouse and recently installed solar panels from SunPower Positive Energy Solar. They’ve fine-tuned their operation so much that Dave has hosted Institute workshops on composting.

They love selling at the Market because of the wonderful people they’ve met from all over the world. To David and Loretta, their finished product — fresh, delicious food — is the best part of the job.

Please contact Monte Vista Organic Farm for CSA information.

A chat with Dave in 2018

What is the signature item that you sell? Tomatoes are what we are most known for but we have a lot of seasonal produce.

How long have you been farming? Fifty years plus. We started a farm when we got married.

How long have you been a member of the Market? We’ve been at the market since it was on Alto Street.

How did you get into farming? I grew up on a farm. My grandparents would get me up at 5am. I remember sitting by a ditch when I was little and watching the sun come up. And we would sell the produce to the pueblos – we’d walk there – and on Cerrillos – all over.

Are you certified organic? Yes.

Besides farming, what takes up your time? Fishing, hunting, silver-smithing, masonry, construction, being outdoors.

Do you speak any other languages? Spanish (fluently), French (a little); Native American languages (a little).

Are you celebrating anything special this? Being alive and healthy. Enjoying every day.

How would you describe yourself in one word? Happy

What is your favorite dish to make? I can’t pick just one. I like to make a lot of things. I’ll say Trout Almandine.

Red or Green? Christmas

If you were a super hero what would your powers be and why? I’d love to fly jets.

What is the strangest thing you’ve eaten? Fresh blood from a deer. It’s a hunting tradition. You drink blood from the very first deer you get. I only tasted a little of it.

What have you done that you are most proud of? My family and I completely built our house ourselves. We did everything.