RUTIZ FAMILY FARMS NEWSLETTER
Growing vegetables, fruits and fresh cut flowers for our community using organic farming practices and no pesticides

After 40 years of running Rutiz Family Farms, Jerry and Maureen are ready to retire. We thank the community for your amazing support through all the ups and downs, floods and droughts and the good and difficult times. We are humbled and privileged to have been a part of such a wonderful and special community. While today the sun is setting on Rutiz Farms, tomorrow, March 1, the sun will rise with the dawn of the beginnings of Halcyon Farms.
Jerry and Maureen will be around for several months to assist with the transition, after that we hope to be off enjoying lots of fishing, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, traveling in general and of course visiting our daughters in Northern California. We have certainly been blessed and we thank you all for being part of our lives.
Meet your new farmers…
Ariela Gottschalk brings 20 years of experience in growing vegetables, flowers, and nursery plants as farm manager for Growing Grounds Farm, a program of Transitions-Mental Health Association. Many of you have purchased the veggie starts she’s been bringing to the stand over the years. Before Growing Grounds, Ariela spent 2 years as the Market Manager for the Hollywood Farmers’ Market, a weekly market with more than 150 vendors. Jeff Pienack, an avid surfer and environmental activist, spent 8 years as the SLO County chapter chair for Surfrider Foundation, working on water quality and conservation issues. Jeff is also a member of the local band the Mother Corn Shuckers. Their daughter, Olivia, is a 4th grader at Fairgrove Elementary. While the name will be changing to Halcyon Farms, you’ll see the same friendly faces at the farm and the same great produce. Ariela and Jeff look forward to carrying on the Rutiz tradition of building and nourishing community through fresh, local produce. They look forward to meeting you all on the farm.