Allicin's Ranch was started by Ben who began organic farming in 2000. And this is our story...
Ben was taught by one of the industries pioneers David Ronniger (known for the famous catalog Ronnigers Seed Potatoes. Ben and David grew over 200 varieties of potatoes 50 varieties of garlic, all other manner of root and winter storage veggies. In 2007, Ben came into contact with a grower in Baja after
a friend introduced him to the most gorgeous work of food art he had ever seen which were the garlic braids Allicin's Ranch now imports. The grower was living in a tiny village high up in the Sierras where the air, water and soil are so clean it redefines the word organic. All the work is done by hand and the land is far removed from any roads and fossil fuels of any kind. OVer the years Ben has developed a wonderful relationship with the Baja grower and our yearly investment has been able to improve the lives of he and his family in addition to all of those whom help him in the small village. His daughter has been put through school and now helps me with organizing business affairs, he also employs ten or so other villagers. Each year we bring him gifts and he charges us a fair price for the garlic. He only grows approximately two acres of garlic in order to keep it small, small is beautiful! He learned the art of growing this amazing garlic from his father and his father before him and so on. Their family has been growing this same variety, which has become well adapted to the climate, in this valley for many generations. The seed was originally brought from the Spaniards or the Phillipino fishermen along with the knowledge to braid it so beautifully in the ancient Mediterranean style. The garlic can last up to a year if stored properly and its flavor is hot and biting when consumed raw, but mellows to a wonderfully mild yet robust garlic flavor when cooked. It can be fermented, picked and roasted as well. True foodies go nuts for it! We can not work our farm in the winter so we have found a wonderful way to be a part of growing healthy food elsewhere while enjoying a wonderful vacation. Every year we help with the cultivation, harvesting, cleaning, braiding and packing of the garlic to remain close to its production and learn as much as possible about the product as we can. It obviously works well with our fall grown garlic as the two compliment each other to make us the only farmers able to provide fresh gourmet garlic year round. We transport the garlic up to the border and through the states in our modified school bus which is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell to help with efficiency and also a solar panel for when we are parked to run our electricity.
