The UC Organic Agriculture Institute (OAI) hosted its first San Diego regional conference this past fall, bringing together over 100 attendees—including 50+ organic farmers—for farm visits, expert panels, and one-on-one consultations. San Diego County currently has the highest number of certified organic farms in California, and the large diversity of crops and knowledge was on display at the conference. Farm tours included crops ranging from avocados to guava to watermelons. The tour was filled with discussion on how to farm productively in the dry San Diego climate. Indoor programming included panels featuring technical assistance providers and sessions on the details of running a successful and sustainable organic business. 

Partial support for the conference came from an OARS grant to OAI – Advancing Organic Agriculture in California – and the conference featured technical assistance providers for multiple OARS programs including Healthy Soils Program, Pollinator Habitat Program, and the Organic Transition Pilot Program. Technical assistance is a service to advise and educate farmers and ranchers on a wide variety of issues- from on-farm practices to business management. OARS funds a variety of free technical assistance to ensure that growers of all sizes can access expert help that builds resilience and supports a sustainable and thriving future. Seeing the relationships that on-the-ground technical assistance providers have built with the regional farmers was a highlight of the conference.  

For more information on the conference, visit https://ucanr.edu/blog/green-blog/article/san-diego-organic-ag-conference. Look for another regional conference from OAI in 2026! 

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