Thursday, February 27, 2025 | Workshops & Presentations
Bourns Technology Center
1190 Columbia Avenue Riverside, CA 92507
Bourns Technology Center
1190 Columbia Avenue Riverside, CA 92507
Friday, February 28, 2025 | Farm Tour
Five Keys Ecological Agriculture Training Cultural Center & Farm
3954 Old Hamner Road Norco, CA 92860
Five Keys Ecological Agriculture Training Cultural Center & Farm
3954 Old Hamner Road Norco, CA 92860
The annual Grow Conference, open to all, unites a diverse group of professionals to strengthen local food systems. It provides valuable tools and knowledge to cultivate sustainable practices, nourish community and economic growth, and advance food and agriculture policies, all while offering valuable networking opportunities. The conference unites stakeholders, experts, and enthusiasts from the agricultural and sustainability sectors to explore innovative practices, technologies, and strategies for sustainable farming. Through presentations, workshops, and discussions, it aims to inspire action, foster collaboration, and drive positive change toward a more sustainable and resilient future in agriculture.
Workshops
We’re looking for dynamic leaders, farmers, speakers and educators who can bring fresh insights and inspire our community. If you have an idea for a breakout session, panel discussion, or if you know someone who would make a great speaker, we want to hear from you!
Proposals will be reviewed by our conference planning team.
Don’t miss this chance to share your knowledge and help drive meaningful change in agriculture. Let’s make the 2025 Grow Conference the best one yet. We look forward to your ideas!
Conference Speakers
Jesse Frost
Farmer Jesse Frost owns and operates Rough Draft Farmstead in Central Kentucky with his wife Hannah. Frost is the author of The Living Soil Handbook and the co-creator of Notillgrowers.com. He also created the No-Till Market Garden podcast and hosts a popular farming YouTube channel called No-Till Growers.
Autumn Jacobo
Autumn serves as the Agriculture Programs Technician at IERCD. Her main focus is providing technical support to local community gardens. She helps assess potential and existing garden sites, recommends best practices for sustainable gardening, and helps coordinate educational workshops. She also coordinates a local CSA produce box subscription program for Huerta del Valle Jardin Comunitario. Supporting local agriculture and creating green spaces in our community is her ambition.
Javier Zamora
Javier had a dream to own land, farm organically, support his family, and provide sustainable food for his community. With an incredible hard-working team, JSM Organics has been growing Real Organic food since 2012. Known for their incredible berries, Javier's team grows a variety of vegetables and flowers that have become farmers market favorites and sought after finds in many independent grocers in and around the Bay Area.
Tyler Culp
As Vice President at American AgCredit, Tyler Culp has over 10 years of experience in all aspects of loan origination and analysis. Tyler works with farmers and ranchers throughout Southern California, and supports all segments of agriculture with issues related to credit and access to capital, business planning, budgeting, and risk identification. Tyler is active in the Southern California ag community with his support and participation with the San Diego County Flower and Plant Growers Association, the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, and the San Diego County Farm Bureau. In his spare time, Tyler enjoys exploring the Southern California region with his wife and two children.
Alba Velasquez
Alba Velasquez serves as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC), recognized as one of the nation's most influential food policy organizations. Since her tenure began, Alba has led crucial initiatives to support the local food supply chain, including the Healthy Neighborhood Market Network. This program aids small market store owners in offering healthy food options in underserved communities, while the "Cultivating Farms and Farmers" initiative provides local farms with technical assistance and access to state-funded grants, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, the LAFPC plays a vital role in bridging connections and fostering collaboration among community groups and individuals to address gaps within the food system. An example of such an effort is the Farm Fresh LA program, which facilitates the distribution of produce bundles, valued at $20, from local farmers to community residents. Alba's personal journey from a Salvadoran refugee to a prominent advocate in food policy, supported by her educational background in Sociology and Urban Regional Planning, underscores her deep understanding of and commitment to food equity and community empowerment. With her strategic vision and relentless advocacy, Alba has significantly contributed to creating a more resilient and equitable food landscape in Los Angeles, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to improving the food system for the benefit of vulnerable communities.
Amrita Mukherjee
Amrita Mukherjee joined as urban agriculture and small farms advisor serving San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange counties. Originally from Bangladesh, Mukherjee grew up in a family of farmers and understands the struggles farmers encounter as laborers and as a business. Her upbringing inspired her to not only pursue a career in agriculture but to alleviate the hardships that often burden farmers. Mukherjee earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Khulna University in 2009, and a master’s degree in horticulture, plant biology and post-harvest physiology from Kansas State University in 2022. Her research was focused on preharvest factors affecting the postharvest quality of strawberries grown under greenhouse condition. Previously, Mukherjee worked for the International Rice Research Institute where she examined flash flood risk management in her homeland. She also worked for the Horticulture Innovation Lab management team at UC Davis as an assistant specialist in Bangladesh, focused on the nutrition impacts of horticultural innovations. Mukherjee has presented her research to various national and international audiences, and her name appears as the author or coauthor of more than 10 research articles in both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed journals.
Arthur Levine
Arthur Levine is a Pitzer college alum. He earned his B.A. in Neuroscience in 2014 and earned an M.S. in Regenerative Studies from the Cal Poly Pomona school of Environmental Design in 2023. Originally from New York City, and moving to SoCal in 2009, Arthur has worked in urban and community-food-systems for 13 years in New York, New Orleans and here in Southern California as a volunteer, technical support, projects director, and board member. Arthur has worked at Pitzer and in Inland Empire communities for years. He is a former Community Engagement Fellow for the Pitzer in Ontario program (2014-2017) where he supported student service-learning, internships, and the growth and development of Huerta del Valle. Arthur is a co-founder of Huerta del Valle and former Board member and Projects Director at HdV (2017-2021). Arthur is a Researcher at the Redford Conservancy. Currently he is involved in implementing an innovative research project to study the impacts of dual-use land-uses combining solar energy generation and sustainable agriculture. Arthur is also involved in various regional organizations, collaboratives, and participates in general programs at the Conservancy.
Crystal Valenzuela
Crystal Valenzuela has served as the Community Engagement Specialist at the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) since 2019. She leverages her background in science with an artistic flair to bring effective communications content to her team. Her greatest passion lies in bridging the gap between environmental science and public understanding while advocating that Earth's resources are meant for the benefit of all. In her free time she likes to craft and read! You can connect with Crystal for graphic design support at [email protected].
Deborah Ghamlouch
Deborah Ghamlouch grew up in Riverside’s Greenbelt. Over the last 25 years her family has diversified the ten acres and now sell their certified organic produce at several farmers markets. She has acquired multiple skills along the way including beekeeper, master food preserver and food safety trainer. Her passion for growing food led her to the boards of the Riverside Food Systems Alliance and the Riverside Food Co-op. In her free time, she loves to travel and is learning how to make the perfect loaf of sourdough bread.
Dr. Susan A. Phillips
Dr. Susan A. Phillips has been at Pitzer since 2002 and has worn many hats during her time at the college. A Professor of Environmental Analysis, she directed the Community Engagement Center and the CASA Pitzer program prior to coming to the Robert Redford Conservancy. Phillips is interested in participatory research and pedagogy, community-led strategies for equitable sustainability, nature-based solutions for climate resilience, theories of violence and inequality, anarchic social forms, and intersections between urban history, material life, and the built environment. Phillips has studied gangs, graffiti, and the US prison system since 1990. Phillips received her Ph.D. in anthropology in 1998 from UCLA and is author of three books: Wallbangin: Graffiti and Gangs in L.A. (Chicago, 1999), Operation Fly Trap: Gangs, Drugs, and the Law (Chicago, 2012), and The City Beneath: A Century of Los Angeles Graffiti (Yale, 2019). Phillips has received numerous grants, including two Getty fellowships, a Soros Justice Media Fellowship, a short-term Huntington research fellowship, and a Harry Frank Guggenheim research grant for the study of violence.
Gracia Maria Puerto Hernandez
Gracia started working for the WSU Skagit County Extension Office as a Spanish-speaking Agricultural Extension Coordinator in January 2024. She is now part of the WRASAP team, working in the internal team as part of the clearinghouse in the enrollment of organizations affiliated with the WRASAP network. Gracia is originally from Honduras with an MS in Animal Science from Oregon State University and a BSc in Food Science and Technology from Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School.
Guido Lois
Guido Lois is a filmmaker and communications specialist working in regenerative agriculture. He was born in Argentina into a family deeply involved in the food system and came to the United States after finishing his studies. In his free time, he dedicates himself to studying and teaching Pakua martial arts.
Lucy Ceja
Lucy Ceja, has been working at the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) for almost 7 years. In her role as a Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, she provides technical assistance to local farmers and bridge the gap between regional agricultural workers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Her favorite part of her career is having the opportunity to help farmers, but especially to provide resources to those who don't speak English or encounter greater barriers to getting assistance. In her free time, she likes to garden and spend time with her family.
Moises Munoz Plascencia
Moises Munoz Plascencia was born and raised as a first generation Mexican-American in Santa Ana, California. A proud alum from Santa Ana College, the University of California Santa Cruz, and California State University Long Beach. He conducted his thesis on an urban horticultural space in Santa Ana. He is first and foremost a humanist and believer in humanity and the inherit ability to find their ontological vocation. Moises has worked on sustainability and food justice issues in the City of Santa Ana for thirteen years. I have worked for various non-profits in the city, school districts, and collaborated with various entities to promote a healthy sustainable community. Moises is a Lecturer of Anthropology in Southern California. He teaches introduction to cultural anthropology and language and culture.
Patrick Mitchell
Patrick Mitchell is a California Farmer, Naturalist, Teacher and Writer. He is the Five Keys Ecological Agriculture Training (EAT!) Farm Operations and Cultural Center Manager and oversees the Small Farm Apprenticeship Program. He is a Native Californian and has authored two books and numerous popular and peer reviewed articles. Patrick has more than 25 years of experience in ecological horticulture and land-based education. For the past decade he has taken a hands-on role in various market-scale farm operations by growing and selling culinary herbs, citrus, vegetables and other specialty crops. During this time, he has developed a small farm system that incorporates the practice of Natural History and the principles of ecological restoration with bio-intensive crop production and regenerative animal agriculture. Patrick has owned several small businesses with his wife including Blue Orchid Flower Shop and Wild Bunch Flower Company. He has managed Resort landscapes, public parks, natural areas and historic sites. Patrick Serves on the Boards of the Inland Empire Food Systems Alliance, Naturalist For You and the Norco Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a scholar of the relationship between nature and culture and believes deeply in the transformative power of putting one’s hands in soil.
Scott Berndt
Scott Berndt - operator of Fox Farm, a 2.5 acre urban farm in Riverside. Scott grew up on a Dairy/beef/grain farm in South Dakota. Moved to California in 1987 and worked in restaurant and Hotel Managment until becoming the Food Hub Coordinator for RUSD in 2017. Board member Riverside Food Coop, Riverside Food Systems Alliance, Sherman Indian High School Agricultural Task Force.
Sue Struthers
Sue Struthers is passionate about growing, cooking, sharing, eating, rescuing and talking about food. Sue is the Chair of the Riverside Food Systems Alliance and Treasurer of the Riverside Food Co-op. Sue is a retired librarian and an avid reader.
Tom Spellman
Tom Spellman brings to Grow Riverside more than fifty years' experience in the Southern California nursery industry. He currently works for Dave Wildon Nursery as Southwestern Sales Manager and before that spent twenty years with Laverne Nursery, specializing in the production and sale of avocados, citrus, sub-tropical and deciduous fruit trees including landscape and orchard site consultation. Tom’s memberships and affiliations include: International Plant Propagators Society, California Rare Fruit Growers and past board member of California Citrus Nurseryman’s Society. Tom is an Ex officio board member of California State Citrus Historic Park, as well as a California certified nurseryman. Tom lectures, write, participates in radio, television and video productions on growing Fruit Trees and Fruit crops throughout the southwestern USA.
Niamh Quinn
Niamh Quinn is University of California Cooperative Extension Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, based at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine. Her focus is directed on the coordination of Cooperative Extension programming regarding human-wildlife conflicts, particularly within the residential and industrial areas within Southern California where significant human-wildlife conflicts are occurring. Her research and education focus on everything from mice to mountain lions but she mostly focuses on rodents and coyotes, their management, and the pathways and effects of rodenticides on non-target wildlife.
Randy Bekendam
Randy Bekendam is a third generation of farmers who have been pushed off their land by development. The first two generations of farmers were landowners but were not able to hold on to their land due to high pressure from imminent urban development. In Randy’s case, a 35 year lease agreement came to an end with an eviction connected to the sale of the leased land for development. As executive director of So. Cal. Agricultural Land Foundation, Randy continues to advocate for farmland preservation from his current home base on new parcel of leased land. He and his daughter Amy Owen, and her family operated Amy’s Farm for 25 years on the former leased land.
GROW Dinner | Thursday, February 27th, 2025 | 5:30pm
Grab your fork and knife, the Grow Farm-to-Fork Dinner is back! Enjoy and evening of entertainment, local food, and drinks.
This is a fundraiser dinner where proceeds support the Grow Riverside Movement.
Event Location Coming Soon
This is a fundraiser dinner where proceeds support the Grow Riverside Movement.
Event Location Coming Soon
Conference Agendas
Check Out Last Year’s Conference
Our Partners
