Sea Level Farm is a small, 40-acre organic farm in Corralitos, CA, near Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay, and is co-owned by JP McDaniel and Jane Freedman. JP started Sea Level over 30 years ago, and it has been organic since day one.

Sea Level Farm is famous for its dry farmed Early Girl tomatoes, which are small and perfectly round, with an intensely rich flavor. These are different from the standard Early Girl tomatoes because they are dry-farmed. As the name suggests, the tomatoes are not watered, and must rely on the water in the soil to survive.

With limited water available, these tomato roots burrow deep into the soil to reach the water table, and as a result, pass through the rich mineral layer beneath the farm. These minerals accentuate the taste of these tomatoes and give them a concentrated sweet and acidic flavor that has become famous among the nearby restaurants, farmers markets and retailers. Many restaurants and retailers exclusively support Sea Level Farm as they say there are no other tomatoes that can create such a rich and robust flavor.

Jane and JP are both advocates of working with the environment, and believe that healthy soil is the key to creating the high-quality crops they’re known for. As JP says, “If you show up for the land, and be a good steward, in return the land will be there for you.”