Jacobs Farm Del Cabo: How an 8-acre start-up grew into a US organic farming powerhouse

One of the largest organic culinary herb suppliers in the United States, Jacobs Farm Del Cabo, began in the 80s as an eight-acre small farm in Pescadero, California.

Today, the brand has grown across the state, with the Jacobs Farm division comprising 5,000 acres of organic herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and a wide range of specialty crops. Meanwhile, its sister company, Del Cabo, extends across the entire Baja California Peninsula and parts of mainland Mexico.

Owned by Larry and Sandra Jacobs, the operation supplies over 30 varieties of organic herbs and vegetables to consumers across the US and Canada.

Jacobs Farm Del Cabo—organic from the root up 

Larry has been fascinated with growing produce since childhood. Amazed at every step of the plant’s growth. Meanwhile, Sandra began developing her skills by working on farms in exchange for food and accommodation.

They say their love for growing organic produce brought them together and eventually pushed them to launch Jacobs Farm in the late 1970s. 

“We didn't understand anything back then because of our naiveté,” Larry said. “But still, we began planting fava beans and elephant garlic, different specialty crops, organically.”

Although the couple lacked experience with market dynamics and large-scale production, their background, the rising demand for organic produce, and Larry’s expertise in plant pathology enabled steady growth for Jacobs Farm.

Their bet paid off, and they rapidly expanded to adjacent land and eventually acquired property across the county. Their crop selection also evolved.

“We ended up growing more and more culinary herbs, and it was a good niche for us at the time,” Larry said.

Organic California growers unite under Del Cabo

Their business grew significantly after a 1985 trip to the Baja California Peninsula, where they identified an opportunity to collaborate with local farmers.

Larry said most of the area's population made a living from organic farming, but none of them were exporting their produce. In a town of 10,000, that can become a problem. 

“When one guy had tomatoes, they all had tomatoes, so they quickly would overwhelm the municipal market,” Larry explained.

As a solution, the couple decided to create Del Cabo, a growers' association with local farmers. With Larry's technical support, participating producers began cultivating cherry tomatoes and herbs organically for export.

As retailer demand for year-round organic herbs and tomatoes increased, more growers joined. Soon, the association began shipping several hundred thousand pounds of produce by air to retailers and buyers nationwide.

From small growers to organic powerhouse

Today, the Del Cabo is a 45-year-old collective that includes over 1,250 farming families across 14 communities in San Jose del Cabo.

“It doubled, and it kept doubling,” Larry said. “Retailers kept asking us for year-round supply, and we wanted to keep it as small growers.”

After five years supporting winter operations, the couple hired a manager and separated their businesses, establishing Jacobs Farm and Del Cabo as two distinct operations under the umbrella company Jacobs Farm Del Cabo.

Jacobs Farm continued to grow simultaneously, and the brand now operates over seven farms across California, with locations in southern San Diego, north and south of Tijuana, and throughout the Bay Area, including San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz.

Larry and Sandra attribute Jacobs Farm Del Cabo's success to strong teamwork and a shared commitment to producing organic, chemical-free food.

“The trick is to keep abreast of the change and implement change,” Sandra said. “There's no being static in any business you're in.”

*All photos courtesy of Jacobs Farm Del Cabo

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