Adam Azevedo

Merced County, California

Growing up on the family farm in Stevinson, California, Adam Azevedo viewed farming through two different lenses. He watched his dad, Tony Azevedo, transition from conventional to organic farming after he became disillusioned about the overuse of chemicals, the rise of big business agriculture, and the subsequent erosion of the family farm.

Organic farming for Adam's father simply meant going back to the way his father farmed before interventions became the norm, not the exception. The Azevedo farming pedigree goes back to Adam's grandfather who started farming the same land in 1952, a few years after emigrating from Portugal.

Watching and helping with chores as a young boy, Adam eventually earned some pocket money for his work. His hard work paid off. Now 27, "Generation Organic" farmer Adam co-owns Azevedo Organics with his Dad, who plays a limited role in running the dairy. Together they own 350 acres and rent an additional 100 acres. They dedicated 300 acres for pasturing their cows and commit the other 150 acres to growing oats in the winter and corn in summer. His milking cows number nearly 300. Day-to-day farming duties fall to Adam whose day begins at 6am and during winter months, ends at 6pm, if all goes well. In the summer, a typical day might be sunrise to sunset.