Who We Are Frog Hollow Farm is a thriving 120-acre organic farm located in Brentwood, California on the Sacramento River Delta (just one hour from San Francisco). The farm produces 25 varieties of peaches, nectarines, cherries, apricots, pluots, plums, Asian and European pears, and table grapes. We are certified organic with C.C.O.F. (California Certified Organic Farmers). We can be reached at: P.O. Box 2110 Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 888-779-4511 Email: peaches@froghollow.com Al Courchesne or "Farmer Al" as he likes to be called, wasn't raised on a farm but came to farming later in life at the age of 30. A "city-boy", Al was raised in Berkeley and El Cerrito and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Anthropology. Al started farming in Honolulu, Hawaii after he left his teaching position at Punahou School. Al farmed in Hawaii for 2 years raising lettuces and tomatoes before returning home to the Bay Area. He planted his first peach orchard on his new farm in Brentwood in 1976, because peaches are his favorite fruit. In 1989 Al decided to farm organically, changing not only his farming practices but also the name of the farm. The frog hollow farm label, a storybook image, evokes the connections between the abundance of fruit, nature and community. Rebecca (Becky) Courchesne grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from Linfield College in Oregon with a degree in English and Anthropology. After college she came back to the Bay Area and began pursuing her love of food and cooking. After working in places like Café Fanny, she became interested in pastry and later went on to work at Oliveto restaurant in Oakland. Farming seemed like the natural next step in a life of food and moved to frog hollow farm in 1995. In 1999 having spent five years helping Al on the farm, Becky created a delicious line of jams, chutneys, and marmalades which became an overnight sensation at San Francisco's Ferry Plaza Farmers' market and are now available nationally. Sarah Coddington (formerly Courchesne) is the 4th generation of her family to work on this land. Her grandfather's cousin, Clinton Smith, bought 80 acres in 1926, and planted apricots and cherries becoming a pioneer in the fruit industry here in Brentwood. In May 1984, Sarah came to work and live on the farm. Shortly after Farmer Al & Sarah bought 20 acres from Clinton continuing a tradition of caring for this land. Now going into her 20th year with Frog Hollow Farm, Sarah has seen changes in agriculture and been witness to the every day challenges that face farmers here in California. For her, farming and staying connected to the land, its history and its traditions, are essential to a healthy and productive life. Frog Hollow Farm welcomes it's newest member! Madeleine Courchesne Born to Al & Becky on April 4, 2003. We're all taking bets as to where she'll end up - in the kitchen, next to Mom, or on a tractor, next to Dad... Congratulations Al & Becky and welcome Miss Maddie! OUR CREW Frog hollow's crew is made up of men and women who work together start to finish to bring in our harvest. Obviously, farming is a seasonal job, but many of our crew choose to live on the farm year round. Providing on farm housing has created a workforce that is consistent and loyal. A couple of our crew have been with us for 15 years! As we have grown and expanded so have the expectations and responsibilities for everyone who works here. Many of our crew were migrant workers, going from farm to farm, following the work. Most have stayed for many seasons having found a home at frog hollow. The growth and changes that come with that, make for exciting and new opportunites every harvest, attracting a team that works and lives well together.