Driscoll's Soren Bjorn Shares Vision for an All-Organic Pajaro Valley

During last week’s Organic Grower Summit Roundtable, Soren Bjorn, president of Driscoll’s of the Americas, shared his vision for a completely organic Pajaro Valley.

Bjorn was asked by the session’s moderator, Dave Puglia of Western Growers, whether he thought there should be any policy changes to the National Organic Program. He said he would caution against an “overhaul” of the system because it could drive up organic prices, hurting both businesses and consumers. But he also acknowledged that it’s important to think about ways to improve the sector.

Soren Bjorn during the Organic Grower Summit Roundtable 2020

“I think it's okay to challenge all of us in the industry and say, ‘How can we make the whole thing better?’” he said.

In terms of Driscoll’s operations specifically, he said that he’s encountered issues related to pesticide drift and disease spread from having organic ranches nearby conventional ranches. 

“We know we run into these problems from time to time,” he said, noting that the question becomes: “So can you create a system where there are opportunities to have a much bigger systemic approach to [doing] organics really well?”

“I think it's okay to challenge all of us in the industry and say, ‘How can we make the whole thing better?’” -Soren Bjorn

Soren Bjorn with fellow roundtable panelists Bruce Taylor, Vic Smith, and moderator Dave Puglia

Citing his desire for “continuous improvement” when it comes to the organic industry, he said he believed working towards an organic-only Pajaro Valley would be a long-term goal worth pursuing.

“Personally, I have this sort of dream—ever since I joined Driscoll’s—that the valley, our home valley of the Pajaro Valley over in Watsonville is … one day … all organics,” he said. “It’s not a very big valley … [and there’s] a lot of organic production there already. And it actually has some opportunities to put in some practices [like having] the bees … live in the hills because we don't farm the hills (because there's no water in the hills).”

Driscoll's strawberry field in Pajaro Valley

He said such a big initiative couldn’t be done “overnight” but that it’s something that could be pursued over time. “[It’s] a generational thing, but I think pushing towards that is okay,” he said.

“Personally, I have this sort of dream—ever since I joined Driscoll’s—that the valley, our home valley of the Pajaro Valley over in Watsonville is … one day … all organics.” -Soren Bjorn

“And between government and private business and local communities, I think that you can create some ambitious plans for where you want to head. And I think business would be all in on that. We would be very much in favor of that. And I think … then you end up with a better system. … So I hope the new administration comes in with the idea that we're going to have broader collaboration around [organics].”

The Organic Grower Summit Roundtable 2020 is available for viewing on YouTube (no registration necessary): watch HERE.