Estela Alcantar Produce

A Chat with Estela in 2018

What is a signature item that you sell? Green beans and grapes

What’s the best way to store it? Green beans–Put in a paper bag inside the refrigerator, or in the freezer (in a plastic bag) for up to a year. Grapes–Leave out on the counter with no bag for up to a week. Then make raisins!

How long have you been farming? 12 years

How long have you been a member of the Market? 12 years.

Share a favorite memory of the Market: The customers. There was this one man who would always give my daughter a crown of flowers when she was a little girl. He would see that she was there that day, and head straight to Victoria to buy the princess crown.

How did you get into farming? I started farming when I was 6 years old with my father in Mexico. He planted corn, beans, favas, garbanzos, and lentils. As an adult, I needed to take care of my girls and also work. So it worked out.

Do you own or rent the land you grow on? Rent

Are you certified organic? No, but I don’t use pesticides. For pests, I get rid of them by hand, or use a mixture of vinegar, water, and salt and spray every four weeks.

How was your growing season last year? How’s it shaping up for this year? This year has not been very good because of the water. There’s hasn’t been much. Our water comes from the acequia from Santa Cruz Lake.

What crops are coming up next, seasonally? Apples, grapes, green beans, beets, radishes, turnips, sunflowers, squash, cucumbers.

Besides farming, what takes up your time? In the winter, I clean a house two times per week (but not mine–they don’t pay me anything! 🙂 I’ve forgotten what it’s like to not work, so in my spare time I dream! 😉 I like to go on walks with my daughters.

Do you speak any other languages? Spanish is my first language.

Are you celebrating anything special this year? My daughter graduated high school this year and will be going to college in the fall.

How would you describe yourself in one word? An optimistic and happy person.

What is your favorite dish to make? Chile rellenos, or stuffed squash blossoms; they’re very difficult to make, but very delicious to eat!

Red or Green? Red

If you were a super hero what would your powers be and why? I would help the people who need help.

Which veg/fruit speaks to you on a personal level and how? I love them all. They say, “water me, take care of me, and when I’m ready, eat me!”

What is the strangest thing you’ve eaten? When I was a little girl, I would go out in the garden and eat weeds just to eat them. We lived out in the country and these weeds weren’t supposed to be eaten.

What have you done that you are most proud of? Raise my daughters.