jimenez-family-farms

Marcie came to the Santa Ynez Valley first during summers of her high school years spending time on horse farms and riding and training for shows and endurance. In 1976 her family bought the small farm where she still lives. The family kept a small herd of dairy sheep and goats and had originally intended to make cheese. After attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with a major in Animal science, Marcie moved back to the Valley. She worked at the family farm with her parents and also operated the “GreekDeli” in Solvang. From the restaurant the idea for Marcie’s Pies was first conceived and pies were made and sold through out the southland from both the restaurant and to many prestigious stores including Lazy Acres Market, El Rancho Market, Jorgensen’s, and Trader Joes among others.

The farm is where Marcie first met her husband Gustavo who was helping her father with the farming operations. Gustavo grew up in a farming family near Guadalajara, Mexico. He studied agriculture at the University of Guadalajara and brings his vast experience to the operation.

In 2001 Marcie and Gustavo purchased the family farm and began growing their specialty fruits and vegetables for farmer’s markets. Today the farming operation consists of over 25 acres sales at 9 weekly certified farmers’ markets farmer’s markets a week. Their daughter, Christie, is well known at the farmers’ markets and an integral part of the family business. The array of products offered include beautiful and sustainably raised fruits and vegetables, handmade jams, preserves, farm raised pork, rabbit, fresh eggs and chicken and grass fed lamb and goat, and of course the famous handmade Marcie’s Pies.