MassaOrganics

Massa Organics Greg Massa’s family has been growing rice in Hamilton City, near Chico, for four generations. His great grandfather, who emigrated from Portugal, first began farming their 700 acres in 1916. Through the generations, the Massa’s farm, and rice production in general, has seen significant changes. Greg’s grandfather grew rice with no chemical inputs and very little machinery, which gave way to a highly mechanized, energy and chemical intensive “revolution” during his father’s generation. As oil prices skyrocket and the toxic effects of fertilizer and pesticide runoff are better understood, it is becoming clear to Greg Massa, that it is time for a re-invention of the American family farm.

In 1997, Greg and his wife Raquel Krach left their jobs as tropical biologists and brought their love and knowledge of ecology back to the Massa family farm, commencing another shift in how the Massa family grows rice. Shortly after Greg returned to the farm, he and Raquel began transitioning a portion of their acreage to organic.

Stewardship of the air, water and land became their primary focus, something they continue to take seriously today. They have installed recirculation systems to reclaim their irrigation water, and do not burn any crop residue. The goal is to be less resource intensive, and have a positive impact on the environment.

Information contained in the profile was adapted from the CUESA website (www.cuesa.org) as well as the farm’s website (www.massaorganics.com).