Women farmers become more prevalent in Contra Costa County

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The number of farms in Contra Costa County has declined steadily for years, but the number of women farm managers has more than doubled since 1978, according to an article in the Contra Costa Times. Women represent one-third of farmers in the county, according to data from the 2007 Census of Agriculture. That is three times the national rate, the paper said.

The increasing number of women farmers may be connected to another trend. The average size of Contra Costa farms has shrunk dramatically. The number of acres farmed by women in Contra Costa doubled from 2002 to 2007, with small-scale operations accounting for most of the growth.

Reporter Hannah Dreier sought commentary about the trends from the director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center, Dan Sumner.

"You're talking about a place where over time the agriculture has shifted to deal with an urbanizing county, so you get more boutique operations," the story quoted Sumner.

Other factors that contributed to the trend, according to the story, were:

Many women like the freedom and flexibility that come with running a farm.
Some women see sustainable farming as a way to do something positive for the environment and healthful for themselves.
One women farmer suggested females do well at farmers market "because we're more chatty that way."

The ranks of women farmers in Contra Costa County swells.