About me
Dr. Karl Kolb has been involved in small farming since birth. Born on a small farm in
Wisconsin, his first recollection of farming was watering his dad’s many rows of
vegetables which not only supported the family but also markets throughout the local
area. Growing up he raised herbs along the railroad tracks in Sunnyvale, California and
later to owning an herb and artichoke ranch and processing facility in Castroville,
California.
Attending Ohio State for environmental and agriculture studies he got the small farming
bug through the USDA organics program where he participated in the first discussions
on the standards for the NOP. Later he participated in growing programs in India where
he worked for the state department on good handling practices. His Ph.D. is in quality.
An advocate of the small and family farmer, he now certifies this group of individuals
with a rainbow of food safety schemes to fit any situation. He is also a proponent of the
“CCI Cooperative Agriculture Program” that provides the lowest cost of certification to
the family farm.
Dr. Kolb is married with 9 girls and is a native Californian – his family received a
Spanish land grant in 1857 and built the Cathedral, Post Office, and a number of other
formal buildings in the Santa Clara County area.
