Tracie Snyder, who runs The Farm Stand cart in Carpinteria, is eager to connect local growers with customers. “Most people don’t know who grows their food or where it’s coming from,” she says.
Tracie Snyder, who runs The Farm Stand cart in Carpinteria, is eager to connect local growers with customers. “Most people don’t know who grows their food or where it’s coming from,” she says. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo

Carpinteria is having its moment in the spotlight of gentrification.

Without losing its small-town charm — the sweet part of its appeal for locals and tourists — the low-key coastal community boasts pristine beaches, large agricultural operations, and an intimate vibe of retail shops and restaurants.

The hopping new addition, Linden Square, features retail, a coffee shop, restaurants and a large, two-story outdoor gathering area.

But with local elementary, middle and high schools, a small theater and quiet streets, Carp evokes a simpler era.

One of my favorite throwback stops is The Farm Stand at 5103 Carpinteria Ave., on the lawn next to the Friends of the Carpinteria Library used bookstore.

Katie Lesh, daughter of South Coast organic farming legend Tom Shepherd, shared the cart’s history with Noozhawk, noting that her parents ran it from 1998 to 2005.

  • The Farm Stand cart at 5103 Carpinteria Ave. in Carpinteria is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
    The Farm Stand cart at 5103 Carpinteria Ave. in Carpinteria is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo
  • Tracie Snyder, who runs The Farm Stand cart in Carpinteria, is eager to connect local growers with customers. “Most people don’t know who grows their food or where it’s coming from,” she says.
    Tracie Snyder, who runs The Farm Stand cart in Carpinteria, is eager to connect local growers with customers. “Most people don’t know who grows their food or where it’s coming from,” she says. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo
  • Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo
  • Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo
  • Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo
  • The author’s assistant, granddaughter Vivienne, was happy to tag along on the assignment.
    The author’s assistant, granddaughter Vivienne, was happy to tag along on the assignment. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo

Lesh and her husband, Jason, reopened it in 2012 when they founded Farm Cart Organics.

Their motivation was to build a community around veggies and offer fresher daily shopping than what Carpinteria had available.

The Farm Stand had a scrappy, time-worn feel but appealed to local community activist Tracie Snyder, who has run the cart the past two years.

She’s brought the business back to peak vibrancy in the heart of Carp, supporting local and organic farmers while making it a word-of-mouth community jewel.

The colorful produce arrangements, flowers and fresh bread draw you in and make whatever bag you’re carrying never quite big enough.

“Most people don’t know who grows their food or where it’s coming from,” Snyder noted.

She solves that by offering clean, certified organic produce and empowering small farmers aiming to connect with families who want to support a better food system.


“The Farm Cart embodies all that’s unifying. Love of giving to community, supporting locally grown food and our hardworking local farmers.” TRacie Snyder

Originally from Chicago and the daughter of civil rights activists and restaurateurs, Snyder studied environmental law at the University of Oregon and spent 11 years at Patagonia doing retail merchandising and marketing.

She has four daughters who attended Montecito Union School, and has worked on several presidential campaigns, a true political devotee.

The Farm Stand is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, operating on off-days from larger local farmers markets.

It takes Snyder three hours to set up and three to take down, somewhat like creating a still-life painting with each colorful product she sources locally — from farmers she knows, whether families doing it for decades or newcomers to the scene.

The Farm Stand cart is a step back in time with easy access, no crowds, and high-quality knowledge and personal service.

“The Farm Cart embodies all that’s unifying,” Snyder said. “Love of giving to community, supporting locally grown food and our hardworking local farmers.”

Judy Foreman is a Noozhawk columnist and longtime local writer and lifestyles observer. She can be contacted at news@noozhawk.com. The opinions expressed are her own.