Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President Noelia Corzo, District 2
Subject: Reappointments to the Agricultural Advisory Committee
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for reappointments to the Agricultural Advisory Committee, each representing Public member, each for a full 4-year term effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029:
A) Marilyn Johnson, representing Public member, for a first full term; and
B) Peter Marchi, representing Farmer/Grower, for a second full term; and
C) Ryan Casey, representing Farmer/Grower, for a first full term; and
D) James Oku, representing Farmer/Grower, for a first full term.
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BACKGROUND:
The Agricultural Advisory Committee actively assists in the preservation of agriculture in San Mateo County through advice and recommendation to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
DISCUSSION:
These reappointments reflect full 4-year terms effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029. Marilyn Johnson was initially appointed in March 2025 to serve as a Public member on the Agricultural Advisory Committee a seat carrying an existing partial term ending September 30, 2025. This reappointment would reflect a first full term Peter Marchi was initially appointed to partial term on the Committee in 2019, and this reappointment would reflect a second full term. Ryan Casey and James Oku were each initially appointed to a partial term in December 2022 and are being recommended for their first full term.
Marilyn Johnson is a resident of Half Moon Bay who brings extensive experience to the position, having previously served on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for 16 years. Marilyn comes from three generations of San Mateo County Coastside farmers and finds serving on the Committee to be beneficial for the agriculture community. She also brings local civic and volunteer experience as a 4-H Project and Community Leader, Future Farmers of America Advisor, and Johnston House Foundation Board Member.
Peter Marchi is a third-generation farmer on the San Mateo County coastside and has many years of experience and knowledge to contribute to the Agricultural Advisory Committee. The history of his agriculture background began when his family started a project to grow and sell pumpkins along the roadside. Peter Marchi and his brothers and he also worked on the family farm planting, irrigating, hoeing weeds and harvesting. They started at a very young age. By the time Peter was a teenager, he and his brother took care of a field of brussels sprouts for the crop to harvest. Peter Marchi was also active in 4-H with projects with sheep, beef gardening and shop. By the time he finished high school, his father placed him in charge of a 150 acre farm.
Ryan Casey is the owner of Blue House Farm, located in San Gregorio and Pescadero. The farm grows Certified Organic vegetables, fruits, and cut-flowers. Ryan started the farm in 2005 and now owns 75 acres, leases another 75, and employees 35 people year-round. He has worked with POST, the RCD, the NRCS, and the County of San Mateo on numerous projects over the years.
James Oku is a fourth-generation farmer in San Mateo County. His family originally started growing cut flowers in 1902 and has diversified into hydroponic deep water culture lettuce and continues to look at other viable agricultural crops. His family has a long history of agriculture on the coast. His father has been San Mateo County Farmer of the Year, and two of his Great-Grandfathers, Inosuke Oku and Sadakusu Enomoto, helped found the San Francisco Market. James Oku additionally also serves as a board member of the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, has worked with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) on various projects, and the agricultural ombudsman in a focus group about the San Mateo County Agricultural Food Hub.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.