SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : City-Owned Acreage Leased for Farming

Trying to save money, the City Council this week voted unanimously to turn over the operation of its 56-acre Kinoshita Farm to J&W; Farms, a private San Juan Capistrano contractor.

In return for the council’s agreement to a three-year contract with J&W; Farms, the city will get 3% of the gross annual sales of the farm produce.

Over the past 40 years, the farm has produced corn, strawberries, peppers, beans and tomatoes.

Based on projected sales, the city hopes to receive $15,000 to $20,000 per year, according to a city report.

“Now we will have an agreement which will be profitable for the city instead of losing money,” said City Councilman Jeff Vasquez.

The city has spent an estimated $290,000 to subsidize the farm operations since purchasing the parcel from the Kinoshita family in March, 1991, according to the report.

Part of that expense was a payment of $100,000 a year to the Kinoshita family to manage the farm for the city.

The farm was bought for $9.5 million using money from the city’s $20-million Open Space Bond initiative approved by local voters in April, 1990.

With part of the farm soon to be converted to ball fields, the 56-acre site will be reduced to 30 acres for farming.

J&W; Farms has similar leasing agreements in several locations throughout Southern California, including a portion of the Honeyman Ranch in San Juan Capistrano.