• Agromin To Offer Spring Soil Tips at Ventura County Home & Garden Show - Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 10:56 AM
  • Preparing a spring garden begins with the right soil. Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products and the green materials recycler for more than 50 southern California communities, will offer spring soil tips at the Ventura County Home & Garden Show, March 19-21, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura.

    Agromin staff will be on hand to discuss soil types, soil amendments and mulches, plus show how to best prepare soil for spring vegetable and flower gardens. In addition, they will distribute information on "Pounds for Produce," a gardening contest sponsored jointly with FOOD Share. The contest will see who can grow and donate the most vegetables to help feed the hungry between now and July 15.

    "We hope that gardeners will plant extra this year and donate vegetables to FOOD Share through the 'Pounds for Produce' contest," says Bill Camarillo, president of Agromin. "Winners in six different food categories will receive soil products from Agromin on a pound-for-pound basis, equal to the total weight of produce donated to FOOD Share."

    Agromin will also give away free bags of soil products at the home and garden show. For gardening tips and "Pounds for Produce" contest information, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • Agromin Recycles More Than 365,000 Tons of Green Material in 2009 - Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 4:32 PM
  • Agromin, the green recycler for more than 50 communities in Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Orange counties, recycled 366,800 tons of green material from residents and businesses in 2009. The amount recycled was a 21 percent increase over 2008 when 302,139 tons were recycled.

    Green material, primarily grass clippings, leaves, trees, brush and wood, is collected and delivered to Agromin's recycling facilities. Non-green items (i.e., plastics, bottles, paper) are removed before the material is chopped and composted into soil products. The process takes about 60 days. The soil products are then distributed to growers, landscapers and consumers.

    "The soil is made using an all-natural process," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin's CEO. "We speed up composting by constantly turning and watering the green waste, but it's still the tiny microorganisms in the material that do all the work. The result is clean, healthy soil."

    Agromin operations and soil products have won numerous awards. Last year, it was named "Composter of the Year' by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). It was also honored in 2009 with the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) 2009 Dave Hardy Leadership in Organics Award. Agromin compost is listed by the non-profit Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) so it can be used to produce certified organic products in accordance to the USDA National Organic Program standards.

    "Our sustainable system keeps waste out of landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions," says Camarillo. "The increased amount of green materials collected in 2009 is a positive indication that more and more residents and businesses are joining in the effort."

    Agromin soil products are sold in bulk and in bags at locations in Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange and Los Angeles counties. Products are also available online at www.agromin.com.

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  • Limoneira & Agromin Donate Carrot Seed Growing Kits to Santa Paula Kids - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 5:34 PM


  • Limoneira Company and Agromin have teamed up with the Ventura County Resource Conservation District (VCRCD) to donate 183 "Carrots for Kids" seed growing kits to third and fourth graders in the Santa Paula Elementary School District. The carrot kit distribution is part of the VCRCD's efforts to educate local schoolchildren about the value of agriculture and growing their own food.



    "All the kids have been highly involved and enthusiastic about the topic," says Mary Maranville, environmental education outreach coordinator for VCRCD. "Kids love learning about agriculture, gardening and details about fruits and vegetables. Handing out the carrot kits is a lovely way to end the presentation."

    "Even in a community such as Santa Paula with its rich agricultural history, many young students don't make the connection between the acres of farmland around them and the food on their table," says Harold Edwards, president and CEO of Santa Paula-headquartered Limoneira Company and one of the country's largest citrus and avocado producers. "The VCRCD is helping make that connection. Having kids care for their own carrots as they grow from seeds to eatable vegetables brings it home even further."

    The kits contain a green recycling component. Agromin, one of California's largest green materials recycling companies with a 10-acre facility on Limoneira property, includes potting soil made from locally collected green materials (i.e., grass clippings, leaves, wood) in the kits. "The soil teaches students that the green waste we generate at home can be collected, composted and turned into eco-friendly soil products that can then be returned to the earth," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "By being conscious of recycling their green material, the students can create a more sustainable community and help close the recycling loop."

    Maranville is scheduled to speak at other schools in Ventura County to spread the agriculture and conservation message. For more information, contact her at 805-386-4489, e-mail: mary.maranville@vcrcd.org.

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  • Santa Paula and Fillmore's Recycled Green Materials Now Available As Soil Products at Five Local Outlets - Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 5:16 PM
  • Soil products and mulches made from materials collected each week from the green waste bins of Santa Paula and Fillmore residents are now available at five area outlets.

    Planting mix, potting soil, vegetable garden mix and other soil products are produced by green waste recycler Agromin. They are available at AG Rx (186 Telegraph Rd., Fillmore), Apco Ag & Irrigation (17905 E. Telegraph Rd., Santa Paula, Fillmore Rentals (215 Palm St., Fillmore), Fruit Growers Supply Company (980 W. Telegraph Rd., Santa Paula) and Heritage Do It Best Hardware (568 W. Main St., Santa Paula).

    Agromin was recently named "Composter of the Year" by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). Agromin compost is also USCC certified, meaning it meets the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe. Agromin compost complies with the requirements of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), meaning it can be used in certified organic farm production and food processing according to the USDA National Organic Program.

    "Communities are striving to become more sustainable," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "One way is through recycling our green waste at a local level. Besides use by residents, much of the soil products created from local green materials is used by municipalities, agriculture and landscapers. Limoneira Company uses mulch from green materials processed at Agromin's 10-acre processing site on Limoneira property in Santa Paula. We all want to be more mindful of our natural resources. Using soil products made from local green waste is an easy way to help close the recycling loop."

    For more information about green recycling, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • Agromin Moves Headquarters, Maintenance and Wholesale Operations to Oxnard - Friday, July 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM
  • Agromin, the green materials recycler for communities throughout Ventura County and a manufacturer of premium soil products, has moved its headquarters, maintenance facility and wholesale operations to Oxnard.

    Previously housed in sites throughout the county, Agromin's consolidation into a centrally located 6,000 square foot facility will cut down on employee driving. "With less employees on the road, we will reduce our carbon footprint," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "And, because everything is under one roof, we can better coordinate our production and business services."

    Agromin is designated a Climate Action Leader by the California Climate Action Registry, a non-profit organization originally formed by the State of California. Members voluntarily promise to monitor and register greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Registry members that have successfully verified their emissions inventory earn the status of Climate Action Leader. "We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce our GHG emissions and being good stewards of the environment," explains Camarillo. "Our vision is to become an entirely sustainable, carbon-neutral, energy-efficient company."

    Agromin's new location is at 201 Kinetic Dr., Oxnard. The new telephone number is 805-485-9200. Commercial wholesale bulk soil products (no retail) are available at the facility.

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  • Growing Produce - Story on Agomin-Limoneira Partnership - Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 12:53 PM
  • May 2009

    This past January, the California Institute for Rural Studies released a new report titled "California Water Stewards: Innovative On-Farm Water Management Practices." The report highlights several of these growers, whose efforts reflect important strategies for stewarding the state's limited water resources. Keep reading for more information on some of the water saving practices these growers are implementing.



    Sustainability is a high priority to Limoneira Company, as the Ventura County based company's 115-year history can attest. They grow a variety of fruit and nut crops on 7,000 acres in Southern California, including approximately 3,000 acres of lemons and avocados grown in Santa Paula, CA. Part of Limoneira’s success lies in their dedication to building partnerships with the community and other companies that share their vision.

    In response to the Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, Limoneira Company formed a partnership with Agromin Corporation to help Ventura County meet required reductions in waste delivered to landfills. The partnership, formed in 2004, mutually benefits both companies. Limoneira provides Agromin with access to five acres of land, on which Agromin produces organic mulch and compost from municipal green waste collected from Ventura County residents. In exchange, Agromin provides Limoneira with valuable soil amendments for their farming operations.

    According to Gus Gunderson, Head of Southern Farming Operations, and Ely Key, Special Projects Manager, the organic mulch helps improve both soil structure and water efficiency. As Gus explains, "We are confident that the Agromin product has been helping improve orchard health because after applying mulch to the orchard floor we have seen an increase in overall tree health and productivity. As we add the organic matter, we are adding benefits to the soil structure; improving soil tilth and microbial populations. We are getting better intake of water and better intake of nutrients, which in turn gives us better root systems."

    Water-Saving Practices
    --Limoneira applies organic mulch/compost on their lemon and avocado orchards. Organic mulch reduces the need for water by holding moisture in the soil and reducing the amount of water lost through evaporation.
    --Limoneira contracts with Fruit Growers Laboratory to help monitor their soil and water quality, which helps them evaluate soil moisture levels and avoid ground water contamination.
    --Limoneira converted to low-flow micro-sprinklers and modified furrows with micro-tubes (spaghetti-tube) emitters to irrigate crops.
    --Using no-till farming methods in the orchards, they are able to reduce soil erosion and improve soil moisture holding capacity.
    Benefits
    --Compost improves soil structure by reducing bulk density in clay soils and increasing water-holding capacity in sandy soils. Improved soil structure produces better root structures and improves air and water infiltration.
    --Mulch holds the soil in place, reducing soil erosion and associated negative impacts on water quality.
    --Mulch increases organic matter in the soil, which in turn increases the amount of nutrients available to the trees and plants and reduces the need for chemical fertilizer.
    --Organic mulch is beneficial for the maintenance of microorganisms. It provides food and a stable environment, with a constant soil temperature, in which the microorganisms thrive.
    --Organic mulch dramatically reduces weed growth and herbicide use.
    --Mulch improves tree and plant health, leading to increased plant yield and improved fruit quality. Research conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension also indicates that mulch can suppress the growth of Phytophthora and reduce the appearance of avocado thrips which cause scarring of immature fruit, thereby reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
    --The partnership between Limoneira and Agromin has had significant impacts on reducing the amount of green waste entering landfills.
    Costs
    --The cost of spreading the mulch including equipment and labor is around $350 per acre.
    --Limoneira receives the mulch free in exchange for providing Agromin with five acres of land to use for mulch production.
    Lessons Learned
    --Develop partnerships. By developing a partnership, Agromin Corporation and Limoneira help recycle the community's green waste while providing mulch for Limoneira's orchards and a marketable product for Agromin.

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  • Rain Makes Gardens Grow At Las Colinas Middle School - Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 4:02 PM


  • Recent winter rains have given a boost to the Beautification/Life Lab garden and landscaping student program at Las Colinas Middle School in Camarillo.

    "With the wonderful rain we've been having, our school has never looked so beautiful," says Dianne Polen, Las Colinas Beautification/Life Lab advisor. The school has one of the most committed green programs in the county. Students in summer school planted lettuce, radishes, bell peppers and carrots so when students returned in fall, vegetables were already growing. "A garden gives students the opportunity to try varieties of vegetables that they would not eat otherwise," says Polen. "The gardens are teaching students quite a bit about nutrition and eating healthy."

    Summer vegetables were harvested at the school in October and replaced with Brussels sprouts, spinach, celery, sugar snap peas, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and onions. The school features seven container gardens and an additional large garden area with room for students in wheelchairs to participate in the gardening experience.

    "Students are now weeding the school flower beds and planting color," says Polen. "We're also attempting to grow grass between two portable classrooms, an area that has been nothing but dirt and mud for several years."

    Agromin, a local soil manufacturer and the green materials recycler for communities throughout Ventura County and Southern California, provided soil for the gardens and landscapes. "We always enjoy helping students with their garden projects," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "Teachers can then inject the green materials recycling story into their curriculum. Kids learn about the sustainability benefits of gardening--taking the green materials from the garden, composting them and then placing the resulting soil products back into the garden from which new plants grow. Las Colinas students are learning important environmental lessons as they grow and harvest their gardens."

    For more information about green materials recycling, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • Agromin Receives 2008 Environmental Business Journal Achievement Award - Friday, January 16, 2009 at 11:15 AM
  • Agromin, the green materials recycler for cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, received an Environmental Business Journal's 2008 Bronze Achievement Award for its work in waste and recycling services.

    Agromin was recognized for being one of the few green materials recyclers that specializes in the sustainable processing and recycling of materials. The company was singled out for using environmentally sound approaches to produce more than 240 soil amendment products for agricultural, public works and construction, landscaping and other applications. It was particularly credited with providing ag companies with a continual supply of compost and mulch for their orchards and crops, which helps farmers use less water, minimize erosion and cut down on the use of herbicides and pesticides.

    "At Agromin, our goal is to create innovative means to support and advance
    environmental sustainability," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "Our customers, whether farmers, landscapers or weekend gardeners, help us in these efforts by using products from recycled green materials. We're honored that the Environmental Business Journal recognized Agromin's efforts."

    An official awards ceremony honoring the award winners will take place at the Environmental Industry Summit in San Diego in February.

    For more information about green materials recycling, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • Christmas Trees Lead Productive Lives After The Holidays - Friday, December 12, 2008 at 3:41 PM
  • Big Wave Dave's Christmas Trees and green materials recycler Agromin are teaming up to spread the word, that with the help of Ventura and Santa Barbara County residents, Christmas trees will have a productive life long after the holidays.

    Approximately 70,000 to 100,000 cut Christmas trees are purchased from tree lots in the counties each year. After Christmas, the trees are collected from residences and recycled into soil products for use locally by agricultural operations, landscapers and consumers," says Bill Camarillo, CFO of Agromin, the green materials recycler for 19 Ventura and Santa Barbara cities. "In as little as 60 days, trees go from being the center of holiday festivities to mulch used on farmland and in gardens and landscapes."

    To help with the after-Christmas recycling effort, Camarillo says residents should be sure trees are free of ornaments, tinsel, nails and tree stands before placing them in green recycling bins. "Because of these efforts, your Christmas tree may be part of the mulch you use in your garden next spring or it may have helped grow lemons, avocados or strawberries on local farms," says Camarillo.

    Dave Lidren, owner of Big Wave Dave's Christmas Trees with lots in Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura, Moorpark and Santa Barbara, says the cut Christmas tree industry is part of the sustainable movement. "We receive our trees from Pacific Northwest farms so the natural forests are untouched," says Lidren. "For every tree harvested, growers plant one or more replacement trees."

    Lidren sees considerable green benefits of live Christmas trees when comparing them to artificial trees. "Live trees are all natural and are 100 percent biodegradable. Artificial trees are made of non-biodegradable plastics and metals," says Lidren. "While growing, live trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air; artificial trees are made of petroleum-based products that pollute the air. Live trees are recycled; artificial trees wind up in landfills and could take decades to decompose. Plus, live trees are a renewable resource while the petroleum used to make the plastic in artificial trees is a non-renewable resource."

    Lidren says any unsold trees from his lots are recycled. "Nothing goes to waste," says Lidren. An Agromin green recycling display will be at every lot, reminding shoppers that Christmas is just one stop in the trees' lifecycle.

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  • Agromin Receives Two Awards For Its Recycling Efforts - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 12:05 PM

  • Agromin, the green materials recycler for 19 cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, received two awards on October 17 in recognition of the company's long-standing recycling efforts.

    Agromin received the first-ever recycling award from the Ventura County Integrated Waste Management Division. The award was given for Agromin's leadership not only in recycling but marketing all of the green waste in Ventura County.

    "The Integrated Waste Management Division of Ventura County appreciates
    Agromin's willingness to experiment with new methods of processing difficult
    to recycle materials," says Sandy Lomeli, environmental resource analyst at the county.

    Agromin's second award came from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for the company's "outstanding recycling and waste diversion efforts."

    “I am proud of Agromin’s growing leadership in green waste recycling that is recognized throughout Ventura County and the State," says Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long. "Agromin’s recycling efforts cut waste that overwhelm our landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, curbs erosion, and improves water efficiency.”

    Each month, Agromin receives and processes 260,000 tons of urban wood and green waste from local residents and businesses. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate soil products from the processed recycled green materials.

    "Our company's primary goal is to complete the recycling loop," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CFO. "Each week, green materials collected from curbside are composted and processed until they become quality soil products for use in backyards, farms and commercial landscapes," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CFO. "The grass clippings and leaves you dispose of in your recycling bin comes back in the form of compost or mulch products for your lawn or garden as one of the reuse options."


    Agromin compost is approved by the non-profit Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) so it is used in certified organic production or food processing in accordance to the USDA National Organic Program standards. Agromin soil products are certified and approved for organic production by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). The certification means Agromin has met the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe.

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