California Farmer Recognized For Building Resilient Local Food Systems And Regenerative Agriculture Model In Rural Desert Region
Kutztown, Penn.—April 22, 2026—This Earth Day, Davines Group and Rodale Institute are proud to announce Rachel Kulchin of Blue Heron Farm as the second annual recipient of The Good Farmer Award U.S. The award recognizes outstanding farmers making positive environmental and social contributions to agriculture through regenerative organic practices. Kulchin, founder of Blue Heron Farm in Bishop, California, stood out for her commitment to building food security, biodiversity and soil health in a region where agricultural infrastructure is fragile and nearly all food is imported.
“Rachel embodies the resilient, systems approach that regenerative organic agriculture demands,” said Jeff Tkach, CEO of Rodale Institute. “In just one year, she has built a thriving 10-acre operation that is not only producing nutrient-dense food and restoring soil health, but also inspiring an entire community to reimagine what’s possible for local food security. Her work proves that small farms can be economically viable and ecologically sound, even in the most challenging climates.”
Rachel Kulchin is building regenerative systems in the high desert through Blue Heron Farm, a ten-acre mixed orchard and vegetable operation that cultivates over 1,000 fruit trees and diversified crops. Her U-Pick model invites community members to harvest directly from the land, creating connection alongside food production. In her first season alone, she connected with more than 3,000 customers and produced over 47,000 pounds of food, establishing Blue Heron as the region’s largest diversified fruit and vegetable producer. Through her focus on soil health, water conservation and community access, Kulchin demonstrates a replicable model for rural and isolated regions facing food insecurity.
“I am standing behind a belief that feels both stubborn and bold,” said Kulchin. “The recognition through the Good Farmer Award affirms the work we are doing to build something different in Eastern Sierra. Our goal is not just to grow food, but to demonstrate that regenerative agriculture can thrive in challenging climates and build the resilience our valley desperately needs. This award will be transformational for Blue Heron Farm and for our community.”
The $10,000 award will support critical infrastructure upgrades at Blue Heron Farm, with 90% directed to water conservation and orchard irrigation systems and 10 percent to educational signage and demonstration infrastructure. Kulchin will also receive an all-expenses-paid visit to the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC) in front of the Davines Group Village in Parma, Italy.
The second and third place winners of the 2026 U.S. Good Farmer Award include Nia Kiara Cole of Kin & Flo Farm in North Carolina, recognized for reclaiming ancestral family land and building Afro and Indigenous restorative land practices that train the next generation of BIPOC farmers while advancing food sovereignty and cooperative food systems for Black and Brown communities across the North Carolina Piedmont, and Nailah Marie Ellis of Blessed Up Blooms in Georgia, honored for establishing a soil-first, community-centered farm that uses regenerative agriculture and direct-to-consumer models to bring nutrient-dense food and beauty across Atlanta, from Bankhead to Buckhead. All finalists demonstrate remarkable contributions to their local communities and serve as role models within the regenerative farming movement.
The 2026 award program received applications from 118 farmers across 25 different states, representing diverse cultural backgrounds. The judging panel, made up of leaders in sustainable agriculture, environmental advocacy and beauty, evaluated candidates based on their commitment to practices that enhance biodiversity, increase climate resilience and foster environmental stewardship.
This year’s panel of judges included Renée Baran, Dean of Education at Rodale Institute; Dario Fornara, Research Director of the European Regenerative Organic Center; Kegan Hilaire, Farmer and Owner of Blackbird Farms and Small Farms and Diversified Vegetable Consultant at Rodale Institute; and Hayley and Stephanie Painter, Co-Founders of Painterland Sisters, Icelandic Style Skyr Yogurt.
For more than 20 years, the Davines Group has integrated sustainability and commitment to the environment into its business model by embarking on a path of regenerative growth. In the spirit of biodiversity conservation and the search for new natural origin ingredients for its product formulations, Davines Group partnered with the Rodale Institute in 2021 to found the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC). Located on a 17-hectare site adjacent to the Davines Group Village in Parma, Italy, EROC is the first training and research center in Italy and Europe dedicated to regenerative organic agriculture.
“We are delighted to welcome Rachel to Italy and to guide her through our European Regenerative Organic Center,” said Davide Bollati, Chairman of the Davines Group. “This year’s award demonstrates why Davines continues to partner with Rodale Institute – not only to source regenerative organic ingredients for our products, but to learn from the Institute’s rigorous research and farmer-first expertise. Rachel’s farm is a living example of building resilient systems with regenerative organic agriculture. By supporting farmers like Rachel, we invest in the future of beauty, agriculture and the planet.”
Davines Group, a certified B Corporation since 2016 and an international leader in sustainable beauty with its professional haircare brand Davines and skincare brand [ comfort zone ], in partnership with the Rodale Institute, a pioneering force in regenerative organic agriculture, proudly launched the award in 2025 to spotlight farmers who have been working the land for 10 years or less who go beyond soil health and productivity to create meaningful, systemic change in their communities. In Italy, the award – launched in 2024 in partnership with Sustainable Development Foundation – is at its third edition.
The 2026 winner and finalists will be honored at a special Earth Day celebration hosted at the Davines Group House in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 22. To learn more, visit rodaleinstitute.org.
ABOUT RODALE INSTITUTE
Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to growing the regenerative organic agriculture movement through rigorous research, farmer training, and education. Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2025, the Institute’s groundbreaking science and direct farmer support programs serve as a catalyst for change in farming and food production worldwide. Over its 78-year history, Rodale Institute has proven that organic farming is not only viable but essential to humanity’s survival.
ABOUT DAVINES GROUP
Davines Group is an Italian family-owned company based in Parma, founded by the Bollati family, which started its journey in 1983 and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023. The Group operates in the international professional beauty, haircare and skincare markets through the Davines and [comfort zone] brands. Davines Group is now present in more than 90 countries and, in addition to its headquarters and production plant in Parma, has 9 offices worldwide, in New York, London, Paris, Düsseldorf, Mexico City, Deventer (in the Netherlands), Hong Kong, Shanghai and Bilbao. In 2016, Davines became a B Corporation, a company that aims to generate a positive impact on people, the planet and communities through its business. Davines originated as a research laboratory specializing in the creation of haircare and skincare products, serving small local producers and international cosmetics operators. All formulas are developed and produced at the Davines Group headquarters in Parma. The brand specializes in highly sustainable products formulated with artisanal methods and manufactured in line with the latest and most advanced cosmetic research and techniques.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Natalie Matthews
natalie@seesparkgo.com
662.801.1413
Heather Kleinert Hammer
h.kleinert@davines.us
973.906.2962
