Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Angarita Fabio Patino.
Maria Angarita, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Sunset Grove began with a vision we shared as a couple. As Colombians, both of us always imagined building a life surrounded by nature and agriculture, something that felt connected to our roots. We thought this chapter would come much later, but an unexpected opportunity allowed us to bring it to life much sooner here in California. When we discovered the beautiful hillsides of Escondido, we found a place that felt both new and familiar, a landscape full of possibility. Standing in the middle of a twenty year old avocado orchard, we saw not just trees but a land ready to be restored. What began as a conventional operation soon evolved into a regenerative project centered on rebuilding soil health, reviving biodiversity, and respecting the natural balance of trees, land, birds, coyotes, and all the life around us.
Today, our thirteen acres support more than one thousand two hundred Hass avocado trees growing at thirteen hundred feet, thriving with the cool fog, ocean breeze, warm sunshine, and sheltering mountains. Inspired by our Colombian heritage and the transformation we witnessed in the land, we planted more than two thousand six hundred coffee trees, embracing Southern California’s distinct terroir as an unexpected yet remarkable home for specialty coffee. This became possible because we focused on regeneration, creating living soils and a balanced ecosystem that allow coffee to flourish in a region where few believed it could. The Sunset Grove has become more than a farm for us. It is a living ecosystem, a commitment to sustainability, and a testament to what can grow when passion, heritage, and regenerative practices come together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our journey has been as humbling as it has been inspiring. When we first arrived, we knew almost nothing about growing avocados in California. Every season, every pest, and every nuance of the microclimate became a lesson learned through experience and persistence. Choosing to become early pioneers of coffee cultivation in this region added another layer of uncertainty. There was no roadmap and no neighbor to ask, only experimentation, intuition, and the belief that exceptional coffee could grow in a place where few imagined it possible. Transitioning from conventional agriculture to a fully organic and regenerative approach tested our patience in ways we did not expect. Progress came slowly as the land relearned how to thrive without synthetic inputs. At the same time, we faced the realities of farming in Southern California: unpredictable weather, intense summer heat, and ongoing challenges related to water availability. Yet each struggle strengthened our resolve. These experiences shaped The Sunset Grove into what it is today, a place where resilience, learning, and a deep commitment to regeneration guide every choice we make.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Sunset Grove?
At The Sunset Grove, everything begins with the land. The farm has become a model for how thoughtful land restoration and good agricultural practices can shape the quality of what we grow. Healthy soils, rich biodiversity, and natural balance translate directly into rich, flavorful avocados, distinctive California grown coffee, and other fruits that carry both exceptional taste and meaningful health benefits. Visitors often describe our produce as vibrant and alive, and that is no accident. It is the direct outcome of caring for the land in a way that respects its rhythms and restores its natural vitality.
The spirit of the brand comes from a long family tradition of agriculture and a deep belief in stewarding the land for generations to come. The Sunset Grove is family owned and driven by passion, effort, and a commitment to regeneration. What makes this place special is not only what we grow, but how we grow it. Every piece of fruit reflects years of rebuilding soil life, encouraging biodiversity, and embracing an agricultural approach that works with nature rather than against it. The result is a farm that produces exceptional quality while also offering a hopeful vision of what agriculture in Southern California can become.
How do you define success?
Success at The Sunset Grove is measured not only in the quality of the fruit we harvest but in the life that returns to the land and the community we build around it. It is the sight of healthier soil, thriving trees, and a balanced ecosystem that grows stronger each season. It is also the ability to share what we have learned. Part of our vision is to open the farm as a living experience, where people can walk among the avocado and coffee trees, see how the fruit is grown and processed, and witness firsthand how regenerative practices transform the environment. Success, for us, is creating a place that nourishes both people and the land, inspiring others to understand and appreciate the power of thoughtful agriculture.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.thesunsetgrove.com
- Instagram: @thesunsetgrove
