Beretta Family Dairy
A fourth-generation dairy farm finds their way forward with support from ZFP’s Restore grant and Healthy Soils Program.
Beretta Family Dairy’s Restore Grant is funded by The California State Coastal Conservancy.
Starting young
Jennifer Beretta loves a tractor. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be the fourth generation of her family to run their dairy farm, “when I could push the tractor pedals in. I would help my grandpa and dad drive the tractor while they fed the cows, and I got to steer.”
These days, her dad is still close by to help. “There are things that I break, and then I have to call my dad or my brother to explain that I’ve broken something.” Luckily, they live next door. “I live in the house that I grew up in, my dad lives in the house he grew up in, and my brother lives five minutes away.”
The next generation of Beretta dairy farmers is already waiting in the wings as well. “I have a 14-year-old nephew. He is our fifth generation, and he's already told me that when he's 18, I'll be out of a job. I'm sure he'll still need me to do the paperwork.”
“[ZFP’s grants are] a great opportunity to utilize these techniques, and have some extra funding to help offset some of those costs because it can be expensive.”
- Jennifer Beretta
Navigating New Challenges
For the Berettas, farming runs deep, but in recent years, it has required them to take on other roles as well. “In the last probably five, six years, our involvement [in farm advocacy and policy] has doubled and tripled,” Jennifer explains, “[it’s an] extra organization or another committee or another meeting that we're attending just to make sure that agriculture is at the table.”
Like many California farmers, the Berettas have faced drought, regulatory pressure, and public scrutiny. This wave of challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming.
“You fight for that next generation every day,” Jennifer says. “But you know you're doing something right, being part of the solution, whether it be animal welfare or climate.”
Part of the Solution
The Berretta’s wanted to expand the climate-smart practices they already used, such as no-till, which led them to Zero Foodprint’s Healthy Soils Program and Restore grant.
“It's a great opportunity to utilize these techniques, and have some extra funding to help offset some of those costs because it can be expensive.”
For Jennifer, regenerative practices are about more than soil health. They’re about protecting the future of the farm. Her grandfather still lives on the property, a reminder of what her family has built over the generations.
“Having him still here is a driving factor,” she says. “And your love for the cows and the land.”
When she looks to the future, Jennifer wants to build on the sustainable practices she has been able to bring to the farm. “I think it's just a great opportunity for these grants to be implemented on farms that want be part of the solution.”
About Beretta Family Dairy
“We’re not just another milk brand. We’re your neighbors and friends. We’re California dairy, nestled in Sonoma County, or as we call it, Milk Country. For over 100 years, we’ve brought the cleanest, tastiest, and most conscious dairy from the farms to your table. We are probably your great grandma’s milk and proud to be yours. Explore the journey of our dairy.”
-
Zero Foodprint awards grants for projects that take carbon out of the atmosphere and put it back where it belongs: in the earth, creating healthy soil and better food. To do this, we focus on regenerative farming practices like composting, cover cropping, and managed grazing that can restore life to our soil while removing carbon from the atmosphere. Together, we have the power to grow more nutritious food, heal natural water cycles, and create habitat for biodiversity to thrive. Explore previously funded projects to see what this might look like on your farm.
For more information, read through other Restore Grant FAQs.oes here
-
The Coastal Conservancy is a non-regulatory state agency that works with others along the California coast, in coastal watersheds, and in the San Francisco Bay Area to protect and restore coastal resources, to help people get to and enjoy the coast, and to enhance climate resilience.
“Our vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future Californians. We act with others to protect and restore, and increase public access to, California’s coast, ocean, coastal watersheds and the San Francisco Bay Area.”
-
Zero Foodprint and the California Department of Food and Agriculture have partnered to provide Healthy Soil Program Grants to California farmers and ranchers. Current grantees are implementing 1-3 year-long soil conservation management practices.
Applications for HSP Grants closed December 2024. Current grantees and technical service providers can access their portals online portals and subscribe to the program calendar below.
Zero Foodprint (ZFP) is a nonprofit organization restoring the climate, one acre at a time. We believe that by regenerating soil, local food economies can play a critical role in reversing the global climate crisis. We work with food and beverage businesses, philanthropy, and government to bring the next dollar to implement the next regenerative practice on the next acre. This regenerative economy benefits every person who grows food, every person who sells food, and every person on this planet who eats food.
