Preserve What Grows Escondido.
Escondido Growers for Agricultural Preservation (EGAP) is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and expanding agriculture in Escondido through advocacy, water solutions, AgTech innovation, and community engagement.
Preserving Agriculture and the Rural Experience.
Agriculture Is Disappearing Faster Than Most People Realize.
San Diego County loses thousands of acres of farmland each year. Rising water costs, development pressure, overregulation, and economic strain are pushing family farms toward extinction.
Escondido stands at a crossroads:
- One tether pulling toward unchecked development and urban sprawl
- One tether anchoring the region to land, food security, heritage, resilience, and local sovereignty.
If Agriculture Weakens, Escondido Loses More Than Farms.
- It Loses Identity
- Local Food Systems
- Jobs
- Open Space
- Economic Diversity
- Environmental Resilience
- And Generational Heritage
AGRICULTURE TOUCHES EVERYONE.
The decisions we make today will determine whether future generations inherit thriving farms, local food systems, open landscapes, and agricultural innovation — or merely stories about what once existed.
Food Security
Local agriculture means access to local food, especially during supply chain disruptions.
Economic Stability
Agriculture contributes billions to San Diego County’s economy and supports thousands of jobs.
Open Space & Quality of Life
Working farms preserve scenic landscapes, biodiversity, and healthier communities.
Heritage & Identity
Escondido’s story is rooted in citrus, vineyards, avocados, and family farming traditions.
Meet the Farms Behind San Diego Agriculture
Discover the local farms, families and people who grow, raise and produce food right here in Escondido.
Sage Hill Ranch Gardens
A no-till ecological market garden in Escondido growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers using regenerative practices — no chemicals, no fossil fuels, no tillage.
Hillebrecht Ranch — 100 Years in Escondido
From a single tomato field planted in 1924 to two beloved farm stands, four generations of Hillebrechts have kept agriculture alive in east Escondido.
Tapped Out: The EGAP Story
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FEATURED BLOG POST:
Preserving What Grows Our Community
Welcome to Grow Escondido, the official blog of Escondido Growers…
Read MoreEscondido’s Agricultural Roots
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NOW IS THE TIME TO PRESERVE WHAT GROWS ESCONDIDO
Every gift, share, and helping hand moves us closer to a future where agriculture continues to thrive in Escondido.