Hidden within the Oxnard, Calif. Historic Farm Park, the inaugural Lima Bean Festival kicked off at noon on Sept. 14, 2024, with various activities to celebrate the rich history of lima bean farming in Ventura County. The event featured local restaurant booths, refreshments, live music and historic farming equipment on display. 

Inside the venue, guests were greeted by several canopies featuring vendors from local restaurants including, BG’s Cafe, Adolfo Grill and Daily Bar, Spanish Hills Club, Twisted Oak Tavern and Azafran Restaurant with various lima bean recipes, while alcoholic beverages were served by Casa Agria Specialty Ales. The University of California (UC) Master Gardener Program also had a canopy with eager representatives and succulents for purchase. Upon a wooden stage, local band Frankie and the Lima Beans performed lively music, providing an upbeat mood as guests danced and sang along. Additionally, there were tables with arts and crafts, such as rock painting, coloring pages and corn husk dolls. A booth sold various items, ranging from fresh produce to prints by Butterbean Studios.

The festival was organized by Jeff Maulhardt, director of the Oxnard Historic Farm Park and member of a fifth-generation family of lima bean farmers. While not a major lima bean farmer himself, Maulhardt is knowledgeable about the community through his family ties to the industry. He is also a seasoned author, having written several books regarding Ventura County history, and sold his latest book about lima bean history at the festival booth. 

In support of Maulhardt, several descendants of farming families attended the festival, including the Pata brothers, Richard and Kenny. Coming to Oxnard from Lompoc, Calif., the Pata family has been a part of the community since their grandpa began growing lima beans in 1912. With several hundred acres of land, the Pata brothers have kept their methods traditional; they use threshing machines from the 1950s and no irrigation system, instead “ripping” the soil in the fall. Despite their ability to grow with the natural moisture of the local climate, many have noticed the declining business of lima beans due to the influx of other crop rotations in Ventura County, such as strawberries and lemons.

“Lima beans were one of the biggest crops of this county and now it’s just a small little program,” Micheal Naumann, another member of a fifth-generation farming family, explained, referring to Ventura County’s previous title as the lima bean capital of the world. “The [lima] beans fit an important window in a very important rotation in our sustainability … they add a lot of organic matter to the ground and improve our soil health,” Naumann added. 

In the time surrounding World War II, lima beans were vital as an affordable yet nutritious source of protein. As a result of not needing irrigation, the beans are more accessible to produce than meats such as poultry or beef, yet they still offer high levels of magnesium, fiber and protein. 

Offering a traditional recipe of lima bean soup with ham, the owners of BG’s Cafe in downtown Oxnard, Veronica Muñoz and her husband Jose Rodriguez, were in attendance at the festival. BG’s Cafe has been an important spot for the tightly knit community of farmers who have been eating there since their opening in 1971, each family having their own designated booths where they would eat daily. “These families were a big part of BG’s Cafe and they still are,” Muñoz shared. 

Having been good friends with Maulhardt for many years, families such as the owners of BG’s Cafe as well as the Naumanns were excited to support him with the introduction of this festival. “With [Maulhardt] being such an important part of the community with regards to preservation of Oxnard history and farming … we try to support him in his endeavors,” Muñoz explained. 

“It’s overwhelming,” Maulhardt shared. “I expected a good crowd today … it’s [exceeded] my expectations.” People had been walking through the entire afternoon, participating in all the festivities offered and browsing the plethora of information. “With the response from today, there is no doubt that we can go ahead and do another successful lima bean event,” he said, hoping to solidify the festival as an annual occurrence.

As the festival came to a close, guests happily exited the venue with a newfound appreciation for the crop and the community. Naumann summarized the overall message of the festival with his catchphrase: “Eat more lima beans!”