Tosh Show — “My Organic Farmer - Charlie Dedlow”

Host: Daniel Tosh
Guest: Charlie Dedlow (Organic Farmer, Kenter Canyon Farms)
Date: February 24, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Daniel Tosh sits down with Charlie Dedlow, a 28-year-old organic farmer and heir apparent to the family business, Kenter Canyon Farms. The conversation offers a witty, irreverent, and surprisingly comprehensive exploration of modern organic farming in Southern California—from business operations and family legacy to pests, produce freshness, labor politics, and the LA food scene. With Tosh’s signature humor and Charlie’s thoughtful, grounded responses, this episode delivers a unique farm-to-microscope window into the life of an organic farmer in LA.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Daniel’s “Epstein Files” Scare & Stage Persona

[01:25] Tosh discusses co-host Eddie pranking him about being in the Epstein files, ultimately revealing it’s just a harmless name drop.
- Quote: “I deliver—anyone who’s seen me live goes, ‘Oh, that’s way better than what I thought I was going to get myself into.’” (Tosh, 02:36)
[04:16] Tosh jokes about being president: “I should never be president because of what I’ve said. That’s fine.”

2. Meet Charlie Dedlow — Farmer with LA Swagger

[06:06] Tosh introduces Charlie as “salt of the earth,” despite being young and mustacheless.
[06:14] Ghosts? Tosh asks if Charlie believes in ghosts; Charlie admits he’s seen spirits while camping.

3. The Kenter Canyon Farms Origin Story

[09:07] Charlie recounts his mother’s journey from growing baby greens in Berkeley for Chez Panisse (Alice Waters) to moving to LA and selling unique produce to restaurants like Spago (Wolfgang Puck), literally from a sailboat.
- Quote: “He cut her a check for $3,000, which at the time, was really a lot of money. Especially for somebody you’ve never even met before.” (Charlie, 10:36)
Charlie describes how the business grew from backyard farming to a 150-acre diversified operation.

4. Realities of Organic Farming

[11:07–15:57]
- Organic farming is labor-intensive, yields are lower, and weather dictates available crops.
- Crop Rotation & Soil Health: Use of cover crops (wheat, mustard) for natural fertilization instead of chemical fertilizers.
- Insect Management:
  - “We like to use companion planting, things like marigolds… They attract the good bugs… give off chemicals that keep all the bad bugs out.” (Charlie, 14:21)
  - “A large portion of what we grow, regardless of the crop, we’re not going to be able to harvest all of it because of aphids or different types of bugs.” (Charlie, 15:07)
- Farm labor: Farming never stops—7 days a week operation.

5. Seasons, Losses, and Yields

[12:35] Not everything’s available all year—gaps happen, especially with organic.
[13:16] Frequent crop loss, especially during cold or rainy months: “Pretty often. Especially January, February, March. Those are hard months to farm.”

6. Business & Distribution

[20:42–26:28]
- Most profitable crops: wild arugula, basil.
- Distribution: Farmer’s markets, Whole Foods (Southern Pacific region: SoCal, Arizona, Hawaii), Erewhon, Bristol Farms—mostly focused on feeding LA.
- “What separates us… our focus is feeding Los Angeles.” (Charlie, 25:54)

7. Farm Life: Employees, Labor, and Community

[24:02] About 100 employees; mix of hourly and salaried. Many long-timers.
- “We take a lot of pride in that we support a lot of families.” (Charlie, 24:44)
- Tosh: “Or you’re like me where it’s just stressful.”
  Charlie: “It’s extremely stressful.” (24:48–24:52)
[29:13–30:35] Labor & ICE: Farmworkers’ fear of raids impacts the sense of safety.
- “We keep the gates closed and locked… The people need to be comfortable working there.” (Charlie, 30:07)

8. Farm Pests, Regulations & Animal Issues

[20:55–22:11]
- Rabbits and ground squirrels are problems; farm has to use organic killing methods, like oxygen blasts to blow up tunnels (but not with explosives).
- No livestock due to food safety (raw vegetables), but some roosters around.

9. LA Farmer’s Markets & Restaurant Scene

[26:41–27:46]
- Restaurants send staff to buy produce directly at Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, rolling giant carts.
- Tosh’s gripe: aggressive vendors (“barkers”)—Charlie’s team prefers low-key, authentic engagement.

10. Produce Freshness & the Grocery Scene

[33:41–34:43]
- Kenter Canyon’s greens: max 48 hours old in stores, under 24 hours at markets.
- Standard supermarket produce: “Easily a week plus.” (Charlie, 34:07)
- “If it’s our produce, you do not need to wash it. Our salads are triple washed.” (Charlie, 34:30)

11. Economics, Land, and Equipment

[25:09; 35:44–36:32]
- 150 acres in Fillmore, managed by regular farm walks, mostly by Charlie and team.
- Tractors: John Deere (“green and yellow”) and Kubota (“orange”), $150K+ for a new one.

12. Sidebars:

Weed Growing: “I got super into growing weed… just as a little experiment… sell it to my friends.” (Charlie, 37:45)
Strict Healthy Upbringing: Homemade cookies traded for Doritos at school.
- “My kids have never had soda, but they don’t know.” (Tosh, 39:58)
Climate Change:
- “The warmer weather helps with the growing, but we get torrential downpours… that is actually very negative for us.” (Charlie, 32:29)
Farm/Bakery Crossover: Bakery in Fillmore uses farm produce.

Notable Quotes & Moments

On family business:
- “I knew from a young age that that was exactly what I wanted to do.” (Charlie, 08:25)
On Organic Struggles:
- “I always call those [ladybugs] little organic certifiers because those ladybugs are not going to harm you… That’s why they’re there.” (Charlie, 15:19)
On ICE raids:
- “We literally keep the gates closed and locked… because, you know, we were worried that they'll just come in.” (Charlie, 30:07)
On Farmer Stereotypes:
- “They probably think we're a little too LA for them… the soft farmers over here.” (Charlie, 31:45)
On Produce Freshness:
- “At farmer's markets, we're harvesting the stuff literally the day before, and people are buying it the next morning.” (Charlie, 33:41)
On Jiu Jitsu:
- “You definitely run into some stinky people, you know, that are gonna sweat and, you know, sweat into your mouth.” (Charlie, 43:25)
On LA markets:
- “That Wednesday farmers market in Santa Monica… filled with staff from every popular restaurant in LA.” (Charlie, 26:46)
Tosh Classic:
- “If I became president, I would abolish ICE almost immediately, and I would increase pet security at the farmer's markets.” (Tosh, 29:14)

Fun & Memorable Segments

Farm Swag Exchange:
- Charlie brings hats and farm-fresh salad mixes; Tosh bestows a salad spinner, a surfboard, and Miami Heat/Dolphins towels.
- Tosh gifts a freshly laid egg from his chickens: “That came out of her butt maybe a day ago.” (Tosh, 44:44)
Farm/Bakery Delicacies:
- Charlies presents hand pies (“like a Pop-Tart but much better”) made with the farm's own wheat and fruit.
Rapid-Fire Q&A:
- “Fuck, Marry, Kill: Sweetgreen, Urban Plates, Panera Bread.”
  - Charlie: “Marry Panera, fuck Urban Plates, kill Sweetgreen.” (40:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

Introduction/Tosh’s “Epstein” scare: [01:25–05:08]
Family farm origin story & business: [09:07–11:07]
Organic farming techniques/challenges: [11:07–15:57]
Farm labor, ICE, immigrant workers: [29:13–30:35]
Farmer’s market culture: [26:41–28:41]
Produce freshness and washing tips: [33:41–34:43]
Sidebars/Personal anecdotes: [37:45–44:22]
“Fuck, Marry, Kill: LA Salad Chains”: [40:49–41:16]
Gifts exchange (salad spinner, surfboard, hats): [44:24–47:59]

Overall Tone & Takeaway

Daniel Tosh keeps the energy high with fast-paced, irreverent humor—constantly riffing and poking fun at both urban and rural stereotypes. Charlie, meanwhile, offers straight answers with an earthy, grounded perspective, and a knack for storytelling. Together, they strike a balance between goofball comedy and genuine insight into organic farming, labor, the LA food scene, and modern business dilemmas.

For Listeners

If you’ve ever wondered about the real life of an LA-area organic farmer—or just want a fresh, funny take on locally grown food, business, and family dynamics—this episode delivers. Expect wit, real talk on labor and produce, foodie behind-the-scenes, and a little weed-growing mischief for good measure.

Notable Quote to Close:

“I always call those [ladybugs] little organic certifiers because those ladybugs are not going to harm you… That’s why they’re there.”
– Charlie Dedlow, on bug residue in organic produce [15:19]

Tosh Show — “My Organic Farmer - Charlie Dedlow”

Host: Daniel Tosh
Guest: Charlie Dedlow (Organic Farmer, Kenter Canyon Farms)
Date: February 24, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Daniel’s “Epstein Files” Scare & Stage Persona

[01:25] Tosh discusses co-host Eddie pranking him about being in the Epstein files, ultimately revealing it’s just a harmless name drop.
- Quote: “I deliver—anyone who’s seen me live goes, ‘Oh, that’s way better than what I thought I was going to get myself into.’” (Tosh, 02:36)
[04:16] Tosh jokes about being president: “I should never be president because of what I’ve said. That’s fine.”

2. Meet Charlie Dedlow — Farmer with LA Swagger

[06:06] Tosh introduces Charlie as “salt of the earth,” despite being young and mustacheless.
[06:14] Ghosts? Tosh asks if Charlie believes in ghosts; Charlie admits he’s seen spirits while camping.

3. The Kenter Canyon Farms Origin Story

[09:07] Charlie recounts his mother’s journey from growing baby greens in Berkeley for Chez Panisse (Alice Waters) to moving to LA and selling unique produce to restaurants like Spago (Wolfgang Puck), literally from a sailboat.
- Quote: “He cut her a check for $3,000, which at the time, was really a lot of money. Especially for somebody you’ve never even met before.” (Charlie, 10:36)
Charlie describes how the business grew from backyard farming to a 150-acre diversified operation.

4. Realities of Organic Farming

[11:07–15:57]
- Organic farming is labor-intensive, yields are lower, and weather dictates available crops.
- Crop Rotation & Soil Health: Use of cover crops (wheat, mustard) for natural fertilization instead of chemical fertilizers.
- Insect Management:
  - “We like to use companion planting, things like marigolds… They attract the good bugs… give off chemicals that keep all the bad bugs out.” (Charlie, 14:21)
  - “A large portion of what we grow, regardless of the crop, we’re not going to be able to harvest all of it because of aphids or different types of bugs.” (Charlie, 15:07)
- Farm labor: Farming never stops—7 days a week operation.

5. Seasons, Losses, and Yields

[12:35] Not everything’s available all year—gaps happen, especially with organic.
[13:16] Frequent crop loss, especially during cold or rainy months: “Pretty often. Especially January, February, March. Those are hard months to farm.”

6. Business & Distribution

[20:42–26:28]
- Most profitable crops: wild arugula, basil.
- Distribution: Farmer’s markets, Whole Foods (Southern Pacific region: SoCal, Arizona, Hawaii), Erewhon, Bristol Farms—mostly focused on feeding LA.
- “What separates us… our focus is feeding Los Angeles.” (Charlie, 25:54)

7. Farm Life: Employees, Labor, and Community

[24:02] About 100 employees; mix of hourly and salaried. Many long-timers.
- “We take a lot of pride in that we support a lot of families.” (Charlie, 24:44)
- Tosh: “Or you’re like me where it’s just stressful.”
  Charlie: “It’s extremely stressful.” (24:48–24:52)
[29:13–30:35] Labor & ICE: Farmworkers’ fear of raids impacts the sense of safety.
- “We keep the gates closed and locked… The people need to be comfortable working there.” (Charlie, 30:07)

8. Farm Pests, Regulations & Animal Issues

[20:55–22:11]
- Rabbits and ground squirrels are problems; farm has to use organic killing methods, like oxygen blasts to blow up tunnels (but not with explosives).
- No livestock due to food safety (raw vegetables), but some roosters around.

9. LA Farmer’s Markets & Restaurant Scene

[26:41–27:46]
- Restaurants send staff to buy produce directly at Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, rolling giant carts.
- Tosh’s gripe: aggressive vendors (“barkers”)—Charlie’s team prefers low-key, authentic engagement.

10. Produce Freshness & the Grocery Scene

[33:41–34:43]
- Kenter Canyon’s greens: max 48 hours old in stores, under 24 hours at markets.
- Standard supermarket produce: “Easily a week plus.” (Charlie, 34:07)
- “If it’s our produce, you do not need to wash it. Our salads are triple washed.” (Charlie, 34:30)

11. Economics, Land, and Equipment

[25:09; 35:44–36:32]
- 150 acres in Fillmore, managed by regular farm walks, mostly by Charlie and team.
- Tractors: John Deere (“green and yellow”) and Kubota (“orange”), $150K+ for a new one.

12. Sidebars:

Weed Growing: “I got super into growing weed… just as a little experiment… sell it to my friends.” (Charlie, 37:45)
Strict Healthy Upbringing: Homemade cookies traded for Doritos at school.
- “My kids have never had soda, but they don’t know.” (Tosh, 39:58)
Climate Change:
- “The warmer weather helps with the growing, but we get torrential downpours… that is actually very negative for us.” (Charlie, 32:29)
Farm/Bakery Crossover: Bakery in Fillmore uses farm produce.

Notable Quotes & Moments

On family business:
- “I knew from a young age that that was exactly what I wanted to do.” (Charlie, 08:25)
On Organic Struggles:
- “I always call those [ladybugs] little organic certifiers because those ladybugs are not going to harm you… That’s why they’re there.” (Charlie, 15:19)
On ICE raids:
- “We literally keep the gates closed and locked… because, you know, we were worried that they'll just come in.” (Charlie, 30:07)
On Farmer Stereotypes:
- “They probably think we're a little too LA for them… the soft farmers over here.” (Charlie, 31:45)
On Produce Freshness:
- “At farmer's markets, we're harvesting the stuff literally the day before, and people are buying it the next morning.” (Charlie, 33:41)
On Jiu Jitsu:
- “You definitely run into some stinky people, you know, that are gonna sweat and, you know, sweat into your mouth.” (Charlie, 43:25)
On LA markets:
- “That Wednesday farmers market in Santa Monica… filled with staff from every popular restaurant in LA.” (Charlie, 26:46)
Tosh Classic:
- “If I became president, I would abolish ICE almost immediately, and I would increase pet security at the farmer's markets.” (Tosh, 29:14)

Fun & Memorable Segments

Farm Swag Exchange:
- Charlie brings hats and farm-fresh salad mixes; Tosh bestows a salad spinner, a surfboard, and Miami Heat/Dolphins towels.
- Tosh gifts a freshly laid egg from his chickens: “That came out of her butt maybe a day ago.” (Tosh, 44:44)
Farm/Bakery Delicacies:
- Charlies presents hand pies (“like a Pop-Tart but much better”) made with the farm's own wheat and fruit.
Rapid-Fire Q&A:
- “Fuck, Marry, Kill: Sweetgreen, Urban Plates, Panera Bread.”
  - Charlie: “Marry Panera, fuck Urban Plates, kill Sweetgreen.” (40:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

Introduction/Tosh’s “Epstein” scare: [01:25–05:08]
Family farm origin story & business: [09:07–11:07]
Organic farming techniques/challenges: [11:07–15:57]
Farm labor, ICE, immigrant workers: [29:13–30:35]
Farmer’s market culture: [26:41–28:41]
Produce freshness and washing tips: [33:41–34:43]
Sidebars/Personal anecdotes: [37:45–44:22]
“Fuck, Marry, Kill: LA Salad Chains”: [40:49–41:16]
Gifts exchange (salad spinner, surfboard, hats): [44:24–47:59]

Overall Tone & Takeaway

For Listeners

Notable Quote to Close:

“I always call those [ladybugs] little organic certifiers because those ladybugs are not going to harm you… That’s why they’re there.”
– Charlie Dedlow, on bug residue in organic produce [15:19]

My Organic Farmer - Charlie Dedlow

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Summary

Tosh Show — “My Organic Farmer - Charlie Dedlow”

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Daniel’s “Epstein Files” Scare & Stage Persona

2. Meet Charlie Dedlow — Farmer with LA Swagger

3. The Kenter Canyon Farms Origin Story

4. Realities of Organic Farming

5. Seasons, Losses, and Yields

6. Business & Distribution

7. Farm Life: Employees, Labor, and Community

8. Farm Pests, Regulations & Animal Issues

9. LA Farmer’s Markets & Restaurant Scene

10. Produce Freshness & the Grocery Scene

11. Economics, Land, and Equipment

12. Sidebars:

Notable Quotes & Moments

Fun & Memorable Segments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Overall Tone & Takeaway

For Listeners

Summary

Tosh Show — “My Organic Farmer - Charlie Dedlow”

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Daniel’s “Epstein Files” Scare & Stage Persona

2. Meet Charlie Dedlow — Farmer with LA Swagger

3. The Kenter Canyon Farms Origin Story

4. Realities of Organic Farming

5. Seasons, Losses, and Yields

6. Business & Distribution

7. Farm Life: Employees, Labor, and Community

8. Farm Pests, Regulations & Animal Issues

9. LA Farmer’s Markets & Restaurant Scene

10. Produce Freshness & the Grocery Scene

11. Economics, Land, and Equipment

12. Sidebars:

Notable Quotes & Moments

Fun & Memorable Segments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Overall Tone & Takeaway

For Listeners