January 10, 2013 | Robert Puro

At the Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Conference at UCLA Anderson School of Management this past October, we had the pleasure of having Colin Archipley deliver the keynote address. In his presentation, Colin, a decorated marine sergeant and founder, along with his wife Karen, of Archi’s Acres and the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) program, discusses the importance of embracing sustainable agriculture and its essential role in feeding a growing world population.

Colin and his wife Karen established the small-scale organic farm, Archi’s Acres, in Southern California in 2007.

Despite combat deployments to Iraq that kept the couple separated far too often, Colin and Karen were able to turn a run-down avocado farm in the hills above the scenic southern California city of Escondido into a state-of-the-art, organic, hydroponic greenhouse operation. The small farm now produces living basil, kale, avocados and more for the local market.

What’s more, the Archipleys had the vision for an entrepreneurial incubator for transitioning veterans. With unemployment for veterans twice the national average and the country in dire need of new farmers, the Archipleys committed to the creation of the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) program.

Since founding VSAT in 2007, the Archipleys have trained more than 100 veterans for careers in sustainable agriculture and other sectors in the food supply chain.

Now, Archi’s Acres is rolling out its VSAT program at locations nationwide. Karen and Colin have transformed their vision into the first local company with a national footprint.