The idea for Rancho Gordo sprang from necessity.  On an August afternoon in Napa, California, Steve Sando sought peak-of-the-season tomatoes at a grocery store for a salsa he was serving at a dinner party. He could not believe that the only tomatoes available in the fertile Napa Valley were unripened hothouse tomatoes from Holland. Frustrated with lack of ingredient availability, Steve quit his day job and entered the world of agriculture, starting by growing tomatoes, but eventually focusing on planting over 25 varieties of heirloom beans each season. It is Steve's mission through Rancho Gordo to grow heritage crops that are indigenous to North America and should be readily available, but are in danger of becoming foods of the past. Steve is also the author of "Heirloom Beans: Great Recipes for Dips and Spreads, Soups and Stews, Salads and Salsas, and Much More from Rancho Gordo."