A New Englander, raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Mary Willis, is a third-generation Italian-American. Her food experiences were nurtured as part of an extended family where making and breaking bread and having a garden were integral parts of family life. On completing her B.A. she successfully pursued the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor of the United States Marine Corps where she served for 20 years. As a Marine, exercise and healthy living were professional expectations which became life long habits. Mary’s interests include, reading, the arts, and being an avid spectator of girls’ high school volleyball. She and her husband Jeff, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, met while stationed at Camp Pendleton, California in San Diego. On completion of their active duty military service in 2000 they and their two daughters settled in Fallbrook, an unincorporated area in North San Diego County.
Jeff Willis, born and raised in Oklahoma by parents who grew up on food from their gardens at home during the Great Depression, inherited an appreciation for the local seasonal food of Northeast Oklahoma. His family heritage includes farmers, ranchers, and bee keepers in Oklahoma. Part of his passion for supporting local farmers and ranchers are his own fond memories of growing up eating local fresh foods in season. After enjoying a variety of cultures during 25 years in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer, he fell in love with San Diego County and the year around opportunities it provides for fresh food from local sources. When he’s not working, or supporting their two high school age daughters as a “Volleyball Dad,” you can find Jeff at the gym, skiing, improving his cooking skills, working in the family garden, or racing sailboats in the waters of Southern California.
The Willis’ first read about edible Ojai in Saveur’s 2006 Top 100 Issue and were inspired by it’s community impact. Acquiring and operating edible San Diego seemed like just the right thing to do.
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