These days, Jason Mraz's connection to the land is more than a lyric.
Over the past two decades, he has helped transform a San Diego orchard into a regenerative farm whose produce now ships around the country.
What's happening?
About a decade after becoming Mraz Family Farms, the property now has a full-time staff and grows avocados, coffee beans, and passion fruit, according to Green Matters. Its avocados have also been supplied to Chipotle.
Mraz said he bought the land in 2004, and in 2015 it became Mraz Family Farms, which uses organic, fair trade, and regenerative practices.
"When I bought the property 20 years ago, I bought it from a man in his 80s, and he planted those trees probably in the mid '70s," Mraz said. "Now I'm 46; the trees I'm planting today will be about that same age when I'm in my 80s."
His sustainability mindset extends beyond the farm. Mraz said he is "mostly plant-based," follows a dairy-free diet as a singer, and tries to make touring more efficient with biodiesel, refillable water bottles, and reusable or biodegradable cutlery.
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Why does it matter?
Regenerative farming can help improve land over time rather than simply extracting from it, which is especially important as farmers face growing pressure from extreme weather, depleted soil, and rising costs.
That can mean a more resilient food supply and more choices at the grocery store. Farms that invest in healthy soil and diversified crops may be better positioned to keep producing food over the long haul.
Mraz also tied food choices to everyday well-being.
"As a singer, I choose a dairy-free diet, because I find that my ear, nose, and throat just handle a non-dairy diet much better," he said.
What's being done?
At Mraz Family Farms, the work is already underway: planting for future decades, maintaining an organic and regenerative system, and building a business with enough scale to sell nationwide.
He is also bringing some of those habits on the road.
"We do biodiesel in our buses when possible," Mraz said. "We're old school, avid promoters of making sure everyone has their own refillable water bottles."
"If a farm is done right, it'll outlive its farmer," Mraz added.
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