John Fisher-Merritt knew his purpose, and did not hesitate before answering. He had created a demand for, and built a community around quality, sustainably grown food.

Then came the questions: Why would he take on young farmers as apprentices, giving them all the secrets of his farming success and even access to his customers? Didn't he feel like he might be creating competitors?

"Well, we had so many people on the waiting list," he said of demand for his organically grown produce. "I felt like we were growing a community."

Fisher-Merritt said that through the 1970s and 1980s he and his wif...