California coffee growing pioneers die of unknown causes, leaving behind 3 children

"Authorities are investigating the sudden deaths of a Central Coast couple who pioneered California's coffee-growing movement from their Santa Barbara County farm. Jay and Kristen Ruskey, owners of Good Land Organics and co-founders of Frinj Coffee, died Sunday at a home in Cambria, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department confirmed Friday. Authorities have not released how the couple died. Autopsies were performed Thursday and toxicology results are expected in a few weeks, said Tony Cipolla, public information officer for the Sheriff's Department."

"A GoFundMe created to support the Ruskey family members with funeral costs, memorial arrangements and other expenses had raised more than $133,000 as of Friday afternoon. The couple has three children: Kasurina, 19, Sean, 16 and Aiden, 16, according to the fundraiser. The Ruskeys helped develop more than 65 coffee farms from Santa Barbara to north of San Diego that grow 14 varieties of coffee. Jay Ruskey was lauded as the first farmer to sell locally grown coffee in California."

"Jay Ruskey established Good Land Organics in the early 1990s, growing exotic fruit at a farm in Goleta. The couple launched their coffee brand, Frinj, in 2017. The couple's coffee venture took off after Jay Ruskey tried several times to plant coffee trees in 2002 with a goal of learning the best practices for growing coffee in Southern California. "I have always been passionate about crop adaptation," Ruskey told The Times in 2024."

Jay and Kristen Ruskey, owners of Good Land Organics and co-founders of Frinj Coffee, died Sunday at their Cambria home; autopsies were performed and toxicology results are pending. Authorities indicated the deaths do not appear suspicious. A GoFundMe for funeral and memorial expenses raised more than $133,000; the couple is survived by three children. The Ruskeys helped develop more than 65 coffee farms from Santa Barbara to north of San Diego growing 14 varieties, and Jay was noted as the first farmer to sell locally grown coffee in California. Good Land Organics began in the early 1990s and Frinj launched in 2017. Frinj filed Chapter 11 in 2024 listing significant liabilities.

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