It looks like a new “farm-forward” retail and dining destination is coming to Yolo County.
Entrepreneur, farmer, and food systems advocate Thaddeus Barsotti is preparing to open Yolo Fill Co. at 411 Railroad Ave in downtown Winters, according to the business’s online presence and a recent Facebook post from the City of Winters.
Part marketplace, part dining destination, Yolo Fill Co. is described as a space “that allows people to consciously choose how their food is raised” while “building direct farm-to-table relationships between consumers and farmers.”
Instead of the traditional model, where producers grow what the market predicts will sell, Yolo Fill Co. flips the script. Customers can partner with farmers through a shared-ownership model, helping shape decisions around livestock and crops from the outset. The goal is a more transparent, values-driven food system that prioritizes quality, sustainability, and transparency.
The son of early organic farming pioneers Kathleen Barsotti and Martin Barnes, Thaddeus grew up working on his family’s farm, selling produce directly to customers at farmers’ markets long before “organic” became mainstream. Over the years, he’s worked across nearly every corner of the food industry—from growing and harvesting to wholesale distribution and retail—gaining a first-hand understanding of both its strengths and shortcomings.
Through its tech-enabled platform, Yolo Fill Co. connects customers and producers across communication, logistics, and payments. The model emphasizes communication and collaboration, offering customers insight into how their food is raised while supporting farmers in delivering high-quality, ethically raised food.
Early producers listed on the platform include Winters-based Quail Cache Grove & Ranch and Hungry Hollow Cattle Company in nearby Woodland. Products currently range from olive oil to grass-finished beef.
Details about the dining component remain under wraps for now, and an official opening date has not yet been announced.
