Honeycrisp Farms

FARMLAND: 15 owned and 1.5 leased acres in Reedley, CA, approximately 215 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

SEASON: Late May to late January.

FARM HISTORY/PHILOSOPHY: Art was a professor of horticulture and weed control and taught at UC Davis and UC Riverside. He purchased Honeycrisp Farm in 1970 and began farming part time while he continued teaching. In 1984 he retired from the UC system to focus all of his energy into farming. He had always been interested in horticulture and wanted to try to raise the best tasting fruit possible and try to make a profit. While he has found the latter to be a continuing challenge, he has enjoyed spending more time on the land. He now ships fresh and dried fruit throughout the entire country and his customers often tell him that his fruit is the best they have ever tasted. The one aspect of the farm he is most proud of is that all of his fruit is picked when it is naturally ripened on the tree which helps develop the best flavor possible.

SOIL: Sandy soil. He uses compost, manure, and conventional fertilizers to build up the soil.

WEED CONTROL: He uses mechanical disk cultivation and sprays Roundup (an herbicide) where his tractor cannot reach.

PEST MANAGEMENT: Dormant oils and pesticides are used during the dormant season when trees are bare. Pesticides are occasionally used during the growing season on grapes and apples if necessary.

WATER USE: Mountain water from the Kings River Irrigation District is used to irrigate using drip, sprinkler, and furrowtechniques.

WORKERS: 8-9 seasonal workers and Art works full time.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: None