Our orchard is located in Placer County, near Auburn, in the foothills of the Sierras, where many orchards were established after Gold Fever cooled.
The slightly acidic soils, and a climate with clearly delineated seasons are perfect for growing top quality fruit. Before water from the Sacramento River was diverted to irrigate the San Joaquin Valley, Placer Fruit was sold at a premium throughout the entire country. Old packing sheds still stand in neighboring towns, testimony to the region's proud fruit-growing past.

Many orchards in our area were established by Asian immigrants, predominantly Japanese, who planted varieties that reminded them of home: Asian pears, persimmons, and mandarins.
Our orchard was planted by George Oki in what he thought would be his retirement, predominantly in the year 1980, though some of the trees appear to be older.

George planted 10 different varieties of pears (9 Asian and 1 European), and 8 different varieties of persimmons, including the rare Maru and Tsuru Noko. He also included mandarins, Algerian Clementines, olive trees, the maddeningly difficult but incredibly delicious Elephant Heart and Howard’s Wonder plums, a couple of cherry trees, and some apples, and rounded the selection with feijoas, kiwis and grapes.
See What We Grow for a full list.

Jeff bought the orchard in 2002 from George and his wife Micky. George handed Jeff a map of the orchard and said "Good Luck!" Then he left.

Jeff knew nothing about farming. He was a successful builder, and thought he would turn the property into an upscale home and sell it.

But the trees worked their magic on him.
"I just couldn't go and cut down 30 years of someone's life," Jeff says.

So instead Jeff resolved to learn everything he could about farming. He is still learning. In the meantime, he is planting more trees.