There are very few apple and pear growers left in California, and because they compete with the big growers in the Northwest, we need to support them now more than ever! Apple trees take cold weather to flower, and there are just a few microclimates in California where they thrive.
The largest grower Talley buys from is Cuyama Orchards. At 3300 feet and surrounded by towering peaks and National Forest land, Cuyama Orchards is nestled in the uppermost reaches of the Cuyama Valley. They grow 14 different varieties of apples (including Honey Crisp!), shipping from their large packing and cold storage facility in Bakersfield. They will have apples for our Talley Boxes well into the new year.
Another important apple-growing area is our local See Canyon, located above Avila Valley. Gopher Glen is the largest apple grower in the canyon, offering a variety of fresh apples and hard cider, as well as fresh cider. The Smith Family owns Avila Valley Barn and Gopher Glen Apple Farm, and we appreciate any apples we can buy from them. You can visit their farm stand up in the canyon for apple and cider tasting.
Our support, and YOUR support, is critical to our California growers. Without our commitment to California-only produce, Talley Farms would be free to purchase from out-of-state growers, which would put more downward pressure on the prices our California farmers receive. California has the strictest farming regulations in the country, if not the world, on food and worker safety, and it’s expensive to grow here. Join us in supporting California-grown!
