Valliwide Organic Farms
Grower at a Glance: | |
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Owner/Farmer: | Tod Parkinson |
Farm Location: | Reedly, CA |
Farm Size: | 109 |
Established in: | 2010 |
Certified Organic Since: | 2010 |
Crops: | Yellow Peaches, Yellow Nectarines, White Nectarines, Plums |
Organic farming, it’s good, it fits, and it’s right.
Somethings are just meant to happen, take two people born and raised in a small farming community, who worked most of their teenage years in the fruit industry doing the various aspects of fruit production, picking, packing or stacking just to name a few.
Fast forward a few decades two different paths lead back to a new life together, merging families and growing a fruit marketing business. You have a life changing experience that urges you to return to what you know, farming.
Valliwide Organic Farming exists simply to fund other organizations operating in poverty stricken countries. From living in extreme poverty at a slum in Kenya, Africa or in zone 18, the most dangerous area of Guatemala City, to the most remote rural areas of Haiti.
Small family farmers are a rare breed. We know this because we have watched Corporate Farming take over the small family farmer. The opportunity for us to farm came from DB Harris family making the difficult decision to retire from the farm after generations of farming the same rich land, known then as Grand Island Farm.
Opportunities lead to options… We are growing to give. If you asked Tod why he’s farming I’m not sure he’d tell you the whole truth. He might say, “It was a way of growing funding for the non-profit.” or “If we did not farm it, it might have gone to a competitor.” I would have to say that both of those statements are true, but the reality of it is that Tod loves the ranch. He loves farming. He loves working side by side with everyone else that works on the ranch. It is hard work, sometimes frustrating, but always satisfying. To see the fruit of your labor help bring opportunities to others via funding a non-profit or funding scholarships for higher education. Or maybe it is watching your own grandchildren as they jump up and down, grabbing a piece of fruit out of your hand.