I went this weekend hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. This Saturday and Sunday was the exception. We got almost an inch on Friday night which is perfect. I drove to Ventura in High winds and rain. That really helps you stay awake. As I pulled off the 101 to downtown Ventura the rain stopped. I thought well I might be able to at least get set up and be kind of dry when the market opens at 8:30. As I was cutting up the last of the samples the sun came out. I thought to myself are we going to have a great day or what? Well it was and so was Sunday in Santa Clarita. The music was playing and the customers were happy and in the buying mood. As I packed up the last of the tables into my truck the clouds started to get thicker. I left about 12:45 and headed home so I could catch the 49er Giants game.

As I got to the top of the Grapevine the sprinkles started and I thought again how rare it is for this to happen. I pulled onto the farm right at 3:30 and the game was just starting. Into the kitchen I went to make some homemade refried beans for tostadas later that night. The friends showed up, the beers were cold and the food was great.

When I got up Monday morning I checked the rain gauge again. It showed a little over an inch. What a nice weekend this was. The trees and the grapevines are soaking up the water and everything is clean again. I hope for another storm soon but if it falls on a market day I won’t be as disappointed as I had been before. Thank you to all who came out to the markets and thank you to the weather forecasters for being wrong again.

Farmers Market pictures

Set up and ready to go in Ventura. Wed. At the Pacific View
Mall. 9 to 1pm

I can’t imagine what our farm would be like if I didn’t have Vicente here to help me get things ready for market. We start off picking the oranges which takes about an hour then we move to the pomelos. We need about 250 pounds which is about 5 picking sacks of Melogold pomelos which are nice and yellow and heavy with juice.I get quite a few questions at the farmers market about what is the best way to eat a pomelo so the first video is a demonstration with the Melogold.

After we get done with Melogolds we move over to the Oro Blanco pomelos. They are sweet like th Melogold but have a little more grapefruit taste and a firmer meat. I need to pick about 3 picking sacks of these.

Next comes the Marsh White grapefruit. I only need 50 pounds of them, they are for the true grapefruit lovers. It”s an heirloom grapefruit, just what everyone remembers growing up. After I get the grapefruit picked I need to check the blood oranges to see if they are getting red inside yet. They are usually ready about mid February but they have been early before. Check out the video to see the results.

After that it’s bag bag bag. Everything gets sacked up in either 5, 10 or 25 pound bags in about 2 and a half hours. Then we load the pickup with all the citrus, dried fruit, tent, tables and supplies so it’s ready to leave for Ventura at 4 in the morning.

Well that takes me to 3 in the afternoon. Now it’s time to get a 15 pound package of navel oranges shipped out to NY and grab some diesel for the tractor so Vicente can pick while I am in Thousand Oaks on Thursday. Then I can sit down and work on my computer for a little bit. Now it’s time for my daughters homework and dinner with the family. My wife made a great smelling stew, perfect for a chilly evening.

Until next time, Ryan

If you would like to know more about our history go to www.fifefarms.com

We carry,

Sweet Pomelos, Navel Oranges and super flavorful raisins. We ship anywhere in the U.S. and the citrus is picked the day it’s shipped.

Soon to come..

Seedless blood oranges, Honey Bell tangelos and Heirloom grapefruit.

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Fife’s Family Farm, Visalia, CA, www.fifefarms.com