Operations

The 1800 acres of Gilbert owned orchards are located in the upper elevations of the western Yakima Valley, the warm loamy soils of the Lower Yakima Valley and the sandy-loam sites of the Wahluke Slope. These are prime growing regions in Washington known to produce fruit of great flavor.

Apple varieties include Braeburn, Gala, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Grannie Smith, Jonagold, and Fuji.

Peaches and nectarines are available from mid-July to the end of September.

Pear varieties include Bosc, Anjou and Bartlett.

Apple Varieties (Washington State Apple Commission)
Fruit in Season (Washington State Fruit Commission)

We use integrated pest management. IPM programs are "pest management programs based on a high level of knowledge of pest biology coupled with choices of monitoring tools and control technology, resulting in economically sound, environmentally compatible, and sociologically responsible integrated crop production." (National Science Foundation)

The Gilbert Fruit warehouse was completely rebuilt from the ground up in 2004 after a fire destroyed the original . The expanded, state-of-the-art warehouse/cold storage facility now packs and stores up to 2 million boxes of fruit, both conventional and organic, year round. Conventionally grown fruit is sold wholesale domestically and internationally through Oneonta / Starr Ranch Growers. In addition, we have a strong partnership with some of the best organic marketers in Washington State. This is a crucial element in the increasingly competitive organic market. Fruit is also sold retail locally through our office in Wiley City near Yakima, Washington.

Gift boxes are also available at certain times of the year and can be mailed throughout the United States and Canada.