Farming in modern day California, the most regulated state in the Union, presents some very unique challenges. As good stewards of the land, our family takes what we do very seriously to ensure we are protecting our land and creating a sustainable future for the next generations.  Facing the challenges of managing water resources, navigating stringent and ever-changing government regulation, alongside supporting an ethical and responsible labor force can be a full time job in itself! We believe that what we do - growing food - is important and how we do it is paramount.

Our avocados are grown conventionally meaning we support the health of our trees through tried and tested crop nutrition and protection.  One of the main reasons we haven’t made the transition to organic farming relates to our application of nitrogen to our soil and trees. Nitrogen is a naturally occurring element and is essential to the health of the avocado tree when applied in specific amounts at specific times of year. Using precisely measured nitrogen in our irrigation water means we can provide the tree with the exact amount it needs at the four times of the year we know it needs it, ensuring excess nitrogen isn’t flushed away into our groundwater.  To protect our trees, we use a range of techniques including releasing beneficial insects and a once-a-year aerial spray. The only pesticide applied to the trees is done by helicopter and is for a pest that was imported into California in the mid 1990’s. We maintain meticulous records of what is applied to our orchard and adhere to the strictest food safety protocols.

We are always striving to do better through education, technology and efficiency. We spend every day focused on how we can be better stewards of the land, produce more with less and leave a smaller footprint. We are constantly reevaluating how we are farming, discussing new cultural practices and researching new technology to support these goals.

We could not do all of this without a dedicated and incredibly hardworking team.  We have seven full-time employees who are responsible for pruning, irrigating, fertilizing, protecting, maintaining and harvesting our orchard.  Ricardo, our ranch foreman, has been with us for over 15 years and Victor has worked with us for 30 years. We believe our employees are part of our family here at Kimball Ranches.