Bernard Ranches

FARMLAND: 50 Acres in Riverside County, about 430 miles from our market.

PEOPLE: Vince and Vicki Bernard along with one employee, Cesar Pascual, who sells at farmers’ markets

FARM HISTORY/PHILOSOPHY: Vince and Vicki Bernard of Bernard Ranches are lifelong farmers. They pride themselves on the superior flavor and sweetness of their citrus fruit, which they attribute to the combination of their rich soil and suitable climate, as well as the use of seaweed as a fertilizer. They began farming this land in 1979 and have been bringing their produce to farmers' markets since 1980. They work their farm together and sell their fruit themselves, "so the customer knows that we are the ones who also grow it." According to Vicki, "It's very rewarding to hear a customer come back and tell us how much they enjoy our produce and then thank us for coming to the farmers market with it."

SOIL: The decomposed granite and clay soil is fertilized with seaweed and urea.

WEED CONTROL: Hand weeding

PEST MANAGEMENT: Release of beneficial insects (parasitic wasps, lady beetles and lace wings); hand-trapping gophers (the Bernards do not use synthetic pesticides).

WATER USE: Drip irrigation

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: None