How Much Fruit Can Grow on Four and a Half Acres
Penryn Orchard Specialties is just over four acres, home to 56 different varieties of fruits and vines, about 300 trees in total. By commercial standards, which typically involve hundreds of acres of just a few varieties, this orchard makes no sense, until you taste the fruit.
Click to see what we grow.
What's so special about this fruit?
First there is the soil, lightly acidic, what fruit trees like best and something rare in California.
Then there is the pure snowmelt from the Sierras, gravity fed directly to our trees.
Of course the trees themselves, varieties selected for flavor first, marketability second.
Most of all there is the attentive care of Jeff, who babysits the orchard all year long,
picks the fruit only when it is at its peak, and handles the packing entirely by hand.
Where is Penryn?
Located in the foothills East of Sacramento, Penryn sits at the heart of what was California's premier fruit growing region until the Central Valley Canal was built. Winters bring ample chill, springs are mild, and long, hot summers sweeten the fruit.
Click for a history of the orchard.
Who tends the orchard?
The orchard is just small enough for Jeff to do all the work himself, from tending the trees to harvesting, packing, and bringing the fruit to market.
Jeff's motto: "Perfect is close enough."
He does get intermittent help from Laurence, A.K.A. "The French Girl," but there are no employees. As you can imagine, Jeff does not get a lot of time off.
Click to learn more about us.
Where can I buy Penryn Orchard Specialties fruit?
Click for details on buying our fruit
Watch Penryn the Movie (with grateful thanks to filmmaker Gina Leibrecht)