Thank you all for coming out to the Delta for a beautiful morning. The pear trees were at their peak bloom during our visits and the little white blooms were spectacular.
We were invited by Chiles Wilson of Rivermaid Trading Co, California’s largest grower and producer of pears (they grow cherries too!), to visit their Delta property in March.
In 1843, Joseph B Chiles came from Missouri to California and began farming. Fast forward five generations to Rivermaid Trading Company, a family farming business and leading innovator in growing, packing and shipping fresh pears and cherries around the world.
Rivermaid is owned by childhood friends Chiles Wilson and Brian Machado. Their business is headquartered in Lodi, with two additional facilities in Walnut Grove and Courtland. Rivermaid Trading Company is at its roots a family farm, but as their fifth generation takes over, they are also a forward-thinking, vertically integrated farming enterprise.
“Being able to continue my family’s farming legacy and be part of an industry-leading company setting new standards in quality, flavor and safety – that’s been a dream come true,” Chiles said. “It just doesn’t get any better than that.”
In the Delta, Rivermaid grows “Rivermaid Red” and “Bartlett” Pears. They are the largest California-based pear supplier with over 4,000 acres of pear orchards and handles over 50 percent of all pears grown in California. They are sourced from Sacramento Delta, Lake and Mendocino growing regions as well as from Hood River, Oregon. Their orchards were in bloom in March, just in time for our visit!
Many thanks again to Chiles Wilson Sr. and Alex Wilson for being such wonderful hosts. Having Zoro there to greet us all was a special treat.
We hope to see you for April's farm visits! Keep a look out for more information in the next Art & Ag newsletter.
Learn more about Rivermaid Trading Co here +
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