Paredez Farms

FARMLAND: 112 acres in Exeter, about 200 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

PEOPLE: Frank Paredez along with 12 full-time and 80 part-time or seasonal employees

FARM HISTORY/PHILOSOPHY: Frank's grandfather and father came to the US from Mexico in 1911. His grandfather worked on the railroad, traveling the US until he settled in Fresno. Soon after in 1918, he purchased the family farm in Tulare County to farm with his son (Frank's father). Frank grew up on the farm, learning from both his father and grandfather and eventually took over the family farm in 1980.

Tulare County farm advisors help Frank decide what crops and techniques work best for the local conditions. He uses this advice and the feedback he receives from his market customers to decide what crops to plant. Frank prides himself on selling the freshest and best tasting fruit possible. He picks the fruit at its peak flavor and tries to spray it as little as possible to defray costs and care for the environment. He says that all farmers are environmental conservationists at heart because they depend on the land for their livelihood. Frank hopes that all of his customers are satisfied with his products and aims to provide them with the highest quality produce.

SOIL: Sandy loam and clay soil. They use compost, cover crops, leave crop stubble, rotate crops, use synthetic and organic fertilizers, and apply both aged and raw manure to build up the soil.

WEED CONTROL: Hand weeding, machine cultivation, and synthetic and organic herbicides.

PEST MANAGEMENT: The Paredezes release beneficial insects, create habitat for beneficials, use pheremone disruptors, apply synthetic and organic pesticides, and use crop rotation to manage pests on the farm.

WATER USE: Water is pumped from on-site wells and canals that run from local dams that collect runoff from nearby hills. They irrigate using flood, furrow, and drip techniques.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: None