Creating and Marketing Value-Added Orchard Products

Project Overview

FW08-030
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2008: $15,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2009
Region: Western
State: California
Principal Investigator:
Nicholas Salle
Email
Salle Orchards
Co-Investigators:
Billie Jean Salle
Salle Orchards

Commodities

  • Fruits: apples, apricots, peaches, pears, general tree fruits
  • Nuts: walnuts

Practices

  • Farm Business Management: marketing management, market study, value added

    Proposal summary:

    Billie Jean and Nicholas Salle have owned and operated their small orchard in Northern California since 1990. Because of economic pressures, they will employ their Farmer/Rancher Grant to explore revenue sources beyond walnut wholesaling.

    During this project, the family-owned orchard will can and dry fruit from the 100-plus varieties they grow. These products will then be marketed to gourmet stores and schools. This will boost profits by making value-added products from fruit seconds and surpluses that are usually discarded. Transportation costs will also be minimized because dehydrated goods take up less room and do not require cooling. These economic benefits will ensure the continuity of Salle Orchard.

    This journey to create and market value-added orchard products will be chronicled on a blog, or online journal, complete with recipes and “how to” tutorials.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.