Doug and Jane Dickson: River Pear Orchards

  Unlike many farming families in the Sacramento River Delta the Dicksons do not come from a long line of pear farmers. However, they didn’t let that stop them from fulfilling their life long dream of owning and operating a pear orchard.  Doug and Jane Dickson bought River Pear Orchards (45-acres of land along … [Read more...]

A Legacy of Learys

Dennis Leary, or as he calls himself the “current” Dennis Leary, is the third of his name to farm pears along the banks of the Sacramento Delta. Growing up, he always knew he’d become a pear farmer. As his parents’ oldest son, he was expected to take part in the family business, and luckily for Dennis, this was a business he enjoyed. The … [Read more...]

Chiles Wilson

Doing a Job He Loves

Chiles Wilson grew up on his family’s farm along the Sacramento River. From a young age he helped irrigate pears, corn and other row crops, but it was not until he took a summer job at All State Packers that he knew he wanted to work in the farming industry for the rest of his life. At the age of 19 Chiles replaced … [Read more...]

PETER JOHNSON

Family Farming with Purpose

Together Peter, his brother Steve, and mom Susie Johnson, run the Johnson Family Ranch. The fifth generation Johnson family is tilling the same land their great great grandfather settled in the 1880s along the upper banks of the Russian River in California’s Ukiah Valley. [Read more...]

SCULLY PACKING COMPANY

The Family that Grows Together

In 1960 when Phil Scully was attending college, he began working as a fieldman for Gerber Products Company. He handled a variety of crops Gerber sourced from the west coast including pears, apricots and peaches. The job offered Phil his first taste of what would eventually be a lifelong career … [Read more...]

Greg Panella

Building a Robust Family Business

Greg Panella took over running his aunt and uncle’s 63 acre pear orchard just three years ago, but farming was in his blood. His family came to Lake County, California in the early 1900’s looking for land and a better life. His great grandfather, Sydney Stokes, … [Read more...]

RUDDICK RANCH

Generations of Sustainable Farming on the Russian River

Brothers Chris and Matt Ruddick are fourth generation pear farmers in northern California’s  Mendocino County. The two brothers own and manage Ruddick Ranch, a 265 acre operation, located along Howell Creek and the Russian River. Some pear trees on the land are 140 years old – their age … [Read more...]

CHUCK BAKER

5th Generation River Delta Pear Farmer

Chuck Baker is the fifth generation of his farming family to grow pears along the riverbanks of Sacramento’s Delta pear growing district. His great, great, great grandparents purchased a piece of Delta property in 1872 for $50. This is the same spot where Chuck, and his wife, … [Read more...]

PAMELA IVICEVICH

Like Father; Like Daughter

Pamela Ivicevich is new to farming by California pear industry standards, but like most California pear farmers, her story is filled with friends and family who instilled in her a passion for pear farming. Her father, Nick Ivicevich, bought his first pear orchard in 1960, six years … [Read more...]

CHRISTOPHER “TOPHER” CHAN

4th Generation Chinese-American Pear Farmer

Topher Chan grew up playing in the dirt and riding around with his father, uncles and grandfather as they farmed pears in the Sacramento River Delta. At one time, the area was home a large Chinese population – the result of Chinese laborers who came to the … [Read more...]