I’m the boy in a family of 4 older sisters and am blessed to have such a great family.I have three kids: Cameron-22, Catherine-20 and Rebecca-12.Maybe that is one of the reasons we grow over 75 varieties. Rose (Red Fleshed) and Mutsu.Īs you can see it’s a difficult question without going into great length. Late season would be a toss-up between Crimson Crisp, Mt. Mid-season you cannot beat a good Honeycrisp for crispness, flavor and texture but Sonata and Jonagold are also outstanding. The apple season I like Ginger Gold, Gravenstein and an apple developed at the University of Minnesota called Zestar. The farm stand at Kiyokawa Family Orchards It depends on the time of the season, what I’m going to use it for and even what I’m in the mood for at that time. The time it now takes me to comply with all the regulations has made farming a “desk job,” let alone the cost of the fees involved. But there are growing regulations that put a small family farm at a huge disadvantage when we are trying to be efficient. On the business side, I have the obvious concern of the rising cost of production that includes labor, fuel, pest control, insurance & fertilizer. It has been an easy trap to put work in front of everything including family, my health and spiritual well being. Keeping balance in my life, especially in the harvest season. What’s the biggest challenge in what you do? We emphasize and promote locally and sustainably-grown produce. Hood and rarified, glacier-fed water sources create a unique growing environment allowing us to offer you the cleanest, healthiest produce possible. The fertile soils found at the base of Mt. Since 1911, the Kiyokawa family has been growing the finest produce available while emphasizing conservation-oriented agricultural practices. What do you want people to know about Kiyokawa Family Orchards? From the spring blossoms and hope of a new season, to the summer caring of nurturing the trees and the rewarding harvest of a well-earned crop. I also like the seasons we have in growing fruit. I’ve always enjoyed watching a customer who has come to our farm and takes a bite of an apple and says, “That’s the best apple I’ve ever eaten.” That is one of the greatest rewards of direct marketing and getting to know your customers. The greatest influences in my life were/are my parents, teachers and coaches, as well as some very close friends. So if I had to choose I would say I would like to teach math at the middle school level and coach on the side. I have had the opportunity to work with kids through coaching and volunteering and have cherished those experiences over the years. What would you be if you weren’t a farmer? My grandfather, Riichi Kiyokawa, started farming in Dee, Oregon, (which is located about six miles from here) in 1911. After graduating from Oregon State University and working in Portland for a few years my father, Mamoru, had health problems and I returned to help out. I’m a third generation orchardist and have been back on the farm since 1988. We market most of our pears and cherries through Diamond Fruit Growers, one of the few grower-owned cooperatives in the industry. Randy Kiyokawa, Owner of Kiyokawa Family Orchards in Parkdale, Oregon.ĭirectly to restaurants.
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