Rainbow Valley Orchards: Working To Make Organic Easy
With groves in all three citrus districts in California and Mexico, Rainbow Valley Orchards proudly boasts a year-round supply of organic citrus and subtropical fruit. More than just a reliable source of high-quality products, this grower-marketer is working to reduce barriers to choosing organic, whether for farmers or the end consumer.
“We used to sell anything that grew well in the desert,” shares Ryan San Jose, the company’s National Sales Director. “But over time, we identified a core group of products as our base, which allowed us to expand into more diverse citrus offerings.”
With reliable lemon, grapefruit and Valencia orange supply covered, next came kumquats, various citron and a wide array of “small round orange things” like Minneola, Tango and Gold Nugget mandarins.
Packing and marketing for organic groves of all sizes, Rainbow Valley Orchards works to ensure their growers are supported with cost and time-saving resources that make maintaining organic certification easy and streamline harvesting and packing.
Great for growers, these investments also help to ensure customers can access a steady supply of high-quality products throughout the year.
“The volume sourced from Rainbow Valley Orchards each year is pretty incredible. We’ve long looked to them as a partner in helping us bring more organic citrus to eaters in the Pacific Northwest,” says OGC Buyer Don Mayfield. “It’s a long-term relationship built on consistency and quality, and it continues to improve as Rainbow Valley Orchards looks for new ways to innovate.”
Ryan San Jose & Dragon Fruit
One such innovation, the opening of a second facility, is helping to address the pressure of transportation costs while reducing the company’s carbon footprint by consolidating shipments. Located in the Central Valley, Rainbow Valley Orchards has found this new facility to be a convenient stop for trucks already en route to other locations further north. The strategic position checks the boxes of cost savings, sustainability and importantly, creating easier access to organic fruit.
“Make organic easy to produce, easy to harvest, easy to pack. That’s the mantra,” says San Jose.
This new facility also positions Rainbow Valley Orchards to expand their Navel and Cara Cara Navel orange offerings, something fans of those quintessential varieties can look forward to.
With the season in full swing, now’s the time to stock up on all the delicious citrus varieties available from Rainbow Valley Orchards. From juicy Valencia oranges, tart lemons, and a bevy of exciting mandarins, there’s plenty to choose from. Be sure to keep an eye out for their tasty organic Dragon Fruit in the coming months, too!