Salle Orchards - Where Great Taste Runs in the Family
Founded in 1990, Salle Orchards is a family-owned
and operated farm located on 70 acres in Sutter and Yuba Counties. Nearly two
decades ago, farmers Nicholas and Billie Jean Salle bought a deteriorating
60-year old walnut orchard, knowing it required a costly investment of effort
and resources to bring it up to peak production. But they also knew that the fertile
soil under the trees –a nutrient-rich
river bottom– had the potential to grow abundant, high-quality fruits and
vegetables.
With approximately 3,500 trees, Salle Orchards is one of the smallest
farms in the Wheatland, California area. The acreage is planted with four varieties of
English walnuts, including gourmet Chandlers, and a large assortment of tree
fruit. The orchard contains an expansive variety of fruit, including about 27
varieties of apples, 8 apricots, 9 Asian pears, 7 cherries, 3 persimmons, 3
pomegranates, 5 figs, 25 plums, 3 pluots, 20 citrus, and about 80 peaches and
nectarines.
By carefully interplanting row crops, the Salles also raise specialty
fruits and vegetables, including blackberries, kiwis, tomatoes, squash, cover
crops, root crops and leafy greens. They sell their produce at farmers' markets
in Placer, Sacramento and Nevada Counties. In addition, they have just debuted
two new products - flavored nuts and sun dried fruits - now available at
gourmet, specialty and farmers' markets.
The neglected, rundown orchard is now thriving, thanks to the strenuous,
yet rewarding, work of Nick, Billie Jean and their children. The Salles are
proud of their farm and the quality products they grow, and they invite you to try their fresh produce, walnuts and other products.