Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/215151
PHOTOS BY T.J. MULLINAX Jeff Colombini, a hands-on grower, monitors fruit development in orchards managed by Lodi Farming. Many Northwest orchardists have visited his California apple and cherry orchards. In a state with such diverse geography and climate that's known for having the lowest (Death Valley) and highest (Mt. Whitney) points of elevation in the country, Colombini can grow just about any crop. His planting and farming decisions are guided by a detailed cost accounting system that tracks inputs of each block and variety. "Planting decisions are a combination of looking in the rearview mirror—knowing what past costs are—and looking forward to where you think trends, markets, and now, labor availability, are headed," he said. When Colombini began as farm manager for Lodi Farming in 1992, he succeeded Bill Sheffield who was retiring. At that time, the company was the farming arm for Cortopassi and leased open ground from Italian investors, involved with mostly wine grapes and row crops. Cortopassi wanted to lease his property and not be involved with daily farming decisions, which changed the focus of Lodi Farming. Since then, Colombini has added additional acreage, both owned and leased, to the Lodi Farming portfolio, and significantly increased apple plantings from 36 to more than 500 acres, making the company one of the largest apple growers in the state. Apple varieties include Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady (Cripps Pink). Of the remaining 1,300 acres under Lodi Farming's care, 300 acres are cherries (Chelan, Index, Bing, Coral Champagne, and Rainier), 450 acres are olives, 250 acres are walnuts, and the remaining 260 acres are wine grapes and alfalfa. www.goodfruit.com "The success of Lodi Farming is due to the management team," Colombini said. Lodi Farming's management team is comprised of Colombini, who's primarily responsible for the horticultural side of things; Ray Avansino, vice president and in charge of equipment and operations; and he Good Fruit Grower of the Ezequiel Escamilla, who manages their Year award is made annually labor. "Ray and I are equal partners and to an individual or family who share in all of the decision making, and produces good quality tree fruit, is Ezequiel does all of the hiring of our fullinnovative and inspiring, recognized time and seasonal workers," as being a good employer and Lodi Farming is owned primarily by steward of resources, and contributes Colombini and Avansino, and they are to the success of industry. The owners in about half of the acreage that Grower of the Year is selected by the company manages, with the remainthe Good Fruit Grower's Advisory ing leased through long-term contracts Board. This is the seventeenth award of up to 30 years. Leases for the highgiven. Past recipients have come value, perennial crops are farmed under from Washington, Oregon, and share-cropping agreements, in which the Pennsylvania. land owner is paid a percentage of the crop revenue after harvesting, packing, and sales charges are deducted. "Almost all of the land we farm is contiguous, which makes moving equipment and crews much easier than if we were spread all over the county," Colombini said. Landowners leasing their acreage generally fall into two categories—retired farmers or their heirs not ready to sell their land and those who want to live in the country on 20 acres but don't want to be a farmer. (Continued on page 51) T GOOD FRUIT GROWER DECEMBER 2013 49