Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/629538
46 FEBRUARY 1, 2016 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com LAST BITE More Young Growers at goodfruit.com/yg Roger Hudson grower / Sanger, California age / 27 crops / Peaches, nectarines and plums business / Hudson Farms family background / Roger is a sixth-generation grower of about 180 acres of tree fruit in the Sanger and Del Rey communities. He has a sister, Charlotte, and is the son of Liz and Earl Hudson. " " " " What was your path to farming? I'm just a day-one farmer. I've been working the farm full time the past six years. I had one of our drivers the other day say that he remembered me hanging off a bin trailer when I was 9 years old helping sort fruit. Farming is what I know, it's what I've done, and I enjoy it. I love that I can get up early and work alongside my family. What's your workload during the season? I'd say to someone getting into farming that you can't be afraid of hard work. You've got to be ready to get to work and get it done. During the summertime I get up before 5 a.m. or so to change the water and make sure everything's ready to go for the day. When everyone starts picking, I'm on the forklift till 5 p.m. or sundown. Then I go out and change water again. I'm sure down the road, I'll get more involved with the business side of things. What challenges do you face in Sanger? I'm all in on stone fruit. I know a lot of farmers around here who aren't. I don't see any reason to change to a different crop. About the only concern is water availability. All of our water has been pumped for the past two years. Around here, you've gotta have good pumps, and farmers need to be planning to drill new wells. How are you approaching the future? My dad has always had the philosophy that you've got to go with the times. There's a million old-style farming practices that people still use, and some'll never go by the wayside. But I pay attention as tech- nology picks up and little things ad- vance, like spray nozzles that work better. Or if a new variety comes out and it's good. You've just got to keep moving forward because things are always changing. " They say gambling in California's illegal, but it's not when you're a farmer. PLAY goodfruit.com/yg scan to watch the interview www.gslong.com SPONSORED BY by TJ Mullinax More from this interview and other Young Growers at goodfruit.com/yg.