Gemperle Farms Almond Bloom – Almonds at the Egg Ranch.
Eggs and almonds. That’s what we farm. That’s what we know. To combine the two, we surround our hen houses with Gemperle Farms almond trees. We are excited because the almond bloom is our favorite time to work at the ranch.
Over one million acres of almond trees in California explode with white and pink blooms between mid-February to March each year creating one of the most spectacular agricultural events of the year. As a result, the sweet smell of almond blossoms fills the air, and the soft petals of finished bloom carpet the ground. The bees are busy flying from flower to flower spreading the pollen and gathering nectar. From this activity, the pollinated flower will transform throughout the summer into one of the tastiest and most sustainably produced proteins – the humble almond.
We give thanks to the bees and their keepers. We give thanks to the warm sun that opens the delicate blossoms. It’s an exciting time to be working at the farm and be part of the largest pollination event in the world.
Looking at the Bloom
If you have time, take a drive through the countryside around Turlock and Modesto to see this spectacular event. You will see that most almond farms are quite small like our Gemperle Farms almond orchards. However, they comprise 80% of the world’s almonds. This drone footage video below gives you a good idea of what you can see.
Our Sustainable Farming Practices
Gemperle Family Farms continually strive to improve and innovate our farming practices with the ultimate goal of environmental sustainability.
As an example, our Gemperle Farms almond orchards rely almost exclusively on organic fertilizers as opposed to harsh petrochemical sources. Another important aspect of our sustainable farming concept includes integrated pest management (IPM) practices. This involves extensive, year-round monitoring of pests and their natural predators. To ensures the optimal health of pollinators, strips are planted with a variety of bee-loving plants.
Our sustainability practices also include the installation of solar PV on our farms to help meet our energy demands.
Ultimately, our goal is a truly sustainable farming tradition based on the three pillars of sustainability: social justice, economic viability, and environmental protection.
To read more about our sustainability practices in our egg ranch visit our Gemperle Family Farms website’s caring for our environment section.
