In some methods, a household farm is simply an extra-large kitchen backyard. It’s an extension of the house and the people who dwell there—no less than, that’s how fourth-generation farmer Amber Balakian feels about Balakian Farms.
Balakian Farms / Photograph Credit score Paprika Studios
“We look after the land as a result of we dwell on it; it’s not simply this property that’s separate from us,” she advised The FruitGuys once we known as to verify in on the farm’s summer season fruit season.
The Balakian (pronounced Buh-lake-ian) household grows stone fruit like peaches, plums, nectarines, plutos, and apricots on twenty acres of licensed natural farmland in Reedley, California. Additionally they plant row crops like summer season squash, heirloom tomatoes, and Armenian cucumbers. These cucumbers imply loads to Amber as a result of they’re a nod to her household’s Armenian heritage.
Balakian Farms’ Refugee Roots
Balakian Farms dates again to 1925. That yr, Zadig and Victoria Balakian based the farm after fleeing the Armenian Genocide within the Ottoman Empire. Their son John married Stella Krikorian—the daughter of fellow Armenian refugees.
At present, Stella co-owns the farm together with her daughter Ginger, her son-in-law Clarence, and her granddaughter Amber. It’s really a household enterprise, and Amber says the farm’s staff are as invested as her household. Brothers Angel and Benny Chavez are managers on the farm and have labored there for greater than twenty years.
Left to Proper: Stella and Amber Balakian / Photograph Credit score Paprika Studios
Clarence and Amber are each Black, and Balakian’s standing as a BIPOC- and woman-owned farm was limiting. Amber mentioned it made it “more durable for us to do sure issues and get into sure locations.” However now, the tables have turned.
“By staying true to our heritage, who we’re, and the place we got here from—simply by sharing that and never being ashamed of it in any method or letting or not it’s a barrier for us—I believe we’ve form of turned it round. [Celebrating our ownership and heritage] is definitely a chance to assist us develop and maintain ourselves,” she mentioned.
The FruitGuys has labored with Amber since 2021, and we’re proud so as to add Balakian’s apricots, cucumbers, and tomatoes to our natural fruit supply containers and our Natural Fundamentals Field, which incorporates each fruit and veggies.
Balakian Farms / Photograph Credit score Paprika Studios
After we spoke in June, Amber gave us the rundown on Balakian’s 2024 stone fruit season.
A Unbelievable 12 months for Stone Fruit
A deluge of rain made rising some fruit crops tough in California final yr, however this spring the Balakians lucked into dry, cool climate. Stepping onto the farm appears like getting into a lush oasis of inexperienced leaves and glowing, gem-like fruit.
Balakian Farms / Photograph Credit score Paprika Studios
“Up to now it has been a very good season, particularly for our stone fruit,” Amber mentioned. “… I’m positive I say this yearly, however the fruit is simply actually good tasting, with a great dimension and sweetness. We’ve gotten a variety of nice suggestions and it’s been actually aromatic, too.
Balakian Farms is understood for its distinctive fruit and vegetable varieties, together with heart-shaped Elephant Coronary heart plums, Arctic Rose white nectarines so candy they style sugared, and tiny Fairy Story eggplants. This yr, the Balakians planted a number of new timber so as to add much more novel flavors to the farm, like wine-red Sangria plumcots.
Balakian Farms / Photograph Credit score Paprika Studios
“I like our Scarlet Girl peaches, and for the nectarines, I like Honey Royale, Honey Lite—any of the varieties that begin with the phrase ‘honey,’” Amber advised us in June. “… They’re appropriately named and simply so good.”
July and August will convey much more enjoyable flavors to the farm, like Hearth Pearl white nectarines, Summer time Zee yellow peaches, Taste Grenade pink pluots, and Autumn Snow white peaches.
Balakian Farms / Photograph Credit score Paprika Studios
Need farm-fresh fruit?
We have got you lined.
All of Balakian’s fruit is licensed natural and has been for the reason that Nineties.
“We have been one of many first farms in our space to transition to natural. I believe the entire course of was positively dangerous on the time, nevertheless it has clearly paid off now as a result of folks’s preferences have shifted a lot through the years. It’s an vital a part of who we at the moment are and what our farm stands for when it comes to setting increased requirements,” Amber mentioned.
Harvard Businesswoman/Farmer
Amber’s mom Ginger led the hassle to transition Balakian Farms to natural practices within the Nineties. Within the many years since, Amber has adopted in her footsteps engaged on the enterprise facet of farming—though that wasn’t at all times the plan.
Balakian Farms / Photograph Credit score Paprika Studios
As a younger grownup, Amber wished to hitch the company world. She studied economics on the College of California San Diego for her bachelor’s diploma, then earned her grasp’s in administration and operations from Harvard. However the Ivy League taught her a brand new appreciation for farming.
“That was across the time when sustainability and people sorts of issues have been being launched,” she mentioned. “Studying about that and the significance of that made me notice that I had one thing distinctive in my household’s farm. It made me wish to return and assist.”
At present, Amber handles the gross sales and advertising at Balakian. She significantly loves sharing her household’s story, heritage, and traditions on social media (try @balakianfarms on Instagram) and making bread-and-butter pickles together with her grandmother Stella’s household recipe. She additionally teaches enterprise lessons at Fresno Metropolis School.
“I actually just like the enterprise facet of farming, and I identical to how we’re in a position to create our personal path,” she mentioned.
Need farm-fresh fruit?
We have got you lined.
Source link
