Some things are just meant to happen, take two people born and raised in a small farming community, who worked most of their teenage years in the fruit industry doing the various aspects of fruit production, picking, packing or stacking just to name a few.

Fast forward a few decades two different paths lead back to a new life together, merging families and growing a fruit marketing business. You have a life changing experience that urges you to return to what you know, farming. This is the story of Tod & Traci Parkinson, the founders of Valliwide Organic Farms.

Tod and his wife, Traci, have owned and operated a Produce Marketing Company, Valliwide Marketing, since 1992.

The Marketing company transitioned from conventional farming to only organic produce in 2010, as they began to see the growing demand for organic produce, and as the farmers they worked with expressed a desire to do so.

The Parkinson’s became involved with the charity, When I Grow Up, donating personally but also going on trips to visit the children in Kenya, Haiti, and Guatemala. They became passionate about making a difference through the charity and wanted to find a way to get more consistent, sustainable funding to the non-profit other than just fundraising activities.

At the same time, the Harris Family, who they had known through their marketing company for years, owners of the Grand Island ranch, decided that it was time to retire and wanted to lease out their land to another farmer.

It seemed like the perfect opportunity. Valliwide Marketing would continue to distribute the fruit grown on the Grand Island Ranch and the Parkinson’s could use income generated from the farm to create more funding for When I Grow Up.

For the last six years, Tod & Traci have continued to lease and manage The Grand Island Farm, which is a 100 acre organic farm producing several varieties Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums in Reedley, California.

They also recently purchased and began farming The Ubiquitous Farm, a beautiful 30 acres piece of land with rolling hills, and organic mandarins and organic plums not far from The Grand Island Farm.

Our Fruit:

Organic Mandarins

| Front Page, Our Fruit, The U-Farm | No Comments
This hybrid of the orange and tangerine is recognized for its intense orange color and rich flavor. This medium-sized citrus with a smooth, easily peeled rind has delicate, orange flesh,…

Organic Plums

| Front Page, Grand Island Farm, Our Fruit, The U-Farm | No Comments
Our plums are firm and juicy with a smooth, naturally waxy peel. Plums begin to ripen around late May to early June.Recipes for Organic Plums:More Organic Fruit:

Organic Nectarines

| Front Page, Grand Island Farm, Our Fruit | No Comments
Nectarines are a smooth skinned fruit, sometimes referred to as a "shaved peach". Nectarines belong to the same species as peaches. They reach their peak season in July and August.Organic…

Organic Peaches

| Front Page, Grand Island Farm, Our Fruit | No Comments
Peaches are a juicy fruit with a fuzz on the skin. They are harvested from late May to early September.Organic Peach Recipes:More Organic Fruit:

Our Impact:

Empowering Children in Haiti

| Farm Blog, Front Page, Our Impact, WIGU | No Comments
Through our First Fruits program, Valliwide Organic Farm Partners with the Charity, When I Grow Up, to empower children in Haiti. Lucson Dervilus first heard of the charity, When I Grow Up in…

Changing Futures in Kenya

| Farm Blog, Front Page, Our Impact, WIGU | No Comments
Through our First Fruits program, Valliwide Organic Farm Partners with the Charity, When I Grow Up, to change futures for children in Kenya. When I Grow Up (WIGU) was formed a few months after the…

Local Scholarships

| Front Page, Our Impact | No Comments
About Our Scholarship Program Since Valliwide Organic Farm began, they have been giving away scholarships every year. Scholarships are awarded to students who come from Migrant Farm Worker Families, display…

Making a Difference in Guatemala

| Front Page, Our Impact, WIGU | No Comments
Through our First Fruits program, Valliwide Organic Farm Partners with the Charity, When I Grow Up, to make a difference for children of Guatemala. When I Grow Up has been working in…