Gemperle Orchards: Sometimes Finding an IPM Balance Takes Time
A National Nut Grower magazine grower profile (May/June 2022 issue) documenting Christine and Erich Gemperle’s decade-long evolution toward integrated pest management (IPM) at their 135-acre almond operation in Ceres, CA. Details how an accidental observation of beneficial insects during cover crop mowing led Christine to forgo a routine preventative abamectin mite spray — resulting in […]
Meet the Farms: Gemperle Farms
An Almond Living Magazine feature article (published July 13, 2022) profiling Christine Gemperle and her inclusion in the BBC Earth documentary series “The Green Planet” (Episode 5: “Human Worlds,” aired August 2022). Describes how a BBC crew spent three weeks filming at Gemperle Orchards in 2020 during a spectacular bloom season, drawn by the visual […]
An Almond Farmer and Advocate: Christine Gemperle
A portrait interview from the From Farms to Incubators journalism project (written by Kristin Platts), featuring Christine Gemperle of Gemperle Orchards in Ceres and Gustine, CA. Covers Christine’s background — a Swiss immigrant father who brought almond farming to California, her biology and fisheries degrees from UC Santa Cruz and Utah State, and her return […]
Grower Perspectives on Whole Orchard Recycling: Christine Gemperle
A UC Davis Whole Orchard Recycling (WOR) program grower profile (published March 20, 2019) documenting Christine Gemperle’s first experience with whole-orchard recycling on a 20-acre block of her 135-acre almond operation in Ceres, Stanislaus County. Covers her motivation (no viable alternatives for orchard removal after firewood and cogen markets dried up), the logistics of pulling […]
From the Orchard: Rich Gemperle Applies Hydrogeology Expertise to Farming
A Q&A profile of Rich Gemperle of Gemperle Family Farms in Turlock, a second-generation almond grower with a background as a hydrologic engineer. Gemperle discusses how his hydrogeology training informs a science-driven, trial-based approach to sustainable farming — including a long-running compost program using poultry manure from the family’s egg operation, cover cropping and hedgerow […]
Ceres Almond Grower Tests Cover Crops to Save Water
A KCRA-TV Sacramento news segment and article featuring Tanya Gemperle-Goncalves, sustainability manager for Gemperle Family Farm in Ceres. The piece explains how the 45-acre almond orchard has spent several years testing cover crops — including wheat, mustard, and legumes — planted between tree rows as a strategy to improve soil water-holding capacity and reduce irrigation […]
Burroughs Family Farms: Integrating Pastured Poultry with Dairy, Almonds, and Olives
A video in which Ward Burroughs describes the integration (“stacking”) of pastured chickens with the farm’s other enterprises — chickens following cows in dairy pastures and grazing in almond and olive orchards during winter — illustrating how enterprise stacking enhances soil fertility and overall farm resilience
Burroughs Family Farms: Pioneering Regenerative Organic Certified Almond Farming
A Q&A-style article featuring Benina Burroughs Montes, managing partner of Burroughs Family Orchards, describing how the fifth-generation family farm became the first Regenerative Organic Certified almond operation in the country, and how their practices — including cover cropping, planned sheep grazing, hedgerows, whole orchard recycling, and a catch-frame harvest system — improve soil health, water […]
Rosie Burroughs — Abundant Year-Round Habitat at Burroughs Family Farm
A Wild Farm Alliance farmer success story featuring Rosie Burroughs, who discusses her farm’s approach to providing year-round wildlife habitat through hedgerows, native plants, and intentional stewardship of farm vegetation in all seasons — supporting pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds alongside organic almond, dairy, and livestock production.
Sustainable Agriculture Leaders: Rosie & Ward Burroughs
A video profile of Rosie and Ward Burroughs, who farm organic almonds and operate an organic pasture-based dairy near Merced in California’s Central Valley, discussing their approach to regenerative and sustainable agriculture.