TODD FAMILY FARMS BARTLETT PEARS

Dan and Alice Todd are 4th generation farmers with 11 acres of organic Bartlett green pears in Potter Valley in Mendocino County. Dan bought part of his father’s operation in 1977 and started the transition to organic in 1985 after deciding there had to be a better way to farm. Dan’s family still lives on the farm next to the orchard where he grew up. He was concerned about the chemicals and how they would affect his family. Dan built a feeling of connectedness to the land to hand down to his children who are now married with children. In 2013 Dan’s oldest son Andy returned home to learn the craft of farming and continue the family’s legacy with his children.

Andy and Dan Todd

Todd Family Farms is located 1000 feet above sea level where the hot days and cool nights grow delicious pears. When the fruit stays on the trees longer it develops a higher sugar content and more intense flavor. The creeks and natural habitat have many beneficial insects. Abundant wildlife include deer and bears which they try to discourage from eating the pears. Dan has been composting for years and grows cover crops such as legumes and clover to maintain healthy soil. “My grandfather said the most important thing you can put into an orchard is your footprint,” said Dan.

“I do think there is a distinct difference with pears and where they come from, and I think Mendocino Pears are pretty exceptional,” said Dan Todd

Earl’s team visited Todd Family Farms and asked Dan Todd what one message he would like to share with consumers. “If I could give one message to the consumer it would be buy quality fruit, don’t just buy because it’s pretty. I do think there is a distinct difference with pears and where they come from, and I think Mendocino Pears are pretty exceptional. When you buy quality, like anything, it is probably going to cost a little more. We are trying to sell an eating experience that hopefully is worth what we are selling it for.”

While we walked the orchards we learned that Earl bought Dan Todd’s first Bartlett Pears back in 1987 when they transitional organic and Earl was the produce buyer for Living Foods in Marin. Now 36 years later, we at Earl’s still feel that California Bartletts are some of the best pears in the world.

California pears are very delicate and are all hand-picked and packed.  Todd Family Farms is starting to harvest their Bartlett Pears this week and expects the season to go through September.