A SusanvilleStuff Feature
by Melissa Blosser
Imagine having a fruit tree that would continue to bloom, even after the dreaded late freeze that frequents Lassen County. Come summer, your fruit trees would be overflowing with juicy peaches, pears or apricots conveniently located right in your backyard for you to harvest and enjoy.
On Saturday June 16th, Burchell Nursery, Oakdale California brought some of their ripest fruit for the public to sample at Every Blooming Thing. The taste test was conducted to help the company decide which variety of fruit would be the most popular for their current plan to breed a series of fruit trees specifically grafted to grow in High Dessert climate.
“Next year we plan to graft trees that will have an extended bloom, so if it is hurt by the frost, it will still continue to bloom,” said Suzanne Evans, local representative of Burchell Nursery.
Burchell Nursery has been in business for over six decades and has been supplying farmers with peach, plum ,nectarine, prune, apple, cherry, apricot, pomegranate, olive, almond and walnut trees, helping to produce a significant portion of the nation’s supply of fruits and nuts.
Their samples didn’t disappoint tasters who gathered at Every Blooming Thing for a chance to taste fresh peaches, cherries and plumbs leaving owner, Melissa McCoy excited for the future.
“This company is working so hard to develop hardy fruit trees and plants that we will see grow in our difficult climate,” said McCoy.
McCoy plans to work with Burchell to have a test fruit orchard on her property so the grafted trees can truly be tested in high desert climate. Currently, McCoy has several fruit trees in the nursery already displaying vibrant fruit and ready for planting.
“It is exciting for us to bring more fruit to people’s backyards and gardens,” said Evans. “We hope the test trees will provide people here with an opportunity to really have great fruit.”
