by Hannah Tangeman
Chuck LaViolette is one of the pioneers of the Lassen Land and Trails Trust Market who ventured up with the inception of the market in the late 1990’s to bring his farm raised stone fruit and tomatoes.
Chuck’s fruits are raised on 9.7 acres of beautiful bottom land outside Gridley. Towering trees – row after row- each variety timed to ripen a week later to produce tree ripened fruit for each market. Plums, pluots, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, all varieties selected for flavor are lined up awaiting the summer certified farmers markets.
Chuck’s 40 years of wise farming experience is evident in his orchard. Micro sprinklers manage water in an efficient manner, each row is hand labeled with a white marker bearing the variety’s name, while thinning of fruit is done to achieve larger sweeter pieces. Chuck finds joy in the beauty of the blooms and bringing the best to his customers.
LaViolette Farm produce is tree ripened, picked for each market, and never in cold storage to maximize flavor. Trees produce from May through October with new varieties – most not in traditional stores.
Chuck tastes his fruit daily to see what is ready to be picked and what needs to sweeten on the tree for another day.
LaViolette Farms growing fruits we are challenged to grow locally because of our colder climate but available at the Lassen Land and Trails Trust market, freshly picked for you.
