Van Dyke Organic Dried Fruit
Van Dyke Organics is a fifth generation California family farm specializing in organic dried fruit. The farm was established in Santa Clara County in 1921. They have been growing and drying fruit organically in the sunny Santa Clara Valley since 1976. The farm became certified organic in 1986. The quality of their organic dried fruit is second to none. The Van Dyke’s were one of the first family farms to grow and dry fruit organically in California. They actually pioneered and improved many of the modern methods for producing high quality dried organic fruit.
Betty Van Dyke and her boys, Peter, Kurt and Eric, took over the farm from Grandpa in 1975. At that time they began to transition the farm from conventional to organic farming. Son Peter took over full operations of the ranch in 1998 and has expanded the farm to include a variety of dried fruit.
Van Dyke Organics now offers a variety of dried fruit. Blenheim apricots are their signature crop. They were recently featured in Saveur food magazine (That’s where I found out about them). But they also produce organic fresh and dried Bing cherries, organic dried nectarines, organic dried peaches, organic dried pears, organic dried plums and organic dried persimmons. Unfortunately, we only get the dried varieties at the Farmers’ Market.
Besides the alluvial soil, the key ingredient is that the farm has a great southern exposure that increases the sweetness and flavor of their fruit. The Blenheim apricots are incredible- plump and soft- very sweet (and yet tart)- with true apricot flavor.
Peter’s children, Nicholas and Cody, have grown up on the farm and are part of the family farming effort.
At the market, we currently carry the apricots, pears, nectarines and persimmons. We sell them in $5 bags. Consider them a very healthy and nutritious alternative to candy and other snacks.
Please look for Van Dyke Organic dried fruit next to the California Olive Oil Connection.
David Lagnese
Learn more at: http://www.vandykeorganics.com/index.html