Watsonville Apples and Flowers Promotion:
Apple orchards once dominated Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. In 1908, there were 14,000 acres of apples in the Pajaro Valley, today there is only 2,128 acres in production. It is not hard to figure out why: apples bring about $281 a ton, strawberries return about $1,947 a ton and blackberries a whopping $6,671 a ton. Apple orchards come down and berry hoop houses go up.
Nita and her husband (who passed away) were apple growers, and instead of giving up on apples, Nita turned apples into apple pie, literally. Not only apple pies, but every other kind of berry pie, cider, jam, syrup, and pancake mix, etc. Her pies are famous throughout the region and every school kid within 30 miles has been to Gizdich to pick apples. Nita said that Gizdich Ranch wouldn't be here today if she hadn't transitioned over to pies and other branded products.
KB is inspired by Nita. Just like apples, flowers
aren’t what they once were in the Pajaro Valley. However, we have an
opportunity to create our own alternative business based on flowers. And using
Nita’s example, we can create our KB Brand products and events.
Here is a
picture of our grower Jimmy Zheng and Nita at last Friday’s Wine and Rose event
in Watsonville. Always the promoter, Nita made sure Jimmy had one of her
brochures in his pocket. Don’t forget your Gizdich pie for Thanksgiving!
~RHK
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