One on One ~ Kiyokawa Orchards
Fall 2009
Holistic orchardist Randy Kiyokawa shares his story and growing methods with Karen Harding.
A tinge in the summer air, earlier sunsets, cooler nights, all push our thinking towards the edge of autumn. The summer fruits wind down and up the Hood River Valley on the flanks of Mt. Hood, past Parkdale on Clear Creek Road, lies the Kiyokawa Family Orchard.
It is renowned for its large diversity of over 80 distinctive varieties of apples, pears and Asian pears. With the largest U-pick in the valley, an orchard fruit stand with several harvest celebrations during the season, and representation at nine different Farmers Markets in the Portland area as well as Gorge Grown Market in Hood River; this orchard works hard to connect with people.
Randy Kiyokawa is a third generation Hood River Valley farmer. His grandfather started an orchard in Dee in 1911. Randy’s father bought the land near Parkdale in 1951 and Randy worked on the farm as a child. He graduated from OSU in Agricultural Engineering Technology. After working in Portland for several years he returned home in 1987 to help his father with the orchards. Randy has helped establish several orchard conservation systems in the family orchards.
Karen Harding: What is an Integrated Fruit Production System?
Randy Kiyokawa: This is a holistic approach to the care and management of the orchard that allows us to reduce the use of chemicals and fertilizers as well as conserve water. We have converted over half of the orchard grounds to a micro-irrigation system with an estimated water savings of up to 30 percent. In order to reduce air pollution, the orchard chips rather than burning pruned material, which they then put down on orchard roads to keep down dust.
KH: And, your work with wildlife habitats?
RK: Our orchard borders Evans Creek and a natural wildlife corridor. To ensure further protection for wildlife, we maintain a generous riparian boundary so that food and cover remain available for the species naturally occurring there. We have also installed American Kestral nesting boxes throughout the orchard. These birds are part of our natural pest management plan for small mammals and insects. In 2008, we planted a pollinator garden at the fruit stand as a way of encouraging native pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
KH: You are also testing biodegradable bags at the Fruit Stand?
RK: Yes, these bags are reusable and break down quickly without toxic residue. The Kiyokawa family prides itself in conservation of our environment to ensure the health and quality of our produce.
KH: Your U-pick area is unique. What is it like?
RK: There are over 30 varieties of apples grafted onto dwarf rootstock to facilitate easy picking
without ladders. Pears will not grow on a dwarf root system, but apples and some varieties of cherries will. This system allows more trees per acre, while still maintaining an old-fashioned orchard experience for our customers.
KH: Why did you decide to join the GLCC?
RK: A strong, vibrant community is very important to me. We have been helping community organizations raise funds through fruit sales with the bounty of our harvests. I have always been interested in trade and bartering and using RiverHOURS provides another opportunity to market
our sustainably grown fruit to local folks.
KH: Where do you spend most of your RiverHOURS?
RK: I want to sit down and peruse the trade directory for more possibilities once our busy harvest season ends. I sure would like to be able to trade RiverHOURS at the Mt Hood Country Store, Parkdale Square, and at McIsaacs this winter!
We’ll see what we can do …
Web Site: mthoodfruit.com
Fall 2009
Holistic orchardist Randy Kiyokawa shares his story and growing methods with Karen Harding.
A tinge in the summer air, earlier sunsets, cooler nights, all push our thinking towards the edge of autumn. The summer fruits wind down and up the Hood River Valley on the flanks of Mt. Hood, past Parkdale on Clear Creek Road, lies the Kiyokawa Family Orchard.
It is renowned for its large diversity of over 80 distinctive varieties of apples, pears and Asian pears. With the largest U-pick in the valley, an orchard fruit stand with several harvest celebrations during the season, and representation at nine different Farmers Markets in the Portland area as well as Gorge Grown Market in Hood River; this orchard works hard to connect with people.
Randy Kiyokawa is a third generation Hood River Valley farmer. His grandfather started an orchard in Dee in 1911. Randy’s father bought the land near Parkdale in 1951 and Randy worked on the farm as a child. He graduated from OSU in Agricultural Engineering Technology. After working in Portland for several years he returned home in 1987 to help his father with the orchards. Randy has helped establish several orchard conservation systems in the family orchards.
Karen Harding: What is an Integrated Fruit Production System?
Randy Kiyokawa: This is a holistic approach to the care and management of the orchard that allows us to reduce the use of chemicals and fertilizers as well as conserve water. We have converted over half of the orchard grounds to a micro-irrigation system with an estimated water savings of up to 30 percent. In order to reduce air pollution, the orchard chips rather than burning pruned material, which they then put down on orchard roads to keep down dust.
KH: And, your work with wildlife habitats?
RK: Our orchard borders Evans Creek and a natural wildlife corridor. To ensure further protection for wildlife, we maintain a generous riparian boundary so that food and cover remain available for the species naturally occurring there. We have also installed American Kestral nesting boxes throughout the orchard. These birds are part of our natural pest management plan for small mammals and insects. In 2008, we planted a pollinator garden at the fruit stand as a way of encouraging native pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
KH: You are also testing biodegradable bags at the Fruit Stand?
RK: Yes, these bags are reusable and break down quickly without toxic residue. The Kiyokawa family prides itself in conservation of our environment to ensure the health and quality of our produce.
KH: Your U-pick area is unique. What is it like?
RK: There are over 30 varieties of apples grafted onto dwarf rootstock to facilitate easy picking
without ladders. Pears will not grow on a dwarf root system, but apples and some varieties of cherries will. This system allows more trees per acre, while still maintaining an old-fashioned orchard experience for our customers.
KH: Why did you decide to join the GLCC?
RK: A strong, vibrant community is very important to me. We have been helping community organizations raise funds through fruit sales with the bounty of our harvests. I have always been interested in trade and bartering and using RiverHOURS provides another opportunity to market
our sustainably grown fruit to local folks.
KH: Where do you spend most of your RiverHOURS?
RK: I want to sit down and peruse the trade directory for more possibilities once our busy harvest season ends. I sure would like to be able to trade RiverHOURS at the Mt Hood Country Store, Parkdale Square, and at McIsaacs this winter!
We’ll see what we can do …
Web Site: mthoodfruit.com