Rabbit Tracks...

Ag Alert - Grape growers cope with weather and competition

2011-05-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

Check out this article for an update on the grape harvest.
Ag Alert - Grape growers cope with weather and competition

Water in the desert

2010-10-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how we can farm in the desert? Check out this great video that John Powell Jr. did regarding the water in the Coachella Valley.

Peter Rabbit Farms Harvest Schedule - 2010/2011

2010-10-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Coachella Valley Agriculture - Economic Forecast 2011

2010-10-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

We're in the news...

Coachella Valley Agriculture - Economic Forecast 2011

The Desert Sun Recognizes Green Practices of Peter Rabbit Farms

2010-04-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

Technologies Help Improve Agriculture
Mike Perrault - The Desert Sun - 4/19/2010

When Peter Rabbit Farms owner John Powell Jr. observes tons of glistening orange carrots being loaded onto trucks, he thinks green. It's not so much the green of money — although that certainly keeps the third-generation family-operated farm in good stead. Rather, he sees it as another opportunity to embrace an innovative, environmentally friendly practice.

Peter Rabbit Farms recently began washing tons of carrots before loading them into trucks bound for packing houses in Bakersfield. By eliminating dirt, vines and other debris, the Coachella farm is able to pile substantially more carrots into each 80,000-pound truck. The result: The farm cuts about 10 round-trips per day, six or seven days a week, saving gas, cutting emissions and keeping more trucks off freeways.“Every carrot we grow in the Coachella Valley goes through this system,” said Powell, adding that water used to clean the carrots is recycled and reused.

The above excerpt from an article in The Desert Sun describes our carrot washout facility, which we put in place this year in cooperation with Bolthouse Farms. Using this system, we are able to significantly reduce the number of truck and trailer round-trips between Bakersfield and Coachella. The reduction in fuel use, vehicle miles, labor and pollution are a great addition to the cost savings we are able to achieve.

This is a set of carrots just in from the field. Carrots are machine harvested, and some dirt does come in with the carrots. Our objective is to remove the dirt before making the trip to the Bolthouse Farms packing facility in Bakersfield.

Carrots are washed out of the set with water.

The carrots and the water are agitated as they are metered through the facility.

Clean carrots then travel down a conveyor to be loaded back into empty trailer sets.

Once full, the trailers are tarped prior to being transported to the Bolthouse Farms packing facility in Bakersfield, California. Notice how high the load is. This is because volume per ton of clean carrots is greater than the volume per ton of carrots mixed with dirt.

Our wash water is recirculated during the day, minimizing overall water use.

Here, the excess dirt is being moved out of the settling pond. Much of it has been used for the construction of two new soccer fields for the youth in the City of Coachella.

Spring Crop Update April 20, 2010

2010-04-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

We are well into our green bell pepper harvest, and the quaility is excellent. Our field-packing ensures less handling for minimal impact to each pepper.

TABLE GRAPE UPDATE - HARVEST TO BEGIN MID-MAY 2010!

The table grape crop is very good this spring, as seen here. This is our last ranch of Flame Seedless table grapes as the crew is leafing the vines. Many of these bunches will be removed from the vines over the next week to allow the vines to properly bring the remaining bunches to maturity. Here the crop is so heavy that we will drop nearly half the existing bunches, and still have a very large crop remaining. This ranch is looking good, and will be ready for harvest in June.

Seen below are the Sugraone variety, also a very large crop. This is also our last ranch of the season, scheduled for harvest in June.

Easter Donation of Broccoli

2010-04-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

Peter Rabbit Farms made a generous donation of fresh produce to Hidden Harvest in April 2010, which is depicted in these photos.

Hidden Harvest is unique among entities that provide food to the thousands of hungry people of Southern California because they have the resources to “glean” unharvested produce directly from the farm fields.

These photos were taken on April 3, 2010 when Hidden Harvest sent a crew of 10 people into our broccoli field. They were able to rescue this produce that was left by one of our growing partners because of scheduling issues.

We are really glad we were able to help out by finding a way to get this beautiful and nutritious crop to the people who cannot afford fresh produce as a regular part of their diet. We want to thank Hidden Harvest for providing a much needed service.

This broccoli graced the Easter dinner table of the Powell family, and also found its way to the tables of those less fortunate. Here is a photo of Suzanne Powell with a large head of broccoli.

Where does your food come from?

2010-02-04T17:20:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you really thought about where your food comes from? When you visit your local produce department do you wander around just enjoying the colors and varieties of the season or do you just pick up what you need and move on? We, in the produce industry, really enjoy a trip the produce department at our local supermarkets. It helps us reconnect with the greatness of our industry. We spend everyday serving the world with good nutritional food that to most goes unnoticed, but to the trained eye there is a lot more to see.

It all starts with the right soil for the job. Here in the Coachella Valley we have some of the sandiest soil in the nation. It drains really well. There is very little delay in re-entering our fields after a rain storm because of the sandy soil. The right seed or transplant makes all the difference in the world. You need the right variety to go with our soil and weather here in the Coachella Valley. Once it is planted you then have to protect it. We spend a large amount of man hours making sure nature in some cases birds do not reclaim that seed or transplant. Young tender plants need tender love and nutrition just like our kids. Lots of sunshine, good clean water and plant food makes these young plants grow up strong and healthy.

Our water is tested and our fields are monitored to make sure everything is perfect. Then when everything is just right our babies are picked, packed, cooled and shipped to you generally within a 24 hour window.

Many other things go into getting the produce to the local grocery stores such as: a food safety program that insures the safest methods are used to plant, water, grow, harvest, and ship our produce; ordering containers that will protect the produce as it is transported; a trained irrigation crew that knows the right times to water; receiving, shipping, sales, and office staff to handle all the details during the growing and after the produce is harvested.

The next time you go into the produce department of your local market take the time to enjoy how much color and variety the farmers of America bring to the table every day.

Harvest Schedule - 2009/2010

2009-12-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

Our President's Message - November 2009

2009-11-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered why our nation's fresh fruits and vegetables are grown mostly by family farms? It is because of the tremendous amount of close attention that must be paid to each crop, a level of involvement that only hands-on owners are able to achieve. While many other industries are dominated by large publicly-traded and even foreign-owned corporations, family farms still dominate the specialty crop landscape.

Peter Rabbit Farms is a third generation grower and marketer of the finest fruits and vegetables in the Coachella Valley. We are proud of our 60-year heritage, handed down from generation to generation, taking care of the land, taking care of our employees, and feeding the world.

The Coachella Valley is a beautiful part of the world. Surrounded by towering mountain peaks, our weather is unique in Southern California. While the summers are very hot, the remaining 9 months of the year are perfect for growing a wide variety of abundant fruit and vegetable crops.

Much has changed over the years, but our commitment to growing the highest quality and safest food supply in the world has not. Our version of sustainability is not just the latest buzzword. We have always taken care of our resources, knowing that in the long run, the land, water, and safe practices we employ would also take care of us.

I hope you have a chance to enjoy the fruits of our labors, grown right here in the USA.

John Powell, Jr.

2009-11-04T14:35:00.000-08:00

We at Peter Rabbit Farms have kicked off our Fall Season Harvest! The Eggplant and Green Pepper harvest are in full swing. We have started our Red Bell Pepper and Yellow Bell Pepper harvest. Our Pepper program should last through Christmas as long as the weather continues to be beautiful!

Our quality has been outstanding so far with near perfect growing conditions. The fall varieties of the Green Bells allow for fewer peppers per plant but the smoothness and consistency is superb. It will take a few weeks to get the Red Bell production up to its peak and optimum Red color.

We have a late Green Bean crop that will be ready for harvest the middle of next week. These Beans taste great and are well worth the wait! Make sure to call early to get your order in.

Our winter leaf harvest should begin the week of November 16. We will have Romaine, Romaine Hearts, Green and Red Leaf, Butter Leaf, and Spinach. This is the second year we are offering Spinach and Romaine Hearts. We are really excited to add these new products to our Winter Leaf Program!

It is lining up to be an exceptional season. Ed Lopez, John King, and John Burton have their headsets back on and ready to setup your fall vegetable and winter leaf programs. Give one of them a call on our Sales Phone number: (760)398-0136. Or you can email them at
sales @peterrabbitfarms.com.

Green Bell Peppers are hand picked and placed on a sorting table.

Green Bell Peppers are hand graded and packed into the Peter Rabbit Farms cartons.

Eggplant is also hand picked for the freshest quality!

Eggplant is washed then stickered and wrapped in tissue paper to protect it's tender skin.

Eggplant recipe stickers are available upon request. Retail customers love them!

These green beans taste great! Watch for them next week just in time for Thanksgiving.

Fall Crop 2009

2009-09-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

What a great summer we had! Wonderful vacations were taken to Montana, Puerto Rico, San Diego, Hawaii…

We are now looking forward to the fall crop harvest. Check out the pictures below to see how the crops are developing. We are expecting to start harvesting the Eggplant next week followed up by the Green Peppers the second week of October and Red Peppers in late October. Green Beans should start Late November. The crops are looking beautiful. Fall in the desert means lots of sunshine and warm weather. Perfect produce growing weather!

Are you going to the PMA? We are! Watch for the Peter Rabbit contingency walking the convention floor. We will all be wearing green Peter Rabbit Farms’ shirts. Our salesmen, John Burton, John King, and Ed Lopez, will be attending all three days. If you want to schedule a meeting with one of them give them a call at 760-398-0136 or send them an email. This number even will work while they are at the convention; it allows you to reach them on their cell phones. We’d really like to meet with you!

An abundant supply of Eggplant ready to be harvested next week!

Great Fall Pepper stand

Lots of Red Peppers just about ready to turn color

Red Bell Peppers

2009-06-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

We are getting more and more Red Bells as every day goes by. These babies have been growing for the past several months and are finally ready for your customers. The deep rich red color of these Peppers shows just a hint of the sweet tangy taste they have when you bite into one. Our Peppers
come in all shapes, sizes and colors so make sure you get hold of one of our salesman and he will help you with placing your orders.

All of our Bell Peppers are packed by hand on special packing tables right in the field.

Just check out the size on these Peppers just waiting for the sunshine to help them turn color. And there a plenty of them left to turn red.

Sugraones...

2009-05-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Sugraones are one of the largest grapes grown in the Coachella Valley, just look at the bunch above. With their love of sunshine and warm days they take a little longer to ripen. The reward for this is a large colorful, crunchy piece of fruit that will be a delight for your customers. Our Sugraones are now ready! Give the sales team a call to place your order. Hurry before they are all gone...

Our Sales Assistant - Gabby Flores loves the sweet Sugraones!

Memorial Day

2009-05-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

Peter Rabbit Farms would like to thank all of our veterans for all that they have done and will do for our great country. Have a great weekend!

Greens,Reds, and Blacks available this week!

2009-05-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

Sugraones should be starting up on Tuesday or Wednesday. And boy do they have the sweet sugar! Flames are continuing to go strong and will be available thru most of June. Our Summer Royals are just starting and will be available thru the middle of June. We will finish up the Perlettes this week.

We are having great “Grape Weather”! The weather is warming up with the temperatures predicted in the low 100s during the day and around 68 at night. Supplies will increase each day with volume peaking the weeks of June 1st and June 8th. As you can see from the pictures below, the quality, size and color is outstanding. All of the Grapes will look beautiful on your display shelves!

Give us a call at (760) 398-0136 for more information and ad features. We also have Clam shell packs available.

Summer Royal

Flames

Perlettes

Eggplant & Grapes

2009-05-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Eggplant and Grape harvest started today. We are starting off with a low volume just to get under way and to get some of the produce off the plants and vines. This allows the plants and vines to have a little breathing room which will help to bring on the rest of the crop much more quickly with great color and delicious flavor. Look for the volume to increase in time to have plenty of produce available for those Memorial Day ads.

The green bells are in full swing and should stay that way until the middle of June. Some of our fields are just starting while others we have yet to pick a box. We expect to be picking the green bells through the middle of June.

Red bells will kick off the week May 18th. Can you believe that is next week already? We should start off with a slow steady harvest and building to a peak just before Memorial Day. Let us know how we can be of service to you. - Ed Lopez, John King, Don Fazio, and John Burton.

Below are photos of the beautiful eggplant crop we have this year. As you can tell from these flowers there are plenty eggplant to be harvested!

Plenty of Eggplant Flowers still to develop.

Beautiful color & Healthy plants lead to delicious eggplant!

We have beautiful color and great size variation on the eggplant we are harvesting. Just let us know what size you need and we can pack it.

Meet Eggplant Joe, we like Egg Joe and his family so much we will never be sending them out in any of our boxes.

Grapes, Grapes, Grapes!

2009-05-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Our Grapes are almost ready to be harvested. Just check out the attached photos! The bunches are starting to take shape and the color is almost there on the Summer Royals and Flames. The size of the Grapes this year is fairly large for this stage of the season. We are going to have some large bunches and large berries at harvest time!
Green Bells are in full stride with Red Bells and Eggplant coming up soon.
Plenty of Ad’s are still available on all commodities for the Memorial Day holiday. Give Ed Lopez, John King, John Burton, or Don Fazio a call so we can set something up for you!

Flames

Perlettes

Summer Royal

Sugraone

Green Beans are here!

2009-04-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

The green beans are ready. Get 'em while they last! This year's crop looks beautiful. The sales staff has been busy taking orders. Give them a call to get your order in before the beans are gone.

Memorial Day Ad Time!

2009-04-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Green Bean harvest is set to start tomorrow, April 24th. Make sure to call early to get your order in. It is expected to be a quick harvest. Ummm can't wait for some Fresh Green Beans cooked in a little olive oil, garlic, and slivered almonds. They are even good enough to eat raw off the vine. Maybe we can persuade the PRF Bunny to get up from his nap under the grape vines and pose for some photos with the Beans!

The Green Pepper harvest is gearing up. Look at the beautiful Peppers we are picking! The crews love picking in this great weather.

We have our best crews out making sure that only the best peppers get packed in the Peter Rabbit Farms Label.

Now is the time to place your Memorial Day ads for Table Grapes, Red Bells and Eggplant. We will have a promotable volume of Flame Seedless Grapes shipping starting May 11th. Aggressive pricing will be available towards the end of May and early June. Our Sugraones will also be available for volume loads starting around Memorial Day and progressing through mid to late June.

We like to think its all in the way you treat the vine. By providing the right mix of sunshine, water, and nutrients, Peter Rabbit Farms produces beautiful Grapes. We are expecting the best quality that we have seen in years. Any way you slice it Peter Rabbit Farms has the right product at the right time. Call one of our experienced sales staff and see for yourself how good we can make you look!

That is John Burton's hand in the background. So you know that bunch of Summer Royals is big if it covers his hand!

Flame Seedless

One of the things we are looking for this time of year just before harvest is the canopy on the grape vines that protect the bunches from getting too much direct sunlight. You want to have good growth that protects but not so much that the workers have difficulty getting to the grapes themselves. As you can see from these photos we have great canopy on the vines. Those bunches are going to be great!

Sugraone

Perlettes

Harvest Time is here for the Peppers.

2009-04-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Well the Peppers have won the race... Monday, April 13, will mark one of the earliest starts to the spring Green Bell Pepper harvest we have had in the last 25 years. We planted the peppers a little earlier this year. Our gamble paid off thanks to the mild late winter conditions and warm days. We have a near perfect early stand of Peppers. Check out the pictures below. Our first field is located on the high east side of the valley slope. Because of that location, the Peppers in that field have been able to drink in the warm spring sunshine. Our Red and Yellow Bell Peppers will be about 3 weeks behind the Greens with a projected start date of early May. We should also see the Eggplant start about the same time. Green Beans on the other hand will come off around April 20th and the pick will be fast and furious as it always is in the spring.

Table grapes are now in full growth mode with most of the bunches already formed and growing right before your very eyes. It still looks like the Perlettes and the Flames will start almost the same day around the 6th of May. The Flame crop looks to be one the best in years with larger than normal bunch sizes and more grapes per vine than previous years. We are very excited about the mix of varieties and the volume that will be available for Memorial Day Ads. Give one of our Sales Team a call at (760)398-0136 to see what we can do for you.

The PRF Bunny is out selling Perlettes. He is so excited about the crop we have coming off the vines this year. We didn't have the heart to tell him to that he will have to wait until May. Look for him in Blogs to come.

More Perlettes for Sale... look for them May

Sugraone Grapes - Wow, look at that bunch size!

Spring Harvest

2009-04-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

We're real excited for the spring harvest! It looks like the Peppers will win the race and come off first. Then we're off from there with the Green Beans, then Eggplant, and last but certainly not the least the Grapes. We will have a great crop this year. Check out the latest and greatest pictures from the fields. We'd also like to welcome back Don Fazio who will be joining John Burton, John King, and Ed Lopez on the sales desk. Give them a call if you need more information, (760) 398-0136.

Grapes - March 20, 2009

2009-03-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

Sugraone

Flames

Spring Crops

2009-03-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Louie just stopped by this morning to give us an update on the spring crops. With temperatures reaching the high 80's to mid 90's the crops are really starting to pop up! You can just sit and watch the beans grow, just like in Jack and the Bean Stock.
We can see the little berries developing on the grape vines. We can't wait to taste the sweet fruit right off the vine.
Our pepper and eggplant plants are just growing along. We are starting to see little baby peppers and eggplants.
If you want more information on our spring crops, give Ed, John K, or John B a call on our sales desk, (760)398-0136.

Grapes & Peppers - Early March 2009

2009-03-18T14:47:00.000-07:00