Our President's Message - November 2009

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.

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.