The Story of Feijoa Farms
Organic Farming of Feijoa Fruit
New Zealand Feijoa’s
As a boy growing up in New Zealand, from ages 9-11, I often walked 2 miles home from school. On my favorite of the routes home, I would walk past a hedge of Feijoas that belonged to my aunt. When the feijoas were in season, which is April – May in New Zealand, they would have ripened, fallen off the trees, and would be all over the sidewalk. During my trips home from school, I could sit somewhere and have a feast of fragrant Fejioas over the next six weeks. It was a perfect excuse to take a snack break of deliciousness.
Growing many fruits and berries was a delight as an adult living on our small farm in Vancouver, Washington. We had multiple varieties of blueberries, grapes, plums, cherries, raspberries, Asian pears, etc. However, I could never successfully grow the quality of pears and apples because I wanted to be fully organic and refused to use sprays.
Despite the challenging climate in Washington, I tried to grow Feijoas, but due to the cold weather, they did not flourish as I had hoped. Recognizing the significance of Feijoas, New Zealand’s favorite fruit, and inspired by my childhood memories, I took the opportunity to purchase some great acreage in northern California.
I planted 2,000 Feijoa plants cloned from the very ones I tried to grow at my home in Washington.
The rest is history. We now have 6000 Feijoa plants of multiple varieties! There are somewhere between 50 and 70 varieties of Feijoas from around the world, and we probably have at least half of them growing on the farm here for you to enjoy!
Impeccable Taste!
Feijoas have a unique taste – sweet, tropical, and slightly tangy. You’ll experience a juicy, honey-like sweetness with a hint of citrus when you bite into one. The texture is a mix of creamy and granular, making each bite satisfying. It’s a distinctive flavor, not too sweet or tart – just a delicious combination that separates feijoas. If you haven’t tried one, consider it a delightful tropical surprise in every bite. Fresh out of hand? Check. Tossed into a salad for that extra zing? Absolutely. Blended into a smoothie or baked into a dessert? Oh, you bet!
Abigail
