Inland Orange Conservancy
August 7, 2007
Yesterday evening on KCET, Huell Howser visited the Inland Orange Conservancy on his "California Green" program. The Inland Orange Conservancy (IOC) is the brain child of Bob Knight. As more and more of the area's orange groves were purchased by developers and the citrus trees were replaced by houses, he created the IOC as a plan to preserve some of the remaining citrus groves in Redlands, California.
The basic premise is that to save a grove, it must be economically worthwhile. That meant that the owner needed to profit from growing the fruit. Prices in the open citrus market fluctuate and the grower did not know how much the packing house would pay until the season was over and picking and packing and shipping costs were deducted. Bob came up with the idea that the grower would be paid up front, and all picking and packing would be done by the conservancy with no additional charges to the grower. The conservancy hired pickers and packers and delivered the citrus to local distribution sites. The result was that the grower made a profit.
How did the IOC obtain the funds to operate? They incorporated as a not for profit organization (501C3). They then solicited members who pay $65 for a season membership. In exchange, the members can pick up 2 bags of fruit at a distribution center during the picking season.
The citrus that is not of sufficient quality is given to Inland Harvest, an organization that delivers food to various charitable organizations that feed the needy.
Huell's show was wonderful and Bob Knight and his wife, Aki and all the growers and volunteers and members are to be congratulated. Those of us who love the citrus landscape, the fantastic aroma of citrus in bloom and the healthy fruit need to support this endeavor wholeheartedly.
Yesterday evening on KCET, Huell Howser visited the Inland Orange Conservancy on his "California Green" program. The Inland Orange Conservancy (IOC) is the brain child of Bob Knight. As more and more of the area's orange groves were purchased by developers and the citrus trees were replaced by houses, he created the IOC as a plan to preserve some of the remaining citrus groves in Redlands, California.
The basic premise is that to save a grove, it must be economically worthwhile. That meant that the owner needed to profit from growing the fruit. Prices in the open citrus market fluctuate and the grower did not know how much the packing house would pay until the season was over and picking and packing and shipping costs were deducted. Bob came up with the idea that the grower would be paid up front, and all picking and packing would be done by the conservancy with no additional charges to the grower. The conservancy hired pickers and packers and delivered the citrus to local distribution sites. The result was that the grower made a profit.
How did the IOC obtain the funds to operate? They incorporated as a not for profit organization (501C3). They then solicited members who pay $65 for a season membership. In exchange, the members can pick up 2 bags of fruit at a distribution center during the picking season.
The citrus that is not of sufficient quality is given to Inland Harvest, an organization that delivers food to various charitable organizations that feed the needy.
Huell's show was wonderful and Bob Knight and his wife, Aki and all the growers and volunteers and members are to be congratulated. Those of us who love the citrus landscape, the fantastic aroma of citrus in bloom and the healthy fruit need to support this endeavor wholeheartedly.
posted by shirley harry at 9:02 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home