Learning about organic farming in Llano, Calif.

     Saturday afternoon I left the hustle and bustle of L.A. for the solitude of Llano, Calif., a small farm town in the high desert an hour north of the city. The past couple of days have been gloomy in LA: persistent light shower and gray skies. As I drove north around the Angeles National Forest and into the Antelope Valley, the clouds slowly gave way to the warmth of the sun and bright, blue skies. This was the perfect day to pick apples.
      I drove into the mile-long dirt road leading to Brian Ranch U-pick Orchard and parked in the lot where I met a lovely woman named Felice Apodaca. Felice runs the orchard and a small recreational airport with her husband and their two dogs. Felice and I hopped in her golf cart where she gave me a tour of the quaint orchard. In season were apples, pears, and asian pears. The trees were busting with the vibrant color of ripe fruit, perfect to pick and eat on this warm day in the high desert.
     As we drove through the orchard, Felice and I talked about farming and the benefits of buying local produce. "The farmers' market movement in Southern California is just huge," Felice told me. "People want to know that they are getting a quality product. They are looking for taste and vitamins and nutrients and they want to make sure it's not over-processed. But taste is king, and I think taste has something to do with the nutrient value."
     As the tour ended Felice gave me a bag and invited me to pick as much fruit as I wanted. I roamed the orchard like a kid in a candy store, stuffing my bag with gala apples and pears. I think a pie is in the works.


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