Rooted’s summer college crew, Claire & Brent, came back to work at the farm again this year. They spent some time out in the orchards of Parker Heights, a unique growing area tucked inside Union Gap, during stone fruit’s first harvest—the apricot. The duo visited Badgley Ranches, whose family has been growing apricots for decades. These apricots are sold … Continued
Note from Rooted: If you ask Mark Zirkle what he does for a living he’ll say “I’m a farmer”. And he means it. What he probably won’t mention is that his family has been farming in the Yakima Valley since the late 1800s, and that they’ve built Zirkle Fruit Company into one of the most … Continued
As I drive around in the Yakima Valley right now, watching everything that grows, grow, it strikes me how unintentionally optimistic the land is. Unlike us humans sometimes, it cannot help but move forward. Given care and water, a seed sprouts, vines curl and move toward the sun, the trees leaf out and set fruit. … Continued
The earth tilted a few days ago. Nothing cataclysmic, simply the annual solstice shift that marks summer for us Northern Hemispherians. Now that it’s official, we at rooted decided to indulge our desire to taste the season, and of course, nothing says early summer quite like the soft, sweet bite of a berry. We headed out … Continued
Menu A Small Bite – My Name Is Christopher Guerra. I grew up in the Lower Yakima Valley just north of Sunnyside on a 30 acre pepper farm with my brothers—Aaron, Geraldo, and Fabian. My parents, Lino and Hilda Guerra, grew about 27 different varieties of chili peppers. We also had a variety of tomatoes, … Continued
Down the street from Shelley’s house sits one of Yakima Valley’s favorite hangouts. On an 80-degree afternoon, the first Friday of June, we met our good friend Chef Jessica Smith in a hop field, to pair her culinary creations with Bale Breaker Brewing Company‘s daily tap offerings. Just outside of town off Highway 24 on the way … Continued
Spring is an exciting, yet anxious time for many farmers. For us down at the J&K Dairy, plans are being made for the harvest of the winter forage, in addition to the planting of the spring crops. We have to try to plan a date to begin harvest—consistently checking how the crops are progressing to … Continued
We are officially in the throes of Spring! For farmers, they are past the beginning point and have been adjusting their legs to the constant movement that is farming as the season pushes forward at a pace all its own. Decisions made now could have a significant impact on yield come harvest, and every day, … Continued
Either you love it, or you don’t think that much about it. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot in between. I’m talking rhubarb here. It’s like the red-headed stepchild of the vegetable patch. If it’s not in your DNA, you disregard it—always choosing around it when presented with a rhubarb dessert opportunity, even … Continued
Driving into a neighborhood in the middle of Toppenish, Washington, I find myself surprised. I recognize Les Schwab and the school bus depot, but as I pull off of Asotin Avenue, wedged in-between some houses on an ordinary side street, there is an open field of almost two acres of peonies. “Adeline’s Peonies” by the … Continued