Hillcrest Orchards
On of the longest standing family orchards in the
Rogue Valley
Nestled in the foothills surrounding southern Oregon’s RoxyAnn
Peak is a Century Farm called Hillcrest Orchard. They are one of the
longest standing family orchards in the Rogue Valley and are
accompanied by RoxyAnn Winery Purchased by Reginald H. Parsons and
Maude Bemis Parsons in 1908, the orchard remains property of the
Parsons Family under the company name Hillcrest Corporation. While
the property and company have endured many changes during its
one-hundred-years there is one thing that remains constant, the
commitment to sustainability and innovation and keeping true to
Oregon Agriculture. “We’re honored to be recognized as a Century
Farm in Oregon. It’s significant given the very small percentage of
our population that continues to farm”, said Spencer Davenport, the
Controller for Hillcrest Corporation
Hillcrest thrives in a valley where the pear market is supported
by ideal soil and weather conditions. The orchard sits at
approximately 1,400 feet above sea level and is surrounded by
protective mountains. The area is favored with a mild climate,
summer temperatures average a low of 50 degrees Farenheight and a
high of 83 degrees Farenheight. On average, the valley receives 18
inches of rainfall with most occurring from October to May. Medford
ranks second in pear production in the state to Hood River Valley
and combined the two valleys produce enough pears to give each
person in the state 294 pears every year.
RoxyAnn Winery, sharing the same property as Hillcrest Orchard
along with many of the same owners has brought an entire crowd to
the grounds where the pears are picked and produced. The scenic
landscape, beautiful outdoor event area, and the tasting room have
attracted people that would otherwise not know the story of
Hillcrest Orchard and their deep roots. “RoxyAnn is like the carrot
for the public that brings a lot of people to the property” said
Davenport. The grassroots approach to marketing has worked in the
favor of Hillcrest with RoxyAnn sharing their land.
The growth and success is not only attributed to the presence of
a highly successful vineyard and tasting room but to the practices
and commitments of the management and employees. Being a business
that is supported by consumers that are making a decision to
purchase local wines and fruit, they in turn are doing what they can
to be sustainable and responsible to their state economy. According
to Grant Slagle, a Portland area RoxyAnn wine representative, “the
entire property where Hillcrest Orchard and RoxyAnn Winery sits has
recently received their LIVE award”.
The LIVE award is a program that monitors farming and winemaking
to assure that practices are in line with sustainability, healthy
land and safe water. By taking extra precautions with their land,
Hillcrest Orchard and RoxyAnn Winery have certified over eighty
acres of vines and over 50 acres of Pears, making the entire
property LIVE certified and Salmon Safe.
In the last year, Hillcrest has had to make some difficult
decisions regarding their land and the economic stability of their
business. While pear sales dropped about 30 percent compared to last
year, there is a great deal of optimism about the future. In
addition to a teetering economy, the decision was made to, “push out
26 acres of low yield trees” said Davenport. Most of the trees
removed consisted of primarily comice with some bosc, red Bartlett,
forrelles, stark crimson trees as well. “Some of the trees that were
taken out were over 100 years old”. It hasn’t been decided yet what
the low yield trees will be replaced with and there are no plans to
develop the land anytime soon.
Like so many family farms that are facing difficult decisions,
Hillcrest Orchard and RoxyAnn Winery are making every effort to be
an exceptional presence in the world of Oregon Agriculture. “The
winery has a very long-term approach to an industry that can require
great short-term successes” says Slagle.
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