Nelson-Rouleau Tree Fruits is a certified organic orchard on Barcelo Road in Cawston, in BC's Similkameen Valley. Pharron Nelson and Josée-Anne Rouleau run it together. They grow apples, Asian pears, peaches, nectarines, and plums on more than 10,000 trees.
Organic since 1972
The Nelson family started this orchard in 1972. Pharron's parents, Fred and Phyllis Nelson, farmed it organically before formal organic standards existed.
Pharron grew up in the orchard and still loves how each season brings something new. Josée-Anne is from Québec and came west for the mild climate and the mountains. The two have farmed together since 2005.
Today the orchard is certified organic through PACS, certificate number 16-044. The family keeps looking for better ways to farm and water the trees, with a focus on healthy soil.
What ripens when
The fruit ripens on the tree before it is picked. The season runs from July to October.
- July: Early Red Haven peaches.
- August: Sunrise and Akane apples, Red Gold nectarines, and Black Amber plums.
- September: Royal Gala, Aurora, Ambrosia, and McIntosh apples, plus Shinseiki Asian pears.
- October: Salish apples and Olympic Asian pears.
Asian pears
Asian pears are what we carry from this orchard. They are round, crisp, and juicy, and closer to an apple in texture than a soft European pear. Eat them cold and fresh, slice them into a salad, or add them to a cheese board.
Buying direct from the farm
The farm also sells direct. It offers a fruit subscription with a box of fruit each month for four months, gift boxes, and boxes of imperfect fruit. Imperfect fruit may have small scars, light bruises, or an odd size, but it tastes just as good.
