Nestled against the foothills near Orosi, you’ll find the family farm of Chris Caviglia and his son Matt. We had the privilege of joining Chris and Matt for a morning to learn more about their citrus operation and what they’re doing to combat the ever-present changes and challenges that face our industry today.
At just 26, Matt shows a deep understanding of the family business and a knowledge of the industry beyond his years. His dad, Chris, on the other hand, is a kid at heart. He pulls up to meet us on a vintage motorcycle, and you can tell he is truly enjoying another day at “the office”.
History
Like so many citrus growers in the valley, the Caviglia family has been at it for a while. Chris is a third-generation farmer whose father moved to the valley near Ivanhoe to grow citrus in the 1950s after his pear and cherry operation in the Santa Clara Valley was squeezed out by the ever-growing urban sprawl of the Bay Area. Once in Ivanhoe, Chris started growing primarily Washington Navels with his father and brother, Gary Caviglia. Chris eventually moved his operation near the foothills east of Orosi, and over the years, Chris and Matt have also added Cara Caras, Tangos, Rio Red Grapefruit, Late Navels, and Valencias, as well as Lisbon and Meyer Lemons to their portfolio.
“As new varieties came on over the years, we took advantage of the opportunity to diversify,” said Chris. “I really have to credit the new varietal research done by the University system.”
“The diversity keeps us busy year-round,” added Matt.
Focusing on Sustainability
All the Caviglia’s citrus is grown using responsible farming practices, Integrated Pest Management, and a specific focus on conserving our most precious resource, water.
“No one wants to use more water than necessary”, said Matt. “We employ irrigation optimization practices to ensure we are using water as wisely as possible.” That includes using soil moisture probes that are able to check exactly how far water is penetrating the soil profile. These probes are also used to make sure fertilizer isn’t leaching past the depth of the root zone.
“Water is a numbers game,” Matt added. “Even in a year where you get a 100 percent allocation from the irrigation district, that doesn’t always mean you’ll have enough, and supplementing with groundwater is becoming more and more expensive due to rising electricity costs. With the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in full swing, us and many other growers are now optimizing surface water usage when we have the opportunity to do so.”
“In the early years, my dad used to flood irrigate, and now, any new block that is developed is first set up with a dual manifold or dual pipeline system,” said Matt, which allows for both fanjet and drip irrigation. “Depending on the availability of water in a given year or if there is a significant freeze during winter, we can switch between the fanjet and drip systems pretty seamlessly.”
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Water isn’t the only area where they conserve as much as possible. IPM is also a big part of their conventional farming program. Even though all their acreage is connected, blocks are managed individually utilizing IPM strategies, which has led to an increase in beneficial insect populations and a decrease in the number of pesticide applications needed.
“Keeping the good insects around is a priority of ours,” said Chris. Even during last year’s record-breaking thrips population, Matt and Chris said they were fortunate and didn’t end up having to treat for the pest nearly as much as they anticipated, thanks to the beneficial insects present in their groves, which are natural enemies to pests such as thrips.
Industry Challenges
Like all growers, the Caviglias are also concerned about the impact Huanglongbing (HLB or Citrus Greening) could have in California. Matt and Chris both said that other than water availability, HLB is one of the most concerning issues we face as an industry.
“It is crucial that CCM continues to advocate for funding that supports HLB programs and research,” said Chris. “Everyone in the industry benefits from what CCM does and we all need to be working together for a solution.”
“We should also look to Florida for guidance on how to combat the disease and we have to keep our trees as healthy as possible so we can continue producing the best fresh citrus available on the market,” added Matt.
Outlook for the Future
Even with the challenges citrus farmers face, the Caviglias remain optimistic about the industry’s future in California.
“There will be a lot of obstacles and transformation, but we can adapt with the help of CCM,” said Matt. “I take a lot of pride in farming in California. We are at the forefront of agriculture technology, food safety, water conservation and sustainability. We are held to the highest standards in the world and continue to produce the best citrus in the world.”
“If I was a young farmer just starting my career like my son, I would do it all over again,” said Chris. “Even though it’s not for the faint of heart, it’s been a good life and a very rewarding career.”
To learn more about the Caviglias and their citrus, visit cbcitrus.com.
This is the first in a series of Grower Spotlights we plan to publish to highlight outstanding members of our industry. If you know a grower who may be a good subject for our next Spotlight, please reach out to our Communications Manager, Abby Peltzer, at abby@cacitrusmutual.com.
This article is the property of CCM; please seek permission from CCM before using it or its content in any way.
