Story and photos by Abby Peltzer, Communications Manager
When most people think of a citrus grove, they probably don’t picture trees growing on trellises like you would a grape or a kiwi vine. However, for David Mabs and his family, this innovative technique has proven useful and profitable in producing their Shiranui crop.
While David may be a new adopter of trellis growing, he and his family are by no means new to agriculture. “My Grandfather, Pat Patterson, was the founder of the farm and most of our property was passed down from him,” said David.
Today, the property is managed by a board of family members, and day-to-day operations are overseen by Agricare, with whom the family has a long-standing relationship.
Currently, David and his family grow multiple citrus varieties on that same land his grandfather passed down, including Cara Caras, Murcotts and Shiranuis. The family also has a budding citrus nursery operation, GKP Nursery, which David manages, and where they grow all the citrus for their trellis acreage.
David’s family began growing Shiranuis about 15 years ago, and his father even visited Japan soon after to further research the variety and growing techniques. “My dad was working for Agricare at the time, and many discussions between my grandfather Pat Patterson, my dad, and Tom Avinelis of Agricare brought about the decision to start planting Shiranuis. We were one of the first in the state to plant the variety, and now about half of our acreage consists of the variety, even though it’s a tricky piece of fruit to grow,” said David.
According to David, Shiranuis tend to be difficult to farm because their rough rind makes them extra susceptible to mold and rot. To mitigate this, the trees must be heavily pruned to keep the center branches open to sunlight. “Growing a Shiranui is more like growing a piece of stone fruit than it is citrus,” said David.
David said they also have to thin the crop two to three times per year – up to half the crop – to ensure the fruit reaches the sizes retailers want. “It is really a quality over quantity crop. High quality, high-value citrus is our thing, and a Shiranui’s high value and high yield make growing them on trellis worth the investment.”
Trellis growing allows for super-high-density hedge row planting, which makes them more manageable for pruning, pest control, and harvesting. This method of growing has also been shown to benefit yields and quality. Trellis also presents a better option for mechanical harvest, which, with traditional labor costs and new technology, could become a reality in the near future.
The technique has also proven to be a more productive use of the land for the family. “We can produce the same yields on 20 acres that we would on 60 acres of conventionally planted Shiranuis,” said David. “This technique conserves resources and inputs – especially water.” This is why David is currently in the process of developing more of the family’s land for trellis growing.
“Overall, it’s a big savings on water. We are trying to make the best use of the land and increase our trellis acreage because it’s more water efficient.” He mentioned that with the implementation of SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act), their operation has fallowed about 15 percent of their land. “We’re making the investment in trellis farming because, in the future, we may not have enough water to farm all of our land.”
By embracing trellis farming, David’s operation can conserve water—helping them comply with SGMA— and ensure that each drop of water is efficiently used.
These strategies not only help their farm withstand drought pressures but also ensure that California consumers continue to enjoy locally grown, high-quality citrus.
“We want to keep going. This is a family operation, and having to sell property breaks our hearts. That’s why we are open to new techniques and innovation.” David said their desire to keep farming is also why he and his family support CCM.
“CCM is the voice of the grower in the political realm,” said David. “We as farmers can get as frustrated as we want, but without someone like CCM in Sacramento with the relationships to influence change or mitigate harm, our concerns would go nowhere.”
With California Citrus Mutual advocating on behalf of growers, the organization serves as a key conduit between on-farm innovations and Sacramento’s policy agenda. CCM helps translate farmers’ sustainable practices into policy frameworks that support resource conservation and long-term agricultural viability.
“To keep going, we’re going to have to adapt, but this job is so rewarding, so it’s worth it.”
This story is a part of our Grower Spotlights series, which highlights outstanding members of our industry. If you know a grower who may be a good subject for our next Spotlight, please contact 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.
