The fruit stand/farm market is now open for business for our 82nd season. The cherries are being harvested (as of June 20th) with apricots soon to follow. The fruit stand will be operating as usual this year even though we did experience some major frost problems this spring. As always, we anticipate having plenty of fruit to supply all our retail customers' needs. Only our commercial buyers will see a reduction in the quantities of fruit being shipped this year.

Please refer to The Fruit-Ripening Chart for more information on the projected dates that each fruit variety will be available.

In the past year we have had some exciting family news to share. On October 11, 2005 our second grandson, Noah Harrison Stahl, was born to our son Mark and his wife, Brooke. Two year old Ian is a great big brother. Noah's birth came right in the midst of an unexpected move from their home in Biloxi, Mississippi to Dayton, Ohio following Hurricane Katrina. Mark was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to complete his residency training. This June, after 24 years of continuous education, Mark graduated from his pediatric residency. He has been asked to stay on as a staff pediatrician so they will be able to stay in Dayton for a few years.

Those who have never been to Paonia before or don’t know where we are located, a brief description follows: We are located on Colorado Highway 133 at mile marker 8 (about 225 miles west of Denver). If taking I-70, exit at Glenwood Springs and head toward Aspen on Colorado Hwy. 82. At Carbondale, take Highway 133 and about 60 miles later you’ll run headlong into our orchards just one mile west of Paonia. You’ll get here by traveling over one of the most beautiful scenic byways in the state of Colorado called the “West Elk Loop”.

If you’re unfamiliar with western Colorado, you might find the location map on our web site to be helpful. Once the harvest begins (about June 20th), we are open everyday, including weekends, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. We are happy to arrange other hours for you upon special request. While disappointing some customers, we do not accept mail orders.

Yes, it is true, Western Colorado’s climate and elevation produces some of the world’s best-flavored fruits. They are ranked among the highest in sugar content found anywhere. So be sure to “COME TASTE THE COLORADO ROCKIES” again this year.