Mountain-Grown Sweetness at Cuyama Orchards

High in the mountains of Santa Barbara County, where crisp alpine air meets California sunshine, there's a place where some of the finest organic apples grow to perfection. At 3,300 feet in elevation, surrounded by towering peaks and National Forest land, Cuyama Orchards has been tending its apple trees with dedication and care for over three decades.

In 1992, Howard and Jean Albano took a leap of faith and plowed hay in front of their farmhouse to plant something new: Nagafu Fuji apples, which had just made their way to American soil from Japan. Little did they know this decision would grow into a thriving family operation that would help shape California's organic apple industry.

By 1997, their son Byron had joined the family business, handling sales and marketing while Howard and Jean focused on nurturing their growing orchard of Fuji and Pink Lady apples. The local community quickly fell in love with the Albanos' exceptional fruit, and word began to spread about the extraordinary apples coming from this mountain valley.

The family's commitment to quality took another step forward in 1999 when they completed their transition to certified organic production. In doing so, they created a sustainable ecosystem where their workforce, customers, and native plants and animals could all thrive together.

Cuyama Orchards continues to benefit from its unique microclimate, where warm days and cool nights allow their apples to develop the perfect balance of sweetness and crunch. From traditional favorites like Granny Smith and Gala to heritage varieties like Arkansas Black, each apple variety is harvested at peak ripeness and stored in their controlled-atmosphere facility to maintain that just-picked freshness.

The Albanos' story is one of dedication to sustainable farming, their love for the land, and their commitment to bringing the very best fruit from their mountain grove to your table. In every crisp, sweet bite of a Cuyama Orchards apple, you can taste the care that started with that first planting thirty years ago. 

How To Add Farm Stand Products to Your Delivery:

CSA members - head on over to our online Farm Stand Market to customize your upcoming delivery. Market is open from noon on Thursday until 6 pm on your cutoff date. After you confirm your produce items, click the orange button "Confirm and Continue To Other Farm Products" to add the products to your delivery.

Not part of our farm family? Find out if we deliver to your neighborhood. You can even get your whole office in on the fun with our office snack packs. Find more information about our office deliveries here.

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Photos courtesy of Cuyama Orchards.

The Science of Sustainable Skincare

 

Dr. Saulius Alkaitis, often called "the Godfather of Organic Skin Care," pioneered clean beauty in the early 1990s when he discovered potentially harmful ingredients in the skincare products his wife Paula and daughter Trish were using. As a scientist with extensive plant knowledge, he developed a groundbreaking approach to skincare guided by the principle: "if you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin."

What sets Dr. Alkaitis's skin care line apart is their commitment to using only certified organic and biodynamic ingredients sourced from the world's most pristine locations. Through a process they call "Boutique Agriculture," they maintain decades-long relationships with trusted growers and wildcrafters, ensuring exceptional quality standards in every ingredient they source.

The company's innovative manufacturing process preserves the full therapeutic potential of its ingredients. Products are made without heating above body temperature, maintaining enzymatic activity and nutritional benefits. Using sophisticated extraction techniques, they work with whole plants—root, stem, leaf, and flower—to create signature complexes that act as adaptogens for the skin.

Their product line includes unique formulations like their Beautifying Mask, which features four types of powerful mushrooms, including Tremella, known for superior moisture retention and collagen production. Their award-winning Nourishing Treatment Oil, affectionately called "a miracle in a bottle" by clients, combines pristine-sourced jojoba, St. John's Wort, and rosehip oils with the adaptogenic power of Ashwaganda.

Rather than developing products for fixed skin types, Dr. Alkaitis formulated adaptogenic blends that help guide skin to its unique balanced state. All products are hand-manufactured in small batches at their California laboratory, using organic aloe vera as a base instead of water. Their commitment to sustainability extends to their ingredients, which are sourced through ethical wild-crafting and never tested on animals.

Dr. Alkaitis's daughter Trish continues his legacy, maintaining the strict formulation guidelines established by her father. The company remains true to its founding vision: creating effective "skin food" that treats skin as the living organism it is, using nature's most potent ingredients to support overall skin health and radiance. Be sure to check out the line of skin care products we offer to our farm box members.

How To Add Farm Stand Products to Your Delivery:
CSA members - head on over to our online Farm Stand Market to customize your upcoming delivery. Market is open from noon on Thursday until 6 pm on your cutoff date. After you confirm your produce items, click the orange button "Confirm and Continue To Other Farm Products" to add the products to your delivery.

Not part of our farm family? Find out if we deliver to your neighborhood. You can even get your whole office in on the fun with our office snack packs. Find more information about our office deliveries here.

Ring in the New Year with Traditional Good Luck Foods

The New Year is a time for fresh starts, new beginnings, and setting intentions for the year ahead. Many cultures around the world celebrate this occasion with traditions of enjoying special foods on New Year's Eve that are believed to bring good luck and prosperity.