We do what we love… and we love what we do!
Here at the Struble Ranch, we proudly grow the best tasting Satsuma Mandarins in Placer County.
Our Orchard
Since 1956 when our first Owari Satsuma Mandarin tree was planted, three generations of Strubles have farmed what are now 330 citrus trees. Our Mandarin trees are planted on a southern slope to gather optimal sunlight in the Fall, and to reduce any frost potential in the Winter. Our trees are grafted to a Cleopatra root stock, a hardier variety of citrus, which creates larger trees that can survive a cooler climate.
Citrus Crops
We grow and sell three different citrus crop varietals. Our signature crop is the Owari Satsuma Mandarins, known for their exquisite taste and easy peeling. Weather dependent, we harvest mandarins from November through December. Our second harvest includes Clementines (a cross between mandarins and navel oranges) beginning in December and running through January. Rounded out our season, our final harvest in February consists of our delicious Navel Oranges.
Farming
The Struble Ranch is a pesticide-free ranch. We choose to feed the tree’s foliage with natural supplements of Zinc, Magnesium, and Iron. Also in late February, a balanced fertilizer is spread to feed the shallow roots and stimulate new growth. We irrigate on a 12-day rotation cycles during the summer months. The sweetness of the fruit is enhanced by allowing the picked fruit to rest for a few days. This brief pause allows the starches to turn to sugar, and only then are the mandarins ready for sale.