Ken and Kelli Newman have been producing organic pears on their beautiful 65 acre orchard in Oregon’s Hood River valley since 2003. Their family commitment to organic agriculture extends through several generations, with their son John, daughters Julie and Danielle, Ken’s parents Jesse and Paula, and Kelli’s father John contributing tirelessly to their harvest, which begins in August. Grandsons Braden and Carson represent a fourth generation of Newman family farmers in training. Having so many family members and friends working in the orchard really reinforces the Newman’s commitment to organic agriculture. As Ken says, “The orchard is our home; we didn’t want to be living in an orchard filled with pesticides.”

For the Newman Family, "organic" is more than just a way of growing pears, it’s a way of life! They view their orchard as a living, self-sustaining ecosystem. Birds, insects, and even wild black bears find sanctuary in the grassy shade beneath the 6000 pear trees that populate the orchard. No herbicides are used in the orchard, so the grass between the trees must be mowed regularly. A small flock of sheep has recently been recruited to graze in the orchard, reducing the need to mow the grass with a tractor, which not only saves fuel and labor but also adds a bit of natural fertilizer to the system. Flocks of chickens and turkeys roam freely, patrolling for insect pests. Pruned branches are chipped and used to mulch the orchard, returning organic matter to the soil. In every aspect of their orchard, the Newmans strive to understand and balance the quirky and complex natural biological systems that underpin their bountiful harvests of sweet, juicy and delicious Starkrimson, Bartlett, Red and Green D’anjou, Comice and Bosc pears.

In addition to being Certified Organic, Newman Family Farms is also certified as Salmon-Safe. Salmon-Safe Inc. is an independent, nonprofit organization devoted to restoring agricultural and urban watersheds so that salmon can spawn and thrive, based in Portland, Oregon. Click here to view Newman Family Farms’ Salmon-Safe Farm Certificate.