Duarte Nursery is invited those interested in growing olive trees for an informative day on the latest practices in olive production.  The day started with presentations from International experts on clean plant issues for olive, rootstock research, new varieties and the latest advances in growing.  Attendees saw first hand how Duarte Nursery has the assets in place to deliver high quality olive trees.

President John Duarte provided olive enthusiasts with imperative information on Duarte Nursery’s Clean Plants Program.  The presentation explained to growers how Duarte Nursery produces healthy, disease free plant material to growers and helps them establish more productive, healthier and longer lived olive orchards.

Guest speaker Joan Tous from IRTA discussed existing clonal varieties, new varieties in development and observations at IRTA, rootstock program at IRTA – goals, observations and availability of materials, the potential of moderate density plantings, and fruit harvesting technologies – mechanical versus abscission agents.

Also on hand was Duarte Nursery’s well informed field horticulturalists to assist customers with the best farming practices possible to help the clean plants thrive on their farm.

Lunch was catered by Appetez Cafe

This years tailgate party was a HUGE event! Thanks to everyone who attended, we hope you had a great time!

Jim and Anita Duarte recently escaped the Central Valley heat and spent a few days touring Oregon. Their trip through the Willamette Valley included a vineyard visit with Ken Kupperman of Premier Pacific.

After visiting with Joel and Ken the Duartes stopped by The Evergreen Air Museum in McMinville.

After getting a good gander at The Spruce Goose, they were off to the Shakespeare festival in Ashland – while there, Jim and Anita stopped in for a visit with Richard Vilas, an old High School friend – shown here with Jim.

PREPARE TO WITNESS THE DOMINATION.

As if leading the Ag industry in quality trees and vines wasn’t enough, John Duarte will be taking the Stanislaus County Fair Destruction Derby by storm on August 3rd.  If you’re a Stanislaus County grower and you’re interested in joining us for the fun, please let us know!

No ordinary car will do for an event of this magnitude.  Consider John’s weapon of choice for maximum destruction -

Silently waiting for decades in a lonely boneyard… shunned by the modern world… this beast of yesteryear is now ready to dish out some serious punishment. 

We’re in the process of painting the car a nice Duarte blue, and logo’ing the car out so people will have no trouble identifying who’s responsible for the carnage.

No real tweaks are necessary for the car itself, because when you’re encased in 6,000 pounds of steel all you really do is pray for the poor guy in your sights.

Could this be John at the end of the day??

Here’s some video from a previous Stanislaus County Destruction Derby to help get in the mood -

And now….THE UNIFORM!