Did you miss it?  Last week, a California citrus farmer took over the AFF’s Instagram for the day.  And, if you want to learn more about what it takes to bring delicious winter-time citrus to your table, you can visit @safeproduce to see all the amazing content posted by Zachary Green of Johnston Farms/WN Citrus, a fourth-generation citrus nursery, farming and packing operation located in the San Joaquin Valley.

Through its nursery operation, WN Citrus, the Johnston family provides a wide variety of citrus rootstock and young trees to farmers across the region.  The Johnston family also grows and packs navel oranges, satsuma and mandarins and ships them to consumers throughout the nation.

During the takeover, Zac shared photos and videos explaining how seeds are harvested and developed into new varieties and planted in citrus groves as well as how citrus rootstock is propagated and grafted onto existing trees throughout California.

Did you know it takes about four to six years for a newly planted citrus tree to produce harvestable fruit?  During those years, a farmer has to provide all the needed inputs, labor and costs to nurture and grow the trees while patiently waiting for a return on investment.

Zac also provided some interesting facts about citrus production like how some farmers apply “sunscreen” in the form of a clay to protect the leaves and fruit from the summer sun.

While Johnston Farms uses more scientific means to determine when the fruit is ready for harvest, they also rely on their favorite taste tester.  That taste tester is Zac’s young daughter and the videos show her approval as she eats the delicious fruit right off the tree. The AFF often explains that food safety is an obvious priority because a farmer’s first consumer is their own family and these videos are clear evidence of the truthfulness of this statement.

Our thanks to Zac for his beautiful photos and videos of citrus groves and trees, the wonderful colors of the citrus as the fruit changes from green to orange, the Johnston family, their employees and the impressive processes in the packing facilities.

Please take a moment to visit @safeproduce to see all the content from Zac’s takeover – you will come away with much more knowledge and information about how your citrus is grown and an enhanced appreciation the next time you see and purchase your favorite citrus products.