It’s Almond Shaking Season!

Shaking the Almond Trees

It’s the most wonderful time of the year— almond shaking season when we knock the “l” from the almonds. (We say “ah-mond” here in Chico, with “ah” pronounced like “Sam.”) Between mid-August and October, 80% of the world’s almonds are shaken from the trees in California. Some say the season actually begins in Chico. And […]

Posted on September 5th, 2019

Home in the Almond Grove

Hurtado Family

I came across a country rock song I never heard before recently by a band named Cracker that maybe some of you might know. Cracker was formed by singer-songwriter David Lowery (of Camper Van Beethoven fame) and guitarist Johnny Hickman. On their most recent album, “Berkeley to Bakersfield,” is a bittersweet song called “The Almond […]

Posted on August 8th, 2019

More Crop Per Drop—Water-wise Family Farming at Maisie Jane’s

Maisie Jane and Her Children

At Maisie Jane’s we are committed to sustainable family farming. That’s why we have put practices in place that will save 22% more water, our most valuable natural resource. Using holistic land management and new technology we’re joining other water-wise family farmers across the state of California in a quest to respond to changing weather […]

Posted on June 27th, 2019

How Almond Growers Help the Local Economy

Almonds Cracking Open in July and August

Did you know that 80% of the world’s almonds are grown right here in California? California also supplies 100% of the almonds sold in the United States. In 2016 that amounted to 2.15 billion pounds of nut meat (shelled nuts) valued at $5.2 billion in worth and $21 billion in economic revenue when products made […]

Posted on June 11th, 2019

Almond Farming is a Family Affair

Hurtado Family

Did you know that according to the 2012 USDA Agricultural Census, there are around 6,800 almond farms in California? Almost 75% of those farms are just 100 acres or less—most are under 50 acres. And even though California produces 100% of the U.S. almond supply and more than 70% of the almonds produced worldwide, 91% […]

Posted on April 4th, 2019

“Still Life and Blossoming Almond Trees” by Diego Rivera

Still Life and Blossoming Almond Trees

It is not unusual to find beautiful paintings and photographs of almond trees in blossom. Revered artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Pierre Bonnard have been captivated by the beauty of bloom season as have lesser known artists wherever almond trees can be found. What is far less usual, however, is to find a painting that […]

Posted on February 14th, 2019

Why Maisie Jane’s Supports Future Farmers of America

Maisie Jane Hurtado

Future Farmers of America (FFA) holds a special place in our hearts here at Maisie Jane’s. After all, this family business actually started as an SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) back when the owner of the company, Maisie Jane Hurtado, was still in high school. FFA’s SAE program teaches students a wide variety of skills they […]

Posted on January 3rd, 2019

Celebrate the Holidays with Local Products at Maisie Jane’s!

From the Heartland Gift Box

Happy Holidays from Maisie Jane’s! Can you believe we’ve been a local Chico business for 25 years? The devastating Camp Fire that happened right here in Butte County is deeply on our minds as many of our employees and friends have lost their homes. We’re extremely grateful that our farm and staff are safe and […]

Posted on November 28th, 2018

Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products is 25 Years Old!

25 Year Anniversary

Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to us! This month marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products! It all started when Maisie was just 17 and was raising sheep for a Future Farmers of America (FFA) project. At the time her family had been growing almonds for three generations and […]

Posted on October 23rd, 2018

What Could We Do with Almond Hulls?

Almonds and Almond Hulls

Did you know that for every pound of almonds produced we’re also left with two pounds of almond hulls? That adds up to about 40,000 tons produced in California each year—an enormous amount of potential debris! Luckily, there are many uses for almond hulls. For example, ground hulls are rich in sugar, nutritious minerals and […]

Posted on October 16th, 2018