Bagging a little bit of sun, history |
| Posted March 28, 2008 |
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Sher Porter |
The orange grove in Heritage Park is the only orange grove left in La Verne. Every January through March, visitors are allowed to come on a Saturday to pick oranges. ULV alumna Gloria Orozco comes every year to pick oranges because, she says her own trees do not bear as much fruit. |
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Jen McElroy
Staff Writer
The aroma of sweet, juicy, ripe oranges filled La Verne’s Heritage park this winter, as the last remaining orange grove in the city was open to the public.
Starting in early January, La Verne’s Heritage Foundation hosted orange picking every weekend through March 22.
“I come every week to pick oranges,” University of La Verne alumna Gloria Orozco said. “I will probably buy a few bags the last weekend it’s open.”
Orozco has been a resident of La Verne for 31 years, and has participated in the orange picking for several years.
The Heritage Foundation was started in 1985, to help preserve and save the hundred year old Weber house, which sits on the 1 1/2 acre orange grove.
With the money that has been donated the foundation has been able to preserve the house and kept it with the orange grove.
This mansion and much more is what can be seen while picking oranges up at Heritage park.
Also on display within the orange grove are many smudge pots – ovens that used to keep the oranges warm, as well as windmills, gardens, and several tractors and pieces of farm equipment. Lemon and grapefruit trees fill the orchard as well.
The cost to pick oranges is $5 per bag. One bag can hold up to 20 oranges.
Orange picking has proved to be fun for people of all ages. Monterey resident, Natalie Moytoso said,
“Last year when I baby-sat, I went orange picking as an activity for the little girl,” Moytoso said.
She explained that she enjoyed orange picking because it was fun, wholesome, and something you could do with friends.
Moytoso stood in a circle with two friends and before leaving the grove bit into an orange and said, “they have really good produce here.”
Heritage Park does not spray the fruit for bugs, since there are no bugs around.
The oranges and other fruits are all organic and natural.
“The best oranges are at the top of the trees, because that is where they get the best sunlight,” Orozco said while standing on her tip toes with a long orange picker in hand.
The orange pickers, which are handed out at the entrance to the grove, are long poles with small baskets on the end, making it possible to get the out-of reach-oranges.
Weekends are not the only time activity is going on here. Schools in the surrounding area take advantage of the orange grove and take field trips to the park.
Children participate in an orange squeeze event and learn to make their own orange juice. They also learn about the smudgepots and windmills, and take tractor rides.
Many of the workers at Heritage Park are volunteers. Jane and Jack Bunnett who volunteer at the Park, take time out of their weekend to spend time helping the community.
“The oranges here are all wonderful. They really are,” Jane Bunnett said.
Heritage Park is not only a home to the orange grove, but also hosts concerts in the park and a car show each year.
This piece of history in La Verne brings families and friends together for good wholesome fun and bonding.
Orange picking is closed for the season, but will reopen next year.
For more information on the Heritage Foundation, visit www.laverneheritage.org.
Jen McElroy can be reached at jmcelroy@ulv.edu.
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