Fruit stand
 

The Purple Plum Fruit Stand is in business to sell quality fresh fruit and local vegetables to the retail market and is located on the family ranch. The fruit stand was established in 1968 and has been a successful business ever since. Farm fresh fruit and vegetables (primarily tomatoes) grown on the ranch are sold to the retail market through the Purple Plum Fruit Stand. We expect to grow and serve the community by combining our ability to sell our own fruit with sales of beverages (including beer) and food to the local market and to vacationers on their way to the Sierra Nevadas.


  
  6872 S Academy Ave
Parlier, CA 93648
 
HISTORY OF THE JENSEN RANCH

 

The Jensen Ranch was established in 1922, when Chris and Anna Jensen bought the farm from its prior owners. Later, they sold the one-half acre at the corner of Adams and Academy and this was a country store and gas station for many years At the time they bought the ranch, Chris and Anna had three boys. Vernal Jensen took over the ranch from his parents in the 1950's and worked with his parents until that time. On Vernal's death in 1972, his wife, Patricia, started running the ranch. Recently, she has been joined by her children, Scott, Gail and Tamila. . Current production includes peaches, nectarines, plums, grapes, and various seasonal vegetables. The Purple Plum Fruit Stand was opened in 1968 as a means to selling the fresh fruit and other produce from the ranch to the general public. The fruit stand has always been Patricia's pride and joy and her family has a long tradition in the small market business going back many, many years. In addition to the tree fruit and grapes already on the ranch, we started growing fresh tomatoes, melons, peppers, and other vegetables specifically for the fruit stand. Currently, we are going organic. No pesticides or commercial fertilizer have been used on the ranch for over three years.

GRAND REOPENING

Due to the widening of Academy Avenue and the complete closure of Academy while a nearby bridge was re-constructed, the fruit stand was temporarily closed the winter of 2008. Recently reopened under the direction of Scott Jensen and his son Matthew Vernal Jensen (with a little help from Tamila and Gail), the grand reopening celebration will take place on June 14, 2008.