Tod Parkinson, the founder of Valliwide Marketing, has deep farming roots. He was born and raised in a small farming community in the Central Valley of California and spent his teenage years doing all aspects of fruit production. In 1992, he started marketing fruit from local farmers and by 2010, his operation was 100% organic. After two decades, Tod sold his fruit marketing and brokerage business to three employees to focus solely on farming. Two of the owners are his children, Mason Parkinson and Ashley Martinez and the third is Bill Schene. They share responsibilities for the day-to-day operations. Today, Valliwide is a full-service grower, packer shipper, built on a mission to bring farmers together and the belief that relationships are key to their success.

In addition to growing fruit themselves, the company represents a network of small, local, family-owned organic farmers located in California’s Central Valley. Most of the fruit Valliwide packs is  under the label ‘Valley Pride; some growers pack under their own name. Their extensive networks enable them to offer consistent supply and vast varieties of stone fruit all season long. Supporting small family farms, by supplying large chain stores and smaller regional outlets, Valliwide increases market access and helps these farms compete in a challenging market controlled by big, consolidated agri-business.

Meet some of the farms Valliwide works with: 

Andersen Farms: Mike Andersen grows Satsuma Mandarins on his 10-acre farm located in Tivy Valley, CA. Established in 1987, the Andersens produce the best tasting tangerines. Their citrus is colored naturally on the tree, never gassed, to ensure the most fully developed flavor possible. 

DSL Fino Inc:  Domino Fino’s family has been farming in the Central Valley since the early 1900’s. Domino’s farm is located in Dinuba, CA, where he grows wine grapes and almonds and 50- acres of organic white peaches and organic black plums. 

DE Boldt Family Farms: David and Dorthy Boldt grow 35 varieties of peaches, plums, nectarines and pluots on 120 acres in Parlier, CA, land that Dorothy’s great-grandfather has owned since 1913!  Their fruit is harvested daily at peak maturity, fully ripened on the tree, and packed at their farm using equipment specially designed for gentleness.  The Boldt label’s reputation has been built on this fact: “tree-ripe” is not just another marketing slogan, there is a distinct difference! 

Peterson Farm: The Petersons grow eight classic varieties of high-acid, high-sugar yellow peaches. Their Kingsburg, CA 30-acre farm has been certified organic since 1987.  

Raven Farms: Scott Raven is a second-generation grower, born and raised on a family farm in Selma, CA.  Scott’s 75-acre organic tree fruit operation grows several types of organic plums, including the ever popular ‘Red Raven’, a black- skinned super-sweet variety. He chose to farm organically for long term environmental sustainability. Scott and his family, Charlyse and Ryland, live and farm near the beautiful Kings River in Kingsburg, CA.  

Scott believes “We have a responsibility to keep habitats such as that of the Kings River environmentally sound for our future generations”. 

Valliwide Organic Farms:  Tod and Traci Parkinson  grow Yellow Peaches, Yellow Nectarines, White Nectarines, White Peaches, Plums, and Mandarins on 177 acres in Reedley, CA. Through their First Fruits program, the farm partners with  the non-profit, When I Grow Up, an organization that helps children in extreme poverty in Kenya, Haiti and Guatamala. The Parkinsons are passionate about making a difference with the charity and the farm enables them to offer consistent support. Valliwide also has a scholarship program for migrant farm worker families.