We are
a family-owned business that has grown high-quality citrus in the Borrego
Springs Valley since 1974. From 1952-1974 our father, Sam Fortiner,
grew and shipped flowers, primarily gladiolas. The original ranch
name...the Glad Ranch....was a result of this. The desert environment provided an opportunity to supply
the market when no one else could.
Later, due to the increase in imports from South America and the resulting affect on the flower market, Sam decided after researching alternatives that citrus had great potential here in the valley. Originally, 50 acres of lemons were planted in 1974. Within 10 years, we planted another 130 acres, adding Marsh Ruby grapefruit ( on a special rootstock, and given the name "Borrego Pinks"), Royal mandarins, and Orlando tangelos to the crop. "Seley Reds" are also grown here in Borrego Springs.
Finally, in 1991, another 80 acres went into development, expanding the varieties to Kinnow mandarins, Daisy mandarins, and White grapefruit.
About this same time we decided to make a transition from growing citrus by conventional means (using pesticides, inorganic fertilizers, and herbicides) to organic methods. We suffered some damage for 2 years due to the elimination of pesticides, but the damage was, and almost always is, cosmetic. The fruit itself is never damaged. Since then, we have built up a sufficient amount of beneficial predator insects and very little damage to the skin surface is seen. In fact, our fruit is often "cleaner" looking then groves that use pesticides because when these chemicals are used, they kill not only the "bad" insects, but the beneficial ones as well.
We have been certified through a California State Organic Certification agency, Quality Assurance International, which is highly regarded in the industry. We have gone one step further in that we allow no organic pesticides as well because they are all toxic to some degree.
We take great pride in our citrus, especially "Borrego Pinks" grapefruit, which we registered and trademarked in 1991, because of it's unique flavor and sweetness due to the combination of Marsh Ruby grafted on to our secret rootstock. That, and the fact that we have a unique mixture of soil, climate, and underground spring water create the sweetest, juiciest, most flavorful citrus to be found.