http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_14220196

La Verne orange grove packs history and taste

By James Wagner, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/18/2010 11:07:52 PM PST

LA VERNE - Tucked in a quiet residential neighborhood in the northern part of this city is a small and charming orange grove, a vestige of a crop that once was found all over the San Gabriel Valley.

Dozens of rows of trees filled with plump, bright oranges dot the property.

And on Saturdays beginning this month, the La Verne Heritage Foundation opens the grove up for people to pick the fruit.

The foundation has hosted the orange picking for nearly two decades, said Robin Molina, president of the La Verne Heritage Foundation.

For $5, pickers get a five-pound bag to fill with citrus. The picking season began Jan. 9 and continues through mid-March, depending on the bees and blossoms, Molina said.

Early in the season, pickers can grab any of the low-hanging fruit. Later on, however, the Foundation gives pickers poles with a basket to grab the oranges higher up on the tree, Molina said.

The trees date back to the 19th century, when John Weber replaced grape vines with orange trees. The Weber Home was built in 1885 about a quarter-mile away from what remains of the grove. It was later moved to its spot in the current grove.

"The whole area was all orange groves at the time," said Bonnie Brunel, treasurer of the Foundation and member of its board of directors.

The orange grove was long maintained by a city employee until the foundation was formed in 1985, Brunel said.

Now the small lot is surrounded with homes and adjoins Heritage Park.

"This is one of the last working orange groves in the San Gabriel Valley," Molina said.

La Verne resident Amy Hellewell has noticed fewer orange groves in the region.

Growing up, Hellewell would go to the Heritage Park orange grove every Saturday to pick oranges with her family.

Then on Sunday, the family would gather for a large breakfast with fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Hellewell had such fond memories as a child that she wanted her three-year old daugther Kaili to experience them too when she was old enough.

"They're the best oranges," she said.

james.wagner@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811 ext. 2236