Twin Peaks Orchards’ organic produce is the darling of the Sacramento food scene. We met with Camelia Enriquez to learn more about what makes this small Placer County farm such a big deal. 

Camelia Enriquez takes her role at the helm of her fourth-generation family farm to heart – even though farming wasn’t always her dream. As a child, she imagined life as a ballerina, and moved to the city to pursue her dreams. Absence, in this case, did make the heart grow fonder, and Camelia began to realize that although farming was a responsibility, it was also a privilege. After a decade spent in the city studying the arts and starting a family, she returned to Newcastle to embrace her new life as a farmer, allowing her parents to retire. 

Organic + Regenerative Farming

Organic certification has always been a priority for Camelia. She explains, “Being certified organic is more than just farming practices. I mean, we really are stewards of the land, and we like to make sure that we’re doing right by our environment, by the wildlife, by the water sources.”

Camelia smiles and continues, “When I took over the orchard in 2020, the first thing I was going to tackle was to become certified organic. It was a huge undertaking – 100 acres is a lot to certify, but it was really important to me. My family’s here, my kids are here, all the employees that work with us, all of our teammates. It was really important to me to give them a healthy, safe place to work.” 

Six years later, Twin Peaks Orchards is 100% certified organic. The farm embraces regenerative and sustainable practices and is proud to be among the first slow food farms in the United States. For Camelia, soil health is paramount, a guiding principle that informs many of her farming choices. Both orchards and row crops are no-till, and cover cropping and mulching are incorporated throughout the farm. Intergrazing helps to tame the overgrowth and weeds, while enriching the soil. 

Learn more about CCOF, California Certified Organic Farmers

Camelia’s commitment to organic, regenerative and sustainable farming extends beyond daily practices to a broader vision for the future of Twin Peaks Orchards. A core tenet of sustainable agriculture is continuous improvement, and Camelia has embraced that philosophy wholeheartedly. She elaborates, “We’re always looking for new ways to put less pollutants into the air. We’re always looking at ways to sequester carbon instead of letting it run off. We participate in a lot of local programs, like Healthy Soils, and teach other farms how to farm sustainably.”

Partnering with farm-to-fork restaurants

Sacramento is famous for its farm-to-fork food scene – a place where chefs collaborate with farmers to give diners an authentic taste of the Golden State. Twin Peaks produce is proudly featured at many of the most iconic restaurants in the area. Camelia notes, “We work with lots of different restaurants in the Sacramento area – Magpie Cafe, Mulvaney’s Building and Loan, Localis, Ella and Binchoyaki. But then we also have customers up here in Placer County – where we are – like Josephine and Hawks Restaurant in Granite Bay.” 

Camelia attributes up to 25% of the farm’s business to restaurant partnerships, working with chefs from Lodi to Tahoe. These relationships directly affect decisions, including what row crops to grow each season and when to harvest stonefruit. “We work on different varieties that work best for what they’re making. Somebody’s going to want a super sweet peach, and somebody’s going to want a tart nectarine, just depending on what their restaurant is looking for.”

What grows at Twin Peaks Orchards

Twin Peaks Orchards specializes in fresh, tree-ripened fruit. They’re proud to be the largest stone fruit grower in Placer County, and are famous for their spectacular citrus and persimmons. Recently, the farm has embraced heirloom row crops, including specialty melons and squash. Row crops help extend the growing season and allow Camelia to experiment with new varieties at the request of local chefs. Here’s a quick list of some of the fruits + vegetables Twin Peaks Orchards is known for: 

Where to find Twin Peaks Orchards’ organic produce

Once you’ve had a taste of Twin Peaks’ organic produce, you’ll undoubtedly want more. Here’s where to find their Placer County farm stand:

Twin Peaks Orchards Farmstand

6105 State Highway 193, Newcastle, CA 95658

(916) 346-5569

It’s conveniently located right off the highway and open three days a week from May through December. At the seasonal farm store, you’ll find a variety of fresh produce, homemade jams, and a variety of fruits and vegetables from other local farms. 

Check their website for updated farmstand dates and times!

Farmers markets

Twin Peaks Orchards works with farmers markets seasonally and year-round, from Sacramento up to Truckee. Check their website for an up-to-date list of farmers markets where you can find Twin Peaks Orchards organic produce. 

Thriving on the challenge of farming

Farming is demanding work — and even more so for a woman in an industry long dominated by men. Like many women in agriculture, Camelia doesn’t just rise to the challenge; she thrives on it. With a laugh, she admits, “I think my favorite thing about farming — and this sounds really crazy — is the challenge. As a woman farmer, I had to get past a lot. I’ve had to do a lot on my own, I’ve had to research different farming techniques. I’ve had to assert myself, even just with buyers and my team. It’s even a challenge finding equipment that works for women. So you have to be very innovative, you have to be really open to change. And, of course, making something beautiful and delicious out of the land is really cool.”

Camelia pauses, looking out on her family’s farm, and concludes, “So, yeah, I’m really proud to show my team and my kids that women can do work that they weren’t always celebrated for doing.”

Visit Twin Peaks Orchards Farmstand!

Twin Peaks Orchards Farmstand

6105 State Highway 193, Newcastle, CA 95658

(916) 346-5569

Open May through December. Check website for updated farmstand dates and times!

Article and photography by Hilary Rance.