Dinuba is primarily a farming region of the Central Valley in Tulare County. Among the items we've discovered are fruits, vegetables, and a stockyard where cattle and livestock are sold.
We began writing a story about the noticeable building (Family Tree Farms Research Center) as you pass through Dinuba on the highway, zipping toward the Sierra mountains, Gold Country, or wherever the road takes you. When we scoured the photos, the stockyard stood out as the lead to this story about Dinuba.
Tulare County Stockyard in Dinuba sees thousands of livestock pass through, making it a destination of sorts for the agriculture business. On Tuesdays goat, sheep and pigs open the trade at 10 a.m., and by 5 in the evening the slaughter cattle come in for auction. Dairy cattle, beef cattle and slaughter cattle round out the sale day regular schedules. Trichomonosis (venereal disease) test certificates must accompany all bulls 18 months and over, according to California State Law.
What do traders pay in commission for cattle? All cattle is sold by the pound and charges of around 3.5% to 5% are charged on many cattle, while bulls have an 8% fee. Hogs, pigs, sheep and goats take a 10% fee. Bull and horse ranch sales, hay sales, and other related sales are held throughout the year. 9641 Avenue 384, Dinuba, CA 93618-9544. tularecountystockyard.com
Jackson of Family Tree Farms Research Center, the attractive farm shaped
building visible from the highway, is a facility that involves testing of the
company's primarily stone fruit crops-- peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots,
cherries and plumcots (a hybrid of plum and apricot).
Family Tree Farms is owned and operated by the Jackson family, 7th and 8th
generation farmers, located in the San Joaquin Valley. Their
mission is to consistently produce, package and ship the most flavorful fruit in
the world.
If your travels should take you through California's heartland during the summer
months, be
sure to stop by at their fruit stand selling an assortment of fruits and
vegetables. Open mid-May through Oct. 1, the address is
41646 Road 62
(intersection of 62 & Mtn. View)
From Hwy 99, Exit Mountain View Rd. and travel approx. 9 miles East to the
intersection of Mountain View and Rd 62.
The fruit stand will be on your Left.
Events: Annual events in Dinuba include Spring Fling, Fall Harvest Fling, Halloween and Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting held the first Sunday in December.
Getting to Dinuba: Visalia Municipal Airport is 15 miles south, 9500
Airport Dr., Visalia and Fresno - Yosemite International Airport - 28 miles
north, 5175 E. Clinton Ave., Fresno. Both provide scheduled passenger and air
freight service to major metropolitan centers in the nation. Dinuba is 3 hours
by car from the beaches of Carmel, 3.5 hours to Los Angeles, and 3.5 hours to
San Francisco.