Avocados are busy ripening - Join our waitlist below!
About Arroyo Avocado
Our History
Arroyo Organic Avocados are grown on a 55-acre slice of rich Southern California soil, under sun-washed skies in the shadow of Mount San Jacinto. Our story begins over a century ago, when Colburn Nordal immigrated from Norway in the early 1900s and purchased the first Nordal family farm in the Box Valley area of Hemet.
What started with walnut and apricot orchards evolved over generations—through Colburn’s son Clarence and his ruby red grapefruit groves—to today, where the farm is proudly stewarded by the third generation. That legacy of care, patience, and respect for the land continues with grandson Craig, who planted our orchard with a very special avocado variety: the GEM.
Our Orchard
Our orchard is rooted in Southern California’s ideal avocado-growing climate, nourished by the daily renewed fresh water of Lake Hemet, tumbling down from Mount San Jacinto and Tahquitz Peak, and long, sunny days. Every tree is thoughtfully tended, every avocado hand-picked at peak maturity.
We believe great fruit starts with healthy soil, virgin land or fallow for years to rest, and mindful farming. That philosophy guides everything we do—from how we care for our trees to how we harvest and ship our avocados—ensuring exceptional quality in every box that leaves the farm.
Why GEM Avocados are Special
The GEM avocado is a relatively new variety developed nearby in Riverside, California at UCR, the International leader in fruit tree propagation. It’s uniquely propagated with a tight more upright growing tree, and heavy foliage to protect the fruit and tree trunk from excessive cold in the winter and heat in the summer. This smaller tree allows for significantly more trees per acre increasing production significantly! This also delivers a consistently rich, buttery flavor with a higher oil content, and better flavor than the well-known Hass.
In blind taste tests, GEM avocados are routinely chosen over Hass for their superior flavor and creamy texture. Visually, they’re just as striking—ripening to a dark, pebbly Hass-like skin covered with golden flecks. Once cut, GEM avocados shine even more: they oxidize far more slowly, staying vibrant green in the fridge for days. The result, less loss after opening.
Our Commitment to Organic & Farm-Direct
Our first crop of Arroyo Organic Avocados is now available direct to consumers through online ordering. When you order farm-direct, your avocados are freshly picked and shipped straight from our orchard to your door—farm to table, without detours.
That means:
- No supermarket handling
- No pesticides
- No ethylene gas for artificial ripening
Just sun-kissed, organically grown GEM avocados, hand-picked from the tree and delivered straight to your kitchen.
Taste the Difference
We invite you to take the GEM taste test. Compare it side-by-side with a Hass avocado and discover the rich, buttery flavor that makes GEM truly exceptional. Once you taste it, you may just become a GEM avocado lover for life.
The GEM season runs from March through July, making these avocados a true seasonal treasure.
Join our waitlist today and get ready to experience Arroyo Organic Avocados—pure, organic, and grown with generations of care.