Our Story
Eusebio Sayago, our farm manager
Dry Creek Peach is located in the heart of the Dry Creek Valley of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California. Surrounded by world-renowned vineyards, we are the last remaining peach orchard (1,000 trees) in the valley and the only dedicated, certified organic peach farm in the county. The farm takes advantage of the mineral-rich soil fed by Dry Creek and Winter Creek and the ideal Mediterranean growing climate of Northern California wine country.
The farm has a strong history in the Dry Creek Valley. For over 100 years it has been producing high-quality fruits and produce.
Owners since 2000, Brian Sullivan and Gayle Okumura Sullivan (pictured with son Patrick and Australian Shepherd Sydney) dedicated the farm to organic stone fruit; broadened the product line to include peach jam, cobbler mix, and other products; introduced Dry Creek Peaches to customers and partners including Chez Panisse and Bryan’s; and re-opened the farm stand in the summer.
We are active community members involved with organizations such as Healdsburg Jazz, Slow Food, Farm Trails, Les Dames d’Escoffier Sonoma County, Rural Chicks, Dry Creek Valley Association, and Dry Creek Neighbors. Gayle is also the Executive Director of Healdsburg Jazz and Patrick is a jazz-trained musician, composer, band member, and educator. We are not open to the public but you can visit our farm when you come to the stand in the summer, attend an event through Relish Culinary, or through organizations we support such as Healdsburg Jazz, the Culinary Institute of America, the Healdsburg School, and others. We are members of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), a minimal waste operation (close to zero), and run on solar power.
The Sullivans manage the overall operations of the farm in conjunction with Eusebio Sayago and his family. Throughout the year we are either working the soil or the trees to develop the orchard and to create the healthiest possible environment. Everything we use is certified organic. Before we begin the summer harvest, many hours have been spent on each individual tree--pruning, fortifying, thinning, and cultivating.
Assuming mother nature cooperates and we have a fruit set during bloom, we leave our peaches on the trees to ripen in the California sun as long as possible to maximize sweetness, nutritional value, and freshness. Then we hand-pick (placing in single layers only), hand-sort, and hand-pack lovingly. Nothing is machine-processed. We go through five rounds of picking per individual tree. All our workers take great pride and care in bringing forth the highest quality and most flavorful fruit.
The farm is considered a Sonoma County treasure as most of the land throughout the county has been converted to grapes. Dry Creek Peach is a symbol of Sonoma County's abundant flavor, agricultural bounty, and rich history.
Dry Creek Peach has been featured in House & Garden, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Edible Marin & Wine Country, Savor Wine Country, Made Local, the Press Democrat, the Healdsburg Tribune, Healdsburg Living, and many other publications.
We thank photographers Marie Arago, Ann Caranza, Paul Dyer, David Tsay, Carrie Brown, and others for their contributions. Special appreciation to Maddy Nakada for helping us get this site together!
