Erickson Ranch’s roots began in Italy in the early 1900’s.  Born in 1888, Augusto Toselli immigrated to Suisun Valley by way of San Francisco as a young man on a quest for adventure, and a new life. Good fortune and luck were on his side. In 1920, after years of hard work, Augusto married Annie Boitano, the youngest of four daughters born to Italian immigrants. Annie had been living in the nearby town of Tolenas, and the couple was able to purchase a 20 acre farm planted with pears. The pears were removed to improve the profitability of the Ranch and were replaced with the wonderful Bartlett Pear. Augusto and Annie also raised chickens and sold eggs. As time progressed, the farm, as well as the family, grew with the birth of the three Toselli children, John, Rose and Alice.

The second generation was to carry on the Toselli tradition of farming. Rose married her high school sweetheart, a local hard-working young man named Ray Erickson. They married after Ray returned from WWII and built a home alongside Rose’s parents. A son, Ray Erickson Jr, was born in 1951, and the family farm grew slowly. Big Ray worked at Mare Island and farmed on the weekends. And in 1958, Ray and Rosie purchased a 13 acre ranch up the road from the Toselli farm.  The land came with old prune trees, which Rosie worked and maintained. The young family moved their home to the new ranch in 1960, and has been farming the land ever since. Over time they planted apricots, peaches, nectarines, and Bartlett pears still came from original property.  Peach harvests were so plentiful that as a child Ray Jr. sold peaches from the back of a truck on the current property. This eventually led to building a more permanent produce stand. Tomatoes and corn were added to the crops, and by the 1970’s, so were kiwis.  

Ray and Victoria Erickson are the current generation farming the land that has been in their family for so many years.  They were married in 1983, and have two children, Kristen and Ross.  Kristen was born in 1985 and is currently serving in the Air Force.  Ross was born one year later in 1986 and is currently serving in the Marines.  Ray and Victoria are very proud of their children. The family owned and run produce stand was very prosperous in the 1980’s. Word of mouth and the sign out front brought in the business. The kiwi crops were removed because they weren’t productive. Meanwhile the Erickson’s worked on improving and extending the peach crop to the entire season, June through October. Local women and families who like to canned peaches and tomatoes frequented the stand.

In the1990’s, a bankrupt Tri Valley Cannery caused a decrease in the demand for local pears. Energy and resources were redirected to removing some of the pear crop, though some of the "original pear crop” was maintained. This further extended the peach orchard and therefore the season. We continue to harvest some of the remaining 90 year old pear trees to sell the fruit at Erickson Ranch.

In the year 2000 we began flower production of dahlias in earnest. Flowers had always been planted in addition to the crops but only for decoration. The dahlias were from the original home garden at the ranch and as time progressed the dahlia garden has grown and new varieties have been planted for picking. In addition we have perennials and annual flowers for bouquets.  We have done several weddings and other special occasions.  We are an option for the more budget minded bride and groom who would enjoy picking and arranging their flowers. There is nothing like fresh flowers for a wedding. Each year you’ll find something new in the Dahlia garden.

In 2002 we added the Chile Roaster to the property.  For years we have grown chilies and generations of families have come to pick peppers to take home for roasting.  We can now roast the chilies for them with three sizes of roasters on the spot. We have a huge variety of chilies from mild to hot and in between. You pick!
               
Homemade jams were added to the produce stand shelves in 2003.  The fruit is grown on the Ranch or in Suisun Valley, harvested and prepared immediately.  We have the added benefit of picking fruit from the tree at the peak of ripeness and are therefore able to use less sugar.  This technique enhances the natural flavor of the fruit.  

At Erickson Ranch we are currently continuing with the traditions our family has cultivated for generations, and always looking for ways to improve our ideas and offerings so that the family farm may be preserved.