Douglas County has been blessed by nature as a wonderful place to raise fruit crops. We have dry, sunny summer days to minimize disease pests and maximize photosynthesis. Our winters are cold enough to get a healthy dormancy and to control some pests, while mild enough to grow a wide variety of fruit. We have good winter rainfall to recharge groundwater and snowpack to supply the Umpqua River for our irrigation needs. The variety of fruit crops grown in Douglas County and western Oregon is a treat for all of us. The local fruit season usually begins with strawberries, goes …