Reviews for: Rancho de Santa Fe, The Fruit Basket, Velarde Orchards

The Fruit Basket in Velarde, NM, will not see our business again. We were told not to touch the fruit nor could we choose individual pieces, it was all boxed. We purchased about $20 worth of apples, peaches and plums and the next day most of it is inedible - peaches are mealy and brown inside and tasteless. Plums are bruised and need to be carefully eaten. It's apple season and the Braeburn apples we purchased are not crisp or juicy though the flavor is good. Apple crisp with them and compost for the peaches. We won't be stopping there again. It's a red flag when a fruit stand doesn't offer samples nor let you touch their produce! Don't stop at The Fruit Basket, you'll likely be wasting your money.

I stopped at this place yesterday. I bought about $40 of fruits and tomatoes. The lady was very chatty. While she was distracting me with chatter she bagged my produce. When I got home I found 2 of the tomatoes were moldy and the others had already started to go bad. A couple of years ago I bought peaches there. When I cut into them I found all of them had brown mushy centers. I will never buy from them again.

They gave me a brochure with their phone number (supposedly) I?ve been calling for 5 days and leaving messages, they never Answer the phone or returned calls!

It has been a lifelong tradition to stop for fruit on the way to Taos. Velarde valley is known for having fresh apples and peaches. I spent a pretty good sum of money on apples, peaches and nectarines. Much to my dismay, the fruit was inedible. It tasted like gasoline, and didn?t smell much better. Never again, will I buy their fruit. I?ve had better from Walmart. I had to throw all of it away. What a waste! Yuck. No good deed goes unpunished. So much for trying to buy local. Buyer BEWARE!!! Rancid fruit is UNACCEPTABLE from a fruit stand!!!

On our way to Taos from santa fe,stumbled on to this gem. The people so friendly,the selection of home grown canned and fresh fruits is amazing.Then I realized I was talking to a 15 th generation orchard owner operator, that one is still sinking in.I also met the 16th generation son.I own and operate a family business back in Texas,and am proud of fact we have 3 generations involved, 16 blows my mind.Really something special here...dont miss out,a real treasure

Visiting this farm since 1989. They say my generation is one of the last to know what life was like before the internet?well The Fruit Basket will rekindle those senses of sight, smell and tastes of farmed and preserved. Born in the Bronx and lucky to spend some summers on a farm. I remember the time of year when kitchens were bustling with activity, piles of vegetables, the awesome intense smell of the dill enhanced w/ vinegar spices. Last week when I saw the variety of canned items I nearly collapsed. In th past I was always in a rush picking up a ristra or honey-maybe I never timed it right? Fantastic variety of pickled veggies, wonderful berry jams and butters, cherry and blackberry cider, dried fruit, peaches, pumpkins and apples..It's not cheap but you just don't see this anymore- if you do its pumped with preservatives. I haven't canned but I knw its a lot of work. Its the best feeling to have a 'pantry' w/ such beautiful variety and w/ such distinguished agricultural roots.TY!

Whenever I go to Taos which is in Sept. I stop here on my way to Arizona and load up with some of the greatest apples , both red and green as well as some peaches.ocha and a salve made of ocha and pine sap we love these products and the staff is very freindly....we enjoy stopping here. Look forward to our next visit..