Reviews for: HB & K Farms

I was at the farm in October of 2019, with my sister and brother in law; I was visiting them in Longview, WA and had driven to Dundee to visit a nephew. We happen upon the farm and decided to stop in.

The couple handing out the buckets and clippers were pleasant and helpful, as I had never harvested kiwi before. I enjoyed picking the kiwis and drove them home to Boise Idaho area and had great fun putting a few at a time into a brown paper bag to ripen and eat. They were delicious, and I had kiwi to eat almost all winter. I want to go back, but an unsure when the harvesting season begins.

Someone wrote a review that the owner was not friendly - it must have been her; he was friendly and we even had a couple of laughs with him.

This grower advertises ORGANIC kiwis, but does not follow organic practices when growing them. The prices charged are for organic fruit, however. Herbicides, which this grower uses, are not allowed on an organic farm. There are many other practices that a grower must use to qualify as organic, but this farm is obviously not aware of those requirements.

Last year, my cousin and a friend (both from other states) wanted to go wine tasting. As their (slightly older and wiser) tour guide of wine country, I was obligated to take them wine tasting, but had a little surprise in store. I had discovered kiwi berries on a field trip while in college. Although I have never been able to find the original place I went to, I got online and found HB&K farms. After lunch at the Allison, in Newberg, we drove out hwy 240 and turned off on a road that became gravel. My two city-folk passengers were both amused and slightly frightened by my gravel road driving and my less than confident reassurance that I knew where I was going. Regardless of their worries, we found it! The owner was working in his yard and game out to greet us. He set us up to pick and we headed out to the field. We had a blast picking and eating berries. When we checked out, the owner was talkative, helpful and friendly. He even gave us wine tasting advise. I'm going back today!

Yes, the gentleman who helped me was less than friendly. But I loved visiting the vineyard and learning about kiwi. The small variety are to die for and sooooo sweet! I have now stopped there several times and, although I would never describe the owner as "sweet" or "sociable" he is knowledgeable and helpful. My only negative interaction was when I was on a business call and somewhat rudely went to check out while still on the phone. Th owner was equally rude in his response. OK-maybe more so! LOL! However, the farm was clean and I never smelled the dogs or found any waste in the kiwi vineyard. Overall, I have really enjoyed the time in the vineyard, picking the fruit and have loved making kiwi flavored drinks, or simply eating the fruit. Note: Just like any farm experience-if its been raining, be prepared to get a little dirty/muddy. :-)

We picked two small boxes of kiwis, while trudging through mud, and stepping over dog turds. He weighed them at a table next to multiple dog kennels, which reaked of the filth that the poor, caged animals were stepping in. He charged us $83. I was shocked. I wrote the check, but then, we asked if we could keep less than what we picked and write another, smaller check. For a young family on a tight budget, $83 is a lot to spend a couple small boxes of kiwis. Those are grocery store prices, and yet we had to pick them. The guy called my husband a piece of white trash, in front of my small children. He refused to take any of them back. It was really shocking, because he seemed friendly at first, and spoke of his grandchildren, and yet would speak that way to my husband, IN FRONT of my children. I think he has a personality disorder, and should not be around children. If you want to pay an arm and a leg for kiwis, go to the grocery store, you wont get muddy, and you wont have to deal with this troll.