Summer Harvest is Underway at Riverstone Master-Planned Community

July 31, 2016

Madera, CA - More than six decades ago, the Madera County lands that will soon yield the new 2,000-acre master-planned community of Riverstone were a thriving patchwork of olive, pistachio, almond and citrus trees. The gently rolling acreage with its dramatic Sierra Mountains backdrop was the home of historic S&J Ranch, which, at the pinnacle of its success, was the state’s largest olive grower, and is today credited with developing the pistachio industry in Madera.

A proposed community farm, Riverstone Farms is anticipated to yield an abundance of great-tasting fruits and vegetables available to the community at large.

Envisioned as an inviting, open-air venue for the community’s residents, the planned Riverstone Farms is expected to host a number of resident-only gatherings and celebrations in every season.

“The rich agricultural pedigree of our community is clearly something we want to protect, preserve and celebrate,” said Riverstone’s Tim Jones. “As we continue to develop what we believe will be a new-home community unlike any other in the Valley, we’ll be embracing the land’s agrarian heritage in meaningful ways—with an abundance of parks, vast open space, remnant groves that accentuate our landscaping, even a community farm where residents can come together to simply enjoy life.”

With a large percentage of Riverstone’s land still devoted to agricultural operations, the harvesting of Valencia oranges is currently underway. The community is gearing up for its almond harvest in August, and September will usher in Riverstone’s pistachio harvest.

Paying homage to the land’s farming past will be Riverstone Farms, a proposed community farm envisioned to yield all sorts of great-tasting goodness—from oranges and kale in summer to root vegetables in early fall. In addition to providing the many benefits that come from raising and consuming locally harvested food, Riverstone Farms is envisioned as a picturesque, open-air venue for resident-only events throughout the year—everything from family reunions to unforgettable farm-to-table culinary celebrations set directly in the midst of the farm’s leafy embrace.

“We’re really excited about Riverstone Farms,” continued Tim Jones. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to continue our heritage of farming, but just on a smaller scale with a slightly different focus.”

“Heritage, legacy and not turning our backs to the history of the land…these were the big ideas for Riverstone,” said Todd Larner, Senior Principal of Community Planning and Design of William Hezmalhalch Architects, the land-planning firm guiding the Riverstone vision.

“Inspired by the incredible open spaces, farms and existing agriculture around us, we’re creating Riverstone to offer a similar kind of unique and endearing California lifestyle that’s woven all throughout the Central Valley, in towns like Madera, Fresno and Clovis.”

Situated in the heart of the region’s path of growth, Riverstone—when complete—will total approximately 6,578 single-family, attached and multi-family homes, as well as commercial and mixed-use space including office, service and retail. Amenities at Riverstone are anticipated to include walkable neighborhoods with 200 acres of public and private parks and open space reserves, an extensive trail network, on-site schools, a one-of-a-kind community recreation center known as The Lodge, and a nearby stretch of the San Joaquin River and adjacent lake.

Riverstone’s first model homes are anticipated to open late 2016. Interested homebuyers for the community’s first collections of new homes from McCaffrey Homes and Lennar Homes are encouraged to visit the community’s website at www.RiverstoneCA.com and add their name to the Interest List.