Karen Morss, Lemon Ladies Orchard, Woodside, CA
“From a career standpoint I would be better off selling apples on the corner then being a VP at General Motors,” Karen Morss’ father told her. Yet Karen has had success in both business and agriculture. She has done her part breaking glass ceilings in boardrooms and the upper atmosphere with careers as a software entrepreneur and owner of a flight school geared toward women. Now she’s an orchardist, or orchardess, as she calls herself. Karen is the lady behind Lemon Ladies Orchard , which supplies The FruitGuys with sweet and fragrant Meyer Lemons. A very special thing about her lemon orchard isn’t only the great organic citrus, but each tree is named after a special lady.
Lemon Ladies Orchard is comprised of 40 Meyer Lemon trees planted in suburban Emerald Hills, CA, south of San Francisco, in the valley once known for its fruit trees and now famous for its silicon. Each tree bears a tile with a name: Madeline, Debbie, Hildegard, Lynette, Zohreha, Celia. Karen named each tree after a woman, friends, family, clients, and colleagues, who helped or inspired her through various chapters of her life, from the computer business time where women started companies to sell her software; from flight school where she promoted women students an
d instructors; from her screenwriting chapter, when she developed a script about the Wright Brother’s sister Katherine.
Karen planted her orchard in 2004 because she had an empty backyard and “adored Meyer lemons, and back then they were very hard to come by.” She jackhammered 40 holes and filled them with young trees and organic compost. She pruned heavily the first two years and has been treated to beaucoup harvest ever since. Meyer Lemons grow on a thorny bush-like tree, ripening in a constant succession of fragrant blossoms to fruit from August till May.
Meyer Lemons are a lemon-mandarin cross. Chefs and bakers prize their thin skin and heavenly scent. Karen’s favorite thing to do with Meyers is add a slice to water: “Everybody knows you’re supposed to drink more water – but it’s not always easy. [Add] Meyer Lemon in water and you’ll just gulp it down – it’s such a treat!” Karen also makes marmalades and recommends an Italian pudding called Budino for a treat. You will hardly be at a loss for how to infuse your days with this sweet and fragrant lemon, but if you are the Los Angeles Times has 100 suggestions.
- Heidi Lewis
You can taste these delicious Meyer Lemons next week if you order The FruitGuys’ TakeHome case or West Coast fruit mix. Order online.
Tags: California, farm, farming, karen morss, ladies, Lemon Ladies, Lemon Ladies Orchard, lemon orchard, meyer lemons, organic, organic farming, organic grower, organic growing, organic lemons, women