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ION is committed to serving all growers and grower-shippers with affordable, high-quality, certified-organic planting stock.
Historically, organic berry growers have purchased 100% of their annual plant stock from conventional plant nurseries that use synthetic chemicals for pre-plant soil fumigation, as well as for subsequent disease and pest control of the crop throughout the growing season. Organic growers have not had the option to use organic berry plant nursery stock in their fruiting fields because a viable organic nursery making such plants available to the market has not been available until now.
In January of 2016, James Rickert and Daniel Nelson perceived the organic strawberry industry was ripe for change. With organic growers and marketers committed to changing the source of their plants, coupled with a perceived increase in consumer consciousness about where their food is sourced from and how it is grown, James and Daniel teamed up to start the first and only organic strawberry transplant nursery with plants available to all organic growers. Hence, Innovative Organic Nursery, LLC (ION) was born.
James is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and focuses on rural and agricultural appraisals at Western Valuation Professionals. James is an AFM (Accredited Farm Manager) and manages a variety of farm and ranch properties throughout far Northern California. James currently is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District and on the Board of Directors for Northern California Water Association. James graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Horticultural Crop Science and a minor in Plant Protection Science. James lives on a small farm with his family in the Churn Creek Bottom area of Shasta County where he raises grassfed beef, horses and way too many tomatoes.
Daniel is involved in a variety of agricultural endeavours. He is the CEO of Latin Berry Plants, SPR de RL de CV, a high elevation commercial berry plant nursery and licensing business representing Plant Sciences Genetics to Latin America, which operates out of Puebla, Mexico. Daniel is also co-founder and CFO of the ag tech start up, Veritas Substrates. Additionally, Daniel is involved in the financial planning and management of the Black Angus herd at Izee Ranch, based in Eastern Oregon. Daniel serves as a founding member and Treasurer of a local, classical Christian school in the community of Santa Cruz, California. Daniel completed studies in Agricultural Business with a concentration in International Agribusiness from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2008. He then went on to complete a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, and earned an MBA from Indiana University, completing both in 2012.
ION has developed a high-quality, proprietary production protocol using only leading organic technology in the areas of fertility, pest and disease control and farm ground management. ION intends to bring only high-quality plants to market, offering its customers every advantage in the marketplace. Active at both high and low elevation, ION has ground already transitioned to organic status and ready to work. ION is currently transitioning more and more ground at both high and low elevation, with the goal of serving an expanded organic industry in the years ahead.
ION has the opportunity to serve the leading producers of organic strawberries in the industry. ION is committed to providing its growers with a lasting and sustainable solution for organic strawberry transplants and is making important steps each day to see this become a reality.
Albion is a day-neutral (ever-bearing) cultivar with chilling requirements and planting date requirements very similar to Diamante. Albion has very good flavor due to its high sugar content. The variety is resistant to Verticillium wilt, Phytophthora crown rot and relatively resistant to Anthracnose crown rot. Read More "Albion"
Cabrillo was released by the University of California breeding program in 2015. This day-neutral variety has large, flavorful fruit and is high yielding compared to other day-neutral varieties we offer. As a day-neutral it can be planted any time of the year, and will flower and fruit regardless of day length. The variety is moderately resistant to powdery mildew and Verticillium, is somewhat tolerant to Phytophthora but is susceptible to Colletotrichum, Fusarium and Macrophomina. Read More "Cabrillo"
Royalty Fees: Strawberry breeding programs are funded by charging royalty fees upon the varieties that they produce. Royalty Fee for Cabrillo: $8 per 1,000 plants, included in the cost below. Read More "Cabrillo"
The old standard for the Southern California winter production and canning industry, Chandler continues to be the “go to” variety for roadside strawberry stands and backyard gardeners, as well as many commercial growers in the southeast. Chandler produces semi-early, deliciously-sweet fruit. Fruit size is medium to large and fruit is medium in firmness. Chandler performs well in the east and is well adapted to the south. Read More "Chandler"
Denali is a new Junebearing variety that was released in 2023. Denali has excellent flavor with a deep red, glossy fruit and a medium sized berry. Denali has strong disease resistance with moderate to high resistance to Powdery mildew and Fusarium wilt. Denali has strong yields in a short burst of fruit that lasts up to 2.5 months. The variety enjoys more chill prior to planting than other Junebearing varieties and has demonstrated excellent results in northern climates. Denali is an incredible variety for the home gardener. Read More "Denali"
Royalty Fees: Strawberry breeding programs are funded by charging royalty fees upon the varieties that they produce. Royalty Fee for Denali: $35 per 1,000 plants, included in the cost below. Read More "Denali"
Fronteras is a short-day variety that is highly productive and has large, conical fruit. The variety is grown where Ventana, Benicia or Camarosa are produced. Fronteras is moderately or highly resistant to Verticillium, Fusarium, and Phytophthora. Preliminary trials indicate that Fronteras has substantial resistance to Macrophomina. It has good resistance to powdery mildew and seems tolerant of spider mites. Read More "Fronteras"
Royalty Fees: Strawberry breeding programs are funded by charging royalty fees upon the varieties that they produce. Royalty Fee for Fronteras: $8 per 1,000 plants, included in the cost below. Read More "Fronteras"
Monterey is moderate in day-neutrality, slightly stronger flowering than Albion, with a similar production pattern. It is a vigorous plant and may require slightly more space than Albion. The fruit produced by Monterey is slightly larger but less firm than that of Albion. Post-harvest traits for Monterey are similar to those for Albion. Monterey has outstanding flavor with a distinct sweet aftertaste that is unique among California cultivars. Monterey has a good disease resistance profile, although it is susceptible to powdery mildew; this disease will require close control by fruit growers in order to farm this cultivar successfully. Read More "Monterey"
Royalty Fees: Strawberry breeding programs are funded by charging royalty fees upon the varieties that they produce. Royalty Fee for Monterey: $8 per 1,000 plants, included in the cost below. Read More "Monterey"
Cascade Gold is a vigorous, summer-bearing raspberry variety that produces large, yellow-gold berries. The fruit has an excellent well-balanced flavor that is ideal for fresh market and preserving in jams and jellies. Cascade Gold was developed at Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center and released in 1992. The variety is adaptable in many climates and widely regarded as one of the most popular yellow-gold raspberry varieties for home gardeners. Read More "Cascade Gold"
Heritage raspberry is a highly flavorful, everbearing red raspberry known for its dark red berries with a large fruit size and sweet flavor. The variety is highly productive with a. Developed by Cornell University in 1969, the variety is a reliable produce with a moderate early crop and a heavy crop in the late summer and fall. Heritage is an adaptable, all-around favorite variety with home gardeners throughout the United States. Read More "Heritage"
This golden raspberry has a very shiny, lemon yellow fruit of excellent quality. The plants are medium sized with easy to pick fruit. This variety has a nice early yield with a large mid-season flush of fruit. The flavor is very good with a nice acidic zing. This variety has moderate to high resistance to powdery mildew and orange rust. Read More "Honey Jewel"
Jewel black raspberry is a very popular variety that provides large, dark black raspberries with a sweet and rich flavor. The variety was bred by the Cornell Small Fruit Breeding Program in Geneva, New York. Jewel is a cross of two heirloom raspberry varieties- Bristol x Dundee. The variety is a high yielder and excellent for both fresh market and for preserving in jams and jellies. Jewel is known as one of the most popular black raspberry varieties in the United States. Read More "Jewel Black Raspberry"
This red raspberry bears light red medium sized fruit. The plants are vigorous and have very little disease issues. The flavor is sweet with just a hint of acid and the fruit is juicy and soft. Fruit is easy to pick and the plant bears a good summer harvest up until September. Watch out for the late season heavy flush of fruit to end your summer with a smile. Read More "Ruby Jewel"
Triple Crown thornless blackberry is well known for being a vigorous, flavorful thornless blackberry variety that produces very large, high quality fruit. The plant was developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Station in Beltsville, Maryland and released in 1996. The variety ripens in the mid-summer months with uniform glossy black fruit that is firm enough to ship but perfect for roadside markets and home gardeners. The variety is adaptable throughout the United States and has proven itself to be one of the best thornless blackberry varieties available. Read More "Triple Crown"
Before there is fruit, there is a plant — and before there is a plant, there is a nursery. Learn how ION’s organic planting stock forms the foundation of berry production across America. Read More "What Makes a Nursery Different Than a Farm?"
Growing your own berries is more accessible than ever. Learn how to start producing fresh strawberries, raspberries, and more at home — no farm required. Read More "How to Start Growing Your Own Berries at Home"
See how the Denali strawberry is performing across dramatically different climates — from University of California trials to Maine winters — and why growers are paying attention. Read More "What Growers Are Seeing So Far"
Discover why the Denali strawberry is becoming a top choice for home gardeners – an adaptable, high-yielding variety that performs across climates and growing zones. Read More "Home Gardeners Are Looking for Adaptable Strawberry Varieties"
Growing your own food isn’t just about harvest. It’s about ownership, education, resilience, and reconnecting with the agricultural roots that sustain us all. Read More "Innovation in Organic Plant Production"
Growing your own food isn’t just about harvest. It’s about ownership, education, resilience, and reconnecting with the agricultural roots that sustain us all. Read More "Building a Stronger Food System"
PO Box 1078
Freedom, California 95019
innovativeorganicnursery@
F: +1.831.728.4967
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