In 1955, GA and Jean Smallwood, Dennis’ grandparents, started their farm here in the Okanogan Valley. They planted six acres of cherries and four acres of pears right along the Okanogan River, this also became their homestead. The Smallwood’s farm only grew from there. GA grew many varieties of apples, peaches, nectarines and apricots in his years of farming. At the time, he grew his fruit for warehouse sales. When the North Cascades Highway opened (Hwy 20), GA saw an opportunity to self-market some of the fruit he was growing. They decided to open a fruit stand right along the new highway and started selling fruit from a small trailer with a cold storage behind it. The idea of self-marketing took off. In the late 1970‘s they built a larger fruit stand. While GA tended to many of the orchards and properties they owned, Jean stayed very busy running and managing the fruit stand. 

Dennis Carlton with his Grandpa GA Smallwood.

Every customer that walked through those doors felt like family. The Smallwood’s made a name for themselves with their kind-hearted nature and ability to run the business the way they did.

Brian and Janice Carlton, Dennis’ parents, ran the orchard for a few years. Unfortunately during the time they ran the orchard, warehouse prices were not good, and it became very hard to make a living farming. Especially since they were raising three young boys. They decided that going back to school would be the best way to support their family. Janice has been a teacher in the Okanogan School District for many years and Brian has worked as an H-VAC Tech.  
In 2002, when GA and Jean started to consider retiring, Dennis took over the orchard and fruit stand. Dennis spent his childhood on the farm and he often accompanied his grandfather to farmers markets or tagged along in the orchard. Although the idea was for GA and Jean to “retire” when Dennis took over, GA was on the farm or in the fruit stand every day. He changed water every morning and every night in the orchard. He enjoyed hanging around the fruit stand to visit with familiar faces and greet all the new ones. GA changed water up until a year before he passed away. You can take the man off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the man. That holds true with GA Smallwood. In 2003, the twenty-seven acres adjacent to the fruit stand came up for sale. With GA and Jean’s help, Dennis was able to purchase the land. The next two years were spent diversifying the farm by planting many varieties of peaches, nectarines, cherries, pluots, plums, apricots and prunes. He knew he could self-market these varieties through the fruit stand. In 2006, Dennis and I were married. Like Dennis, I also come from a strong agricultural background. My great grandparents were among the first to settle in the Methow Valley where they farmed for seventy years, mainly alfalfa and wheat. My grandparents also ran a small farm and grew alfalfa. Dennis and I both share the love of farming and taking care of the land. We now have two small boys Lane and Lucas. Both of the boys love being in the garden and in the orchard. Dennis and I are excited for the many experiences our boys get to have on the family farm, just as Dennis had with his parents and grandparents. We hope that they will someday want to continue running the farm and business. Unfortunately in August of 2006, Dennis lost his grandfather to cancer. Not only was he a grandfather, father and husband, he was a genuine kind hearted spirit who will be greatly missed. Dennis gained much of his knowledge of business and farming from his grandfather and is grateful he got to spend as much time with him as he did. He is greatly missed!

Another integral part of our farm is our foreman, Andres Perez. Andres and his family joined the farm in 2005 and quickly became part of the family. They have the same philosophy as Dennis and I do and take pride in the farm. As the demand has grown for Smallwood Farms fruit and produce, the orchard and garden have grown. Our philosophy of growing quality fruit and produce with the best and sweetest taste you can find has not changed.