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Spotlight on Apples

The Swanton Organic Apple Orchard is open seasonally to the public, Cal Poly alumni, and school groups. Yielding five tons of apples per year, our 2-acre orchard offers multiple varieties of apples. Although varietals are limited to what's on hand, the 12 different varieties ripen in stages throughout the fall months which allows for an extended picking window.

kids picking apples

Grass-fed Beef

The Ranch's Grass-fed Beef Enterprise in conjunction with Cal Poly Meats sells 30 lb pre-packaged boxes of grass-fed beef.

Grass-fed Cows

Ranch Administration

Swanton Pacific Ranch is owned by the Cal Poly Corporation and managed by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Ranch management is comprised of a director and three full-time staff:

Dr. Brian Dietterick

Brian Dietterick (Ranch Director)

Phone: (831) 458-5415 (from campus 8-5415)
bdietter@calpoly.edu

Gordon Claassen

Gordon Claassen (Livestock Manager)

Phone: (831) 458-5414 (from campus 8-5414)
gclaasse@calpoly.edu

Steve Auten

Steve Auten (Resource Manager)

Phone: (831) 458-5413 (from campus 8-5413)
sauten@calpoly.edu

desk

Susan Burgess (Administrative Program Coordinator)

Phone: (831) 458-5412 (from campus 8-5412)
slburges@calpoly.edu

Additional Contact information