Hours and Prices



Embudo Farmer Honored by Acequia Group
By Joe Crawford
SUN Staff Writer

Embudo apple orchard owner Clovis Romero considers farming a form of therapy. After days of meetings and other office work at his former accounting job in the State Land Office in Santa Fe, Romero said he liked to return to his 10.5-acre orchard. “When I finished I could look back and see what I had done,” the 76-year-old Romero said. Romero was honored Dec. 5 as Farmer of the Year at a meeting of the state Acequia Association at the Santa Fe County Fairgrounds. Romero was nominated for the award by his neighbor, Elena Arellano, and the Association’s Board chose him for the statewide award.

Arellano said she nominated Romero for his hard work, which she said she has witnessed during the 37 years she has lived next door to him. Arellano submitted an application to the Association explaining why she felt he was worthy of receiving the honor. “It’s just amazing to see a man like him working so hard,” Arellano said.

Paula Garcia, executive director of the state Acequia Association, said there are generally about half a dozen nominees for the award. She said the Association’s Board of Directors chooses a winner based on several key values: humility, a spirit of sharing, a spirit of generosity and a strong work ethic. “We try to elevate those people who embody the cultural values of the acequia,” she said. Romero received a plaque for winning the award. Romero said he is the third generation in his family to work the parcel of land in Embudo. He said he grew up in the house there, where he still lives. He still works there with his son, 43-year-old Matias Romero, who will probably take over the orchard eventually, he said.

Clovis Romero said he first became involved with the acequia, La Junta y Cienega, in 1964, and he has since been secretary and treasurer of the organization. He was first given the Farmer of the Year award by La Junta y Cienega in June, and that made him eligible for the state award. The Association also honored local mayordomos José Gallegos, of Acequia del Alcalde, and Wilfred Romero, of Acequia de la Cañada Ancha. Garcia said the applications for the mayordomo awards were also vetted by the Board of Directors considering the same values as Farmer of the Year.

Embudo's Clovis Romero Named "Farmer of the Year"
By Mark Schiller
Published in La Jicarita News, July 2009

Clovis Romero's roots in the Embudo Valley run deep, both literally and figuratively: a farmer and orchardist with over three hundred fruit trees Romero has genealogical charts that trace his family's settlement in Embudo to the 18th century. Romero was recently recognized as the "Farmer of the Year" at an acequia celebration sponsored by the Dixon/Embudo Regional Acequia Association. This is not the first time Clovis' beautifully maintained orchard and farm have been publicly recognized. In 2004 the East Rio Arriba Soil and Water Conservation District also designated him Farmer of the Year.

Romero's 10.5 acre farm was first cultivated by his father, Octaviano, who built a house and began planting fruit trees and farming the irrigated property, originally owned by Clovis' grandfather Matias, in 1922. Octaviano then married the "girl next door", Bersabe Archuleta, and together they raised five children, including Clovis' three sisters and one brother. Clovis explained that the family rented a house in Santa Fe during the fall and winter so that the children could attend school there and returned to the farm for the spring and summer growing season. Clovis attended Saint Francis Parochial school until the eighth grade, and then went to Santa Fe High. He was drafted into the Army in 1954, spending 15 months in Korea. Upon his return, he completed his education at Saint Michael's College (which latter became the College of Santa Fe), obtaining a degree in Business Administration in 1960. He went on to work 31 years for the State Land Office as a financial supervisor, retiring at the end of 1991.

During all this time Clovis was busy at the farm as well. In 1958 he and his brother Arsenio planted 300 fruit trees that formed the core of the orchard, many of which remain productive to this day. Clovis worked the farm with his brother and mother until 1964, when he married Benigna Ortega, a descendent of the well known weaving family of Chimayó. "Nina" and Clovis then took over management of the farm and were subsequently helped by their children, Matias and Felice.

The orchard now consists of approximately 330 trees. The more than 270 apple trees include Red and Golden Delicious, Romes, Winesaps, McIntosh, and heirloom summer apples. Clovis also has two varieties of pears, four varieties of peaches, several varieties of apricots, and Italian plums. The carefully pruned trees and beautifully maintained grounds testify to the love the Romero family has devoted to the farm and orchard for more than 50 years.

Beginning about Labor Day and continuing through the Dixon Studio Tour in early November, Clovis will be selling apples and other fruit at the farm. He has also started a "pick your own" program that allows buyers to purchase fruit at a reduced price and plans to complete a refrigerated storage area this summer to extend his selling season The Orchard is located just off the main Dixon road on County Road 1105, Driveway #65. You can contact Clovis at 505-579-4378 or email romerosorchd@cybermesa.com Congratulations, Clovis, on a richly deserved award!