Cuyama Orchards is in a remote mountainous area surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest within Santa Barbara County. The orchards are located at 3,200 feet, and the mineral rich soil in high elevation areas helps grow incredibly flavorful apples. Cuyama's soil, cool nights, warm days and an abundant native water supply combine to help the Albano family grow sweet, juicy, delicious apples.

Howard and Jean Albano have been farming apples on their land for more than 25 years. Along with their son Byron, Earl and Jean are responsible for all growing, harvesting, packing, and marketing operations for the certified organic apples they produce on 265 acres.

Currently, the Albanos grow Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Newtown Pippin, Crimson Gold, Arkansas Black, and Pink Lady apples. Adding varieties is an exercise in trial and error, and the Albanos recently yanked a planting of Spitzenburg because it fell victim to fire blight. They are currently testing a stand of Ashmead Kernel heirloom apples, and recently planted 200 trees each of Calville Blanc d'Hiver (French heirloom) and Kandil Sinap (Turkish heirloom).

Howard grew up on a farm in Idaho. In 1980, on a whim, he and his wife bought property in Cuyama, where they raised hay for horses. In the late 1980s, they saw that several neighbors had planted apples which appeared to be doing well, and in 1993 they jumped on the bandwagon and planted apple trees.