MARCH | APRIL 2017
Almond Facts
25
Mary Dunkel has been in the almond growing
business for more than 50 years. In 1963, her dad
purchased 100 acres of almond trees in the small
city of Sanger, CA, and became a
Blue Diamond
member. Growing up, Mary helped her dad in the
orchard while also working as an x-ray technician.
“The best thing that I enjoyed was farming with
my dad,” she recalled. “Dad taught me a lot. It
was kind of hard when he passed away.” She has
been running the orchard by herself since 1997.
Mary not only devotes her life to taking care of the family
orchard, but to animals in need. She has generously
opened her home to dogs abandoned in the local area.
“All the dogs are dumped,” she explains. The sanctuary
she created for these rescued dogs include kennels for
them to stay, food to eat and yards to play. Most of the
dogs she brings to her home are in dire need of medical
treatment. Mary takes them to her long-time vet, Greg,
who generously accepts almonds as payment.
“The vet gets paid in almonds,” she says. “Always
chocolate covered, yogurt and brittle.”
Even though she gets the word out in her community in
hopes of finding the owners, Mary accepts that her home
will become a permanent one for many of the dogs. And
that’s just fine by her.
Mary believes “it’s what you know that’s important” and,
for her, knowing each one of those dogs love her is all the
reason she needs to keep giving.
Growers Giving
Back –
Mary’s
Heart of Gold
