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  1. Warning Letters

WARNING LETTER

Friend’s Stable and Orchard, Inc. MARCS-CMS 728680 —

Delivery Method:
Via Email
Product:
Food & Beverages
Recipient:
Recipient Name
Robert G. Kittredge
Recipient Title
Owner
Friend’s Stable and Orchard, Inc.

3562 Grand Ave.
Ojai, CA 93023-9307
United States

Issuing Office:
Human Foods Program

United States

July 14, 2026

WARNING LETTER

CMS # 728680

Dear Mr. Robert G. Kittredge:

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authority, inspected your farm located at 3562 Grand Ave., Ojai, CA 93023-9307 on March 23, 2026, through March 25, 2026. Our inspection revealed a serious violation of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption regulation (Produce Safety regulation), Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 112 (21 CFR Part 112).

Based on the inspectional findings, we have determined that your Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and Pixie mandarins are adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)], in that they have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health. In addition, failure to comply with the Produce Safety regulation is a prohibited act under section 301(vv) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 331(vv)]. You can find the Act and FDA’s regulations through links on FDA’s home page at http://www.fda.gov.

The inspection resulted in FDA’s issuance of a Form FDA 4056 (FDA 4056), Produce Farm Inspectional Observations. To date, we have not received a response to the issued FDA 4056; however, we did receive your written response, dated April 22, 2026, to a call we held with you on April 1, 2026.

We address your response below.

During the inspection, the FDA investigator observed the following significant violation of the Produce Safety Regulation, 21 CFR Part 112:

1. You did not apply untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin in a manner that does not contact covered produce during application, as required by 21 CFR 112.56(a)(1).

Specifically, the investigator observed raw (b)(4) manure in the canopy of citrus trees and in contact with growing oranges. During the inspection, you stated that the untreated manure is applied (b)(4) to the (b)(4) rows meant to (b)(4) ((b)(4) rows). You stated that raw (b)(4) manure is applied using a (b)(4) that distributes it (b)(4) of the row. The (b)(4) distributes manure using (b)(4). The investigator observed untreated (b)(4) manure in the canopies of at least (b)(4) Valencia orange trees in (b)(4) rows in the (b)(4) of Block (b)(4). Additionally, (b)(4) of those same trees in (b)(4) rows had untreated (b)(4) manure observed sitting directly on growing oranges.

We acknowledge that during the inspection, you proposed the following potential corrective actions regarding the use of the (b)(4): applying untreated (b)(4) manure only to (b)(4) rows at a sufficient distance to prevent contact with growing fruit or creating a (b)(4). We also acknowledge your response, dated April 22, 2026, to the April 1, 2026, call. In that response, you stated that you will be conducting a (b)(4) inspection regarding growing Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and Pixie mandarins to determine if they should be (b)(4) as a result of coming into contact with untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin. We will evaluate the adequacy of your corrective actions at our next inspection.

This letter is not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of violations that may exist in connection with your products. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of any violations and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility to ensure that your firm complies with all requirements of federal law, including FDA regulations.

This letter notifies you of our concerns and provides you an opportunity to address them. You should take prompt action to correct any violations. Failure to adequately address any violation may lead to legal action including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.

Please notify FDA in writing, within 15 working days of receipt of this letter, of the specific steps that you have taken to address any violations. Include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as copies of related documentation. If you cannot complete corrective action within 15 working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will do so. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration.

Please send your reply to the Food and Drug Administration, Attention: Rochelle R. Blair, Compliance Officer, electronically to producefarminspection@fda.hhs.gov. If you have questions regarding any issues in this letter, please contact Rochelle R. Blair at (949) 608-4496 or at producefarminspection@fda.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,
/S/

Maria S. Knirk, JD, MBA
Director, Office of Enforcement
Office of Compliance and Enforcement
Human Foods Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

CC: (b)(5)

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