Friend’s Stable and Orchard, Inc. – FDA Warning Letter, Mar 25, 2026

Friend’s Stable and Orchard, Inc., located in Ojai, California, was issued a warning letter by the FDA following an inspection conducted from March 23 to March 25, 2026. The inspection, carried out by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, identified serious violations of the Produce Safety regulation concerning the application of untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin. Specifically, investigators found raw manure in the canopies of citrus trees and in direct contact with growing Valencia oranges. The farm’s method of distributing manure using mechanical equipment resulted in the material reaching the fruit, creating a significant risk of contamination. Due to these conditions, the FDA has classified the farm"s Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and Pixie mandarins as adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, meaning they were prepared or held under unsanitary conditions that could be injurious to health. While the company proposed potential fixes during the inspection, the FDA requires a formal written response within 15 working days. This response must detail the specific steps taken to address the violations, provide documentation of these changes, and explain how the firm will prevent similar issues in the future. Failure to rectify these problems could result in legal consequences, such as product seizures or court-ordered injunctions.