2016 Vintage Business of the Year

Durling Nursery

Family owned since 1926

Durling Nursery, a 4^th generation family-run tree nursery  is one of the most successful Fallbrook businesses, based on annual sales. Established in San Diego County in 1926 by Clarence Durling, the nursery then grew citrus and avocado trees mainly for orchard plantings. 

After WWII, Clarence asked his son Robert to join the business. 

The nursery moved to the Morro Hills area of Fallbrook in the early 1960’s. There were dirt roads in that area then, and the Durling children grew up with typical grove chores such as planting, staking, weeding and watering trees.

By the 1970’s, business had increased and Robert’s son Don Durling had joined the company. It was then that the operation moved to 175 acres in the De Luz area of Fallbrook. There, the soil was rich, the climate was free of frost and there was plentiful deep hard-rock well water. Robert’s daughter, Carol Elder, was brought in to manage the office, and Don’s son Kevin became Shop Manager.

Don Durling retired in 2009, and Robert Durling passed away at age 94 in 2013. Robert’s daughter, Carol, became CEO and her husband, Wayne Elder is now the Nursery Manager. Their son, Craig, is Operations Manager and his wife, Wendy, is Office Manager. At least one 5^th generation Durling, granddaughter Callie Elder, is standing in the wings.

For 37 years, nursery Foreman, Juan Garcia, has kept nursery running smoothly. His son, Joel, is the Field and Loading Dock Supervisor. Joel’s wife, Amber, is the Assistant Office Manager.

Today, Durling Nursery customers include movie stars, world leaders, shoppers at Home Depot, and many other retailers. Martha Stewart visited and filmed the nursery for her television show.  The strong family tradition of Durling Nursery is a great fit with the culture of Fallbrook. Durling fruit trees grace gardens and provide fresh citrus world-wide.