Celebrating Bill Burchell, Burchell Nursery

The Burchell Nursery was established in Modesto by Bill’s father, Irvin Burchell in 1942.  Bill was 8 years old at the time. The nursery specialized in growing deciduous fruit and nut trees for the commercial grower. Agriculture became a way of life for Bill.  He was in 4-H, FFA, Scouts and worked in all phases of the nursery and the family farm.

Bill attended Modesto Junior College, Fresno State, and UC Davis.  In 1956 he was drafted and served two years in the army in Germany.  Returning home he graduated from UC Davis in Pomology, married Edith Kellogg and put down roots in Modesto where he started his family. Bill has seen the nursery grow and develop to 800 acres in Oakdale and extended to Fresno with a branch office on 100 acres. They have cooperated with the fruit and nut industries in Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and France. Bill’s son, Tom, is now taking the nursery into the next generation of quality fruit and nut trees along with his son Jake.

Throughout his career Bill has been involved with many Ag related activities including: Modesto City Schools and Modesto Junior College Ag Advisory Committees, MJC Honorary Young Farmer, State CDFA Industry Advisory Board, UCD Foundation Plant Materials Service chairman, and Methodist Church committees and boards. He has been extensively involved with the California Association of Nurserymen (now CANGC). 

Bill always wanted to share the best of what his nursery grew.  Being one of the top fruit and nut tree nurseries in the state growing over 2 million trees annually and introducing 4 of the top 8 commercial almond varieties, Bill liked to take packets of almonds to share at CANGC activities. He enjoyed sharing the many introductions the nursery has made in the fruit and nut industry. He liked sharing with his family the different varieties of fruit being served at the table.

Through the years Bill has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the green industry, earning The Award of Distinction from UC Davis in1993, CANGC Pacific Coast Nurseryman Award in 1997, and was inducted into the Ag Hall of Fame, Stanislaus County Ag Science Center in 2007.

Bill’s philosophy of living and working go hand in hand.  His motto and the creed in which he lives by and instills in his nursery is; “Grow trees of highest quality, sell trees with highest integrity and represent them honestly.”

The Nursery celebrated its 80th Anniversary in 2022 and with the fourth generation, Jake Burchell, joining to learn the business, Bill is confident that his father’s philosophy to “Plant good trees on good land, take care of them and they will take care of you” will be passed down to continue serving the green industry for years to come.