Grower Testimonial: Corbitt Smith, Reina Rosa Farming

Growing Roses from the Ground Up in Wasco

Driving into Wasco, Calif., on Highway 46, it’s clear what the premier crop is in the small Central Valley town that spans less than 10 square miles.

It’s right there on the city’s “Welcome to Wasco” sign – roses.

It’s estimated that 40% of the nation’s rose plants come from Wasco, where Reina Rosa Farming currently grows 40 varieties across more than 100 acres.

But what makes Wasco such an ideal region for growing roses?

Corbitt Smith, owner of Reina Rosa Farming, says it starts with the foundation beneath his boots.

“One of the most important things about growing roses here is the soil,” he said. “Wasco is a great place to grow anything, and I think the ground is the key there.”

A Soils-First Approach

But even with the rich soil, sunny weather, and a steady source of water, growers in the Wasco area run into soil and nutrient issues given the area has been farmed for over a century.

So when Reina Rosa was preparing new ground for planting, Smith knew he didn’t want to cut corners. With tight timelines and more than three dozen varieties of roses going into the ground last year, he turned to Holloway for agronomy support and soil amendment recommendations.

Holloway’s team began with soil sampling and lab analysis, using a scientific, data-driven approach to understand exactly what the soil needed. From there, Holloway agronomists worked closely with Smith to build a practical plan focused on soil structure, salinity management and nutrient balance.

“Taking a scientific approach is key,” Smith said. “Having the soil and preparation ready, that’s absolutely the most important thing you can do before starting any crop –getting that foundation prepared, and then you can put roses in, you can put carrots in, whatever needed, and once you have that foundation started you can pretty much do anything.”

The Role of Holloway’s 55% Gypsum

A major part of that plan included Holloway’s 55%, naturally mined Dihydratre gypsum, applied to improve soil structure and manage salts – an ongoing challenge in Central Valley soils.

“Breaking up the ground is key, and calcium plays a huge role,” Smith said of his decision to go with Holloway gypsum. “The 55% gypsum gets rid of the salts in the ground, allows us to do a rinse, and really makes our ground be the best it can be.”

With a short window to prepare the field, Holloway coordinated quickly – delivering product, dialing in application timing and helping ensure the ground was ready for planting.

“We have good ground out here, so we were able to utilize the 55% quick-acting gypsum in a short time frame,” Smith said. “They got it out here, we got it in the ground, got it prepared and we were ready to roll.”

Local Support Makes a Difference

For Smith, working with a local ag supplier isn’t just about convenience – it’s about trust, communication and accountability.

While Holloway has a new office headquartered in Bakersfield, it has deep roots in Wasco, where it had a headquarters previously, and has owned a gypsum mine in Lost Hills, Calif., since 1932. Today, along with selling its trusted amendments such as gypsum and compost, Holloway also provides California growers with product delivery and spreading to go with custom agronomy services.

“Working with local suppliers means a lot to us,” Smith said. “We’re a small business as well, and we like to use anyone local that we can. You get a more family feel and it feels like you’re working with people who really care.”

That relationship showed throughout the process, Smith added. Holloway’s team made site visits, communicated often, and stayed involved from soil sampling, to the recommendations, delivery and through amendment application.

“They came through, got a great game plan together for us, came out to the ranch and got that game plan dialed in,” Smith said. “They’ve been great. The communication was awesome, and you can’t ask for anything more.”

Results You Can See

Since completing soil preparation and planting, Smith has seen strong quality and production across the field.

“Everything we planted looks really good,” Smith said toward the tail end of the 2025 season. “I see it thriving every day. We’re very happy with the results.”

Looking ahead, Reina Rosa plans to continue having Holloway pull soil samples, monitor conditions and make adjustments as needed – working alongside Holloway to stay proactive and consistent.

“Moving forward we’re going to go ahead and take more soil samples and continue to adjust the route if we need to male any adjustments. But I think we’re looking pretty good right now,” Smith said of heading into the 2026 season. “We know Holloway’s always available to do that for us. And we always want to cover our bases and make sure that we are on track.”

A Partnership Built for the Long Haul

From agronomy services to soil amendments like 55% gypsum, Holloway’s soils-first philosophy aligns closely with Smith’s own approach to farming: build strong ground, manage it carefully and plan for both the short and long term.

“I’d absolutely recommend Holloway,” Smith said. “They’ve been great to work with, and we’ll continue using them in the future. I’m very happy with everything we’ve had done.”

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