About Us

FRED JENSEN was born in Denmark and immigrated to Canada in the 1950's. He was involved in the landscape industry in Vancouver until 1961, when he immigrated to California. In 1966 he founded Fred Jensen, Inc., Landscape Contractors, which became one of the largest and most successful organizations in the industry. Fred Jensen, Inc. won the highest national awards for projects such as The Old Mill Specialty Center, Vallco Fashion Park and The Great America Parkway. He sold the corporation to key employees in 1982. Now known as "Jensen Corporation," it is still very successful. Fred has owned and operated Crest Ranch since 1973.

Read a Brief History of Crest Ranch

Jesus de Ara has been with the ranch full time since 2009. He is an expert in knowing just how and where to prune a branch, and when to let it go in order to produce the perfect Christmas tree, if not this year, then a few years down the road. He is responsible for the care and maintenance of approximately 50,000 trees in various stages of growth year-round. Jesus is also responsible for planting, shearing and weed control.

Jesus lives in Santa Cruz with his wife Ava and their children.