Beginning in the 1940's Norman Bradford dedicated much of his working life to the development of new fruit and nut varieties on the same ranch in Le Grand, California. He spent the first 4 decades with the renowned Fred Anderson, and in 1981 Fred sold the breeding business to Norman and his son, Glen. For 27 years Bradford Farms continued the Anderson program, with the father-son partnership being one of the oldest private breeding programs in California. In 2008 Norman officially retired from the plant breeding business. On April 1, 2010, Norman passed away at home with Audrey, his wife of 63 years, holding his hand. Today the business continues as BQ Genetics with Glen being joined by his son-in-law, Jon Quisenberry.