Finger Limes Make a Star Impression on Celebrity Chef George Duran
July 7, 2025 | 2 min to read
Shanley Farms Leads U.S. Finger Lime Market as Interest Grows Among Food Professionals
Morro Bay, Calif. — Finger limes. That’s the newfound obsession of celebrity chef and TV personality George Duran after a recent tour of Shanley Farms in Morro Bay. The visit—part of a Visit California press tour—marked Duran’s first time tasting the vibrant citrus pearls.
Duran’s delight at tasting the exotic fruit closely mirrors that of Shanley Farms founder Jim Shanley, who discovered the fruit nearly 20 years ago. Shanley became the first grower to propagate and sell finger limes in California and across the country.
“My dad was at a citrus exposition and when he sampled a finger lime, he said, ‘Why have I never heard of this? This is the coolest thing I’ve ever tasted!’” said Megan Shanley Warren, Shanley Farms co-owner and CEO. “That’s almost verbatim what George said when he tried the finger lime.”
Duran and his family spent nearly three hours touring Shanley Farms, sampling produce and capturing content. While details are still in development, Duran has shared plans to pitch Shanley Farms and their finger limes for upcoming media features—from personal social media highlights to potentially extending the reach to top-tier outlets like Good Morning America and others.
Finger limes—often called “citrus caviar” for their tiny, flavor-packed pearls—have become a hit among chefs, mixologists, and adventurous food lovers. Originally native to Australia, finger limes are now grown in the U.S. exclusively by a handful of producers, with Shanley Farms leading the way.
The 2025 finger lime season is underway now and continues through December, weather permitting. Wholesale pricing and volume discounts are available for qualified retail and food service buyers.
For inquiries, please email info@shanleyfarms.com or call (805) 323-6525.