MAKING SUSTAINABLE DECISIONS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW By Michelle Rivera, Senior Communications Manager
Amid the challenges facing small and mid-sized farms today, Deardorff Family Farms stands out as an organization full of resilience and progress. Now led by a fourth generation of family farmers, the operation thrives by seamlessly combining time-honored traditions with innovative practices. Today, Deardorff Family Farms in Oxnard, Calif., is led by Tom Deardorff II, President, and his cousin Scott Deardorff, Vice President and Treasurer. Founded in 1937, the company is a fully integrated grower, packer and shipper of both conventional and organic row crop vegetables. For Tom Deardorff II, farming has always been more than just a business; it’s a commitment to community, sustainability and ethical practices. “It all started with my great-grandfather’s focus on good, ethical business practices—treating people fairly, providing insurance and competitive benefits to employees and supporting local communities,” he said. “We felt there was an obligation for our generation to keep carrying that forward.” These principles have guided the organization’s investments, which include a state-of-the-art facility built more than a decade ago. Designed with sustainability in mind, the 110,000 square-foot facility features solar energy systems and is LEED-certified. “We wanted to build something that not only worked for today but considered our impact on future generations,” Deardorff said. The organization’s commitment to sustainability is embodied in its mission: ‘Sustainable Farming for a Healthier Life!’ Environmental stewardship is an importance focus of Deardorff Family Farms, demonstrated through practices that include drip irrigation, organic farming, integrated pest management and low-till and no-till methods. But what makes Deardorff Family Farms unique isn’t just its emphasis on sustainability but also its commitment to preserving a multigenerational legacy. Deardorff graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and later received a law degree from Southwestern Law School. After practicing law for five years, he returned to the family farm. For him, the choice was about more than career alignment; it was about working with great people and being part of an industry filled with people he describes as “good, well- intentioned individuals working together to make a healthier world.” Deardorff is a past chair of the Ventura County Agricultural Association Board, served on the United
Fresh Produce Association Board of Directors and was a member of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. He was elected to the Western Growers Board of Directors in 2001 and served as its Chair in 2011. He is also the fourth generation Deardorff to serve on the Western Growers board. As a Western Growers board member, Deardorff is passionate about tackling pressing issues facing small and mid-sized farms, which include labor challenges, regulatory hurdles and market pressures. “The sustainability of family farming operations is a huge question mark right now,” he said. “Every year, we see fewer farms like ours continuing on. It’s a reality we need policymakers to address if we want family farms to remain part of the fabric of our country.” Despite these challenges, Deardorff remains optimistic about the future of ag. He’s particularly excited about advances in water efficiency and long- term automation in harvesting. “These are areas with real potential to transform the way we farm,” he said. “In the next 10, 15 years, there will be some substantial improvements in the way that we harvest, and we can hopefully reduce the labor demands and improve the sustainability of domestic farms.”
Tom Deardorff II with daughter, Kate
25 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com January | February 2025
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