Lagier Ranches

The company: Lagier Ranches, San Joaquin County, California.

The people: John Lagier, a fourth-generation farmer, Casey Havre, livestock manager and master preserver along with a crew of long-time employees.  

Why we picked them: It’s so exciting for us to watch the evolution of a farm taking place, especially when their products are so delicious. Lagier’s great-grandfather dry-farmed wheat and barley and raised mules, his grandfather continued on the same land with a cattle ranch which his father then diversified into almond orchards, vineyards and row crops. In 1979, John began farming grapes and almonds, then put his imprint on the land in 1992 when he started to transition the farm to organic, completing that in 1996. Because it’s hard for any farm to survive just on crops, Lagier started crafting value-added products…which to us means excellent quality almonds and almond products, fruit spreads and fruit pies—all of which add value to our kitchen tables!