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Almond sorter lines.<br />
a successful family farm from the<br />
orchard to the export container, they<br />
are constantly ensuring a safe work<br />
environment for their employees. Ryan<br />
states, “As we grow, we have more<br />
employees and now scattered over three<br />
counties. Even with monthly safety<br />
meetings, regular tailgate meetings, its<br />
still the first thing on my mind to keep<br />
everyone safe.”<br />
With more regulations and agencies<br />
having to report to, they have also had<br />
to add more employees to keep up<br />
with the paperwork. “We have always<br />
handled that through our management<br />
services, but now we are having to<br />
hire more people to handle this level<br />
of paperwork that has nothing to do<br />
with farming. Walnuts are only making<br />
$.75-80 a pound and we are having<br />
to add these layers of paperwork and<br />
more employees to help with it. These<br />
employees aren’t adding more income.<br />
Ideally, we need the price up to help pay<br />
for it, but the buyers do not care if you<br />
have more regulations.”<br />
Next Generation<br />
The Vanella’s also have the next generation<br />
working on the farm now. Their<br />
next generation is starting as teenagers<br />
working in the summer. In the next ten<br />
years, they very well could be back on<br />
the farm in a manager type role. Ryan<br />
says, “With or without the next generation,<br />
we have grown a lot over the past<br />
few years and we haven’t grown a lot<br />
in management roles. There is a lot of<br />
stages in our operation from orchards,<br />
management, hulling, packing, times<br />
two for almonds and walnuts. We will<br />
need more skilled managers.” Vanella<br />
Farms could look very different in the<br />
years to come, with more younger generations<br />
having more responsibilities<br />
and roles on the family business.<br />
Sue adds, “This has been a great way<br />
to raise a family. It is really neat as a<br />
grandma, to be able to see all my grandkids<br />
growing up together, being friends<br />
and possibly working together in the<br />
future. That’s what we do it for.”<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at<br />
article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
<strong>September</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
www.wcngg.com<br />
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