GROWING THE GOODNESS
Leading the Future of Almond Farming
Drive by Sansoni Farms Orchards in Merced County and
you will see Blue Diamond Growers signs hanging from
beautiful blue posts. The Sansoni family are long-time
grower-owners who bleed Blue Diamond blue. The sign
posts — made by former Blue Diamond board member Aldo
Sansoni — help those who pass by identify the high quality
almonds of the cooperative and where they come from.
The leading brand champion of the Sansoni family is
Joe, 41-year-old single dad to two teenage boys, and
nephew of Aldo. Much like their dad when he was a
kid, Joe’s sons enjoy learning and helping out with the
orchards when they can.
Joe is a third generation almond grower, following his
father Ezio and grandfather Aniceto, and a member of
the cooperative’s 21st class of Young Leaders. Aniceto
planted the first Sansoni Farms orchard in 1947 —
70 years ago — and now the family currently farms
approximately 240 acres.
“I loved growing up being able to play and work in and
around the orchards,” recalls Joe. “It was where I always
wanted to be. I grew up shadowing my dad and learning
every aspect of farming and harvesting almonds.”
As a young boy, Joe often spent entire weekends and
summer days riding in the pickup with his dad and helping
with “anything and everything.” He drove tractors and
harvest machines and, when his dad was in the hulling
business, even trucked inshell almonds from their huller
to the
Blue Diamond
receiving station. From the office to
the field, he is proud of the knowledge he gained of the
family’s farm operations.
He uses this experience in his current role on the farm. Joe
is in charge of the production, field, shop, and trucking
operations. He is also transitioning into ownership/
partnership of Sansoni Farms Orchards, allowing him to
spearhead the expansion of farming operations. He is
part of the Sansoni family’s future in almond growing,
making him an ideal candidate for
Blue Diamond’s
Young
Leader program.
“I am pleased to be part of the Young Leader program
this year,” explains Joe. “Through this program, I hope to
gain a more complete understanding of our co-op and
what I can do in my role as a grower-owner to help
sustain our company and brand.”
I have performed every single
task and driven every machine
needed to produce and harvest
an almond crop,” said Joe. “From
my experiences, I also learned a
lot about how to produce a better
quality crop out in the field.
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A L M O N D F A C T S
