SANTA PAULA, CA—One of the oldest working citrus ranches in Ventura County showcases how sustainability efforts have been part of the continuing agricultural evolution over the Company’s past 116 years.

“Stewardship and sustainability have been a part of Limoneira Company’s culture for over a century” says Alex Teague, Chief Operating Officer of the Company. “We’ve always tried to leave a light footprint on the land because we know that, at some point, we’ll be handing it off to future generations”.

Over the past several years, the company has added a number of tours to let visitors know how North America’s largest grower of lemons gets the product from tree to plate. “We offer several fun and informative tours” says Ryan Nasalroad, Operations Manager, AgriTourism and Filming. The tour through our historic packinghouse brings visitors up and down catwalks past whirring conveyors and down into our cold storage area which can house over 500,000 cartons of lemons. Our new solar orchards have an observation room which shows how much solar energy is being produced and an observation tower with a natural green roof of local native vegetation and wildflowers. It tells our solar story in a beautiful way. Kids love it.”

Teague concurs and adds “Limoneira’s management has tried to keep their fingers on the pulse of industry change. We are very proud of our new Solar Orchards which provides the majority of our electrical needs to our packinghouse. Our customers want vendors who can walk the walk, not just talk the talk.”

Limoneira continually adds items of interest to their tour and event business, and their tourism partners tell them that brides and grooms like new venues. Jim Luttjohann, Director of the Ventura Visitor’s and Convention Bureau says “Limoneira has some spectacularly beautiful places to tie the knot. Their historic ranch lobby is classy and warm in the tradition of craftsman era architecture. They have a number of romantic spots that are picture perfect for weddings, each tucked away in lovely settings. Wedding guests also might enjoy the 12 new international sized bocce ball courts which provide a beautiful venue overlooking the orchards.”

Summing up Teague says “We try to offer a number of interesting and educational items for folks.”Whether its hot air ballooning, gourmet orchard dining, packinghouse/citrus ranch tours, bocce or gazing over the solar orchard, our tours tell the story of agriculture. And it’s a story that begins before the last century and continues with 21st century innovations”.