Tom Mayhew, a third-generation Sunkist grower, discussed his family’s deep agricultural roots in the Santa Clara Valley in a statement released on May 15. Standing in front of his grandparents’ farmhouse built in the 1920s, Mayhew said the land has been central to his family’s history for more than a century.
The story highlights how multi-generational farmers like the Mayhews continue to shape local agriculture. Their experience shows both the changes and challenges faced by family farms over time. Sunkist Growers features contributions from multi-generational family farmers dedicated to citrus production, according to the official website.
Mayhew explained that while his grandparents started with dairy and later moved into oranges, he now serves as Director of Grower Relations & Retention at Limoneira Company. He coordinates harvests across regions and works directly with growers. The connection between his family and Sunkist dates back nearly as long as the cooperative’s presence in Fillmore. “Every Christmas, my dad would hand out Sunkist fruit gems to everyone we knew. Boxes and boxes of them. It’s something I’ll never forget,” he said.
Over decades, farming methods have changed significantly—from furrow irrigation to modern micro-sprinklers—but Mayhew emphasized maintaining tradition while adopting new practices. He also noted that Fillmore remains one of Southern California’s few areas not overtaken by development, preserving its agricultural character.
Sunkist Growers functions as a not-for-profit cooperative owned and managed by citrus growers from California and Arizona; it promotes sustainable farming practices through community initiatives while aiming to deliver high-quality products for its members, according to the official website. The organization maintains facilities including its headquarters in Valencia for executive operations and another site in Rancho Cucamonga for research purposes; it has also received an “Above and Beyond” award from Costco for its global sourcing program.
Mayhew described both challenges—such as imported citrus affecting prices—and rewards like raising children on the land: “Being raised out here and getting to raise my kids here. And hopefully one day my grandkids.” He believes that being part of a cooperative matters because “growers like Tom don’t have to navigate the market alone—they have a community, a shared brand, and a name that stands for something.”
