Sun Valley Packing - Reedley, CA
Sustainability Equals The People, The Plant, and The Product.
Nestled in the heart of California’s Central Valley, you’ll find the small, charming town of Reedley. At first glance, the quaint farming community doesn’t appear as much, but what many people don’t realize is how significant it is to California agriculture.
Reedley stands as the primary growth location for all the stonefruit in the western half of the United States. Sun Valley Packing, owned and operated by the Jones family, is one of those stonefruit growers responsible for that production.
Today, the Jones family farms just over 5,000 acres of organic and conventional stonefruit across Fresno County. It didn’t start off that way, though. The Jones were originally poultry farmers, but when that industry became too demanding, Walt Jones, the patriarch and legend of Sun Valley Packing, set his sights on stonefruit.
“I’m a fourth-generation farmer,” said Casey Jones, president, and CEO of Sun Valley Packing. “It started with my great-grandfather in the late sixties and transitioned into joining up with his dad in the early seventies. The farming operation grew in a major way in the early eighties, where he brought his sons on board, and we were quickly introduced as young kids.”
Despite being 85 years old, Walt, Casey's grandfather, still plays a major role in the day-to-day operations of Sun Valley Packing. His tagline and retail brand “Walt’s Pride” is evident all throughout the operation, and his leadership has helped their business become a leading producer of stonefruit.
Like many fast-growing industry leaders, one of the pillars Sun Valley Packing is keen on is its dedication to sustainability, in more ways than one.
In their farming practices, the Jones are committed to being stewards of the land, conserving resources, and replenishing the soil to ensure it is healthy for generations to come. By utilizing drip irrigation, they closely monitor their water usage and ensure no excess water is wasted. They are also conscious of their pesticide use and strive to ensure the tree always stays at an optimum level.
Additionally, with the help of Golden State Farm Credit, they have implemented two solar facilities consisting of one megawatt each. This helps offset more than 80% of the electricity usage within the plant and helps reduce the power needed when pumping water from irrigation wells.
“Being able to sustain in this business world means being a good business partner, being a good business person, being a good employer, having a good reputation – those are all sustainable items that are very important in maintaining a good sector in the ag community,” Casey said.
The “people” aspect of their business is truly something they do not take lightly. Sun Valley Packing has over 2,000 seasonal employees, with some even being the third and fourth generation to work for the Jones family. The company offers a free-of-use health clinic to its employees and their families, and many of those employees are provided with free housing.
“We’ve helped them purchase land,” Casey said. “They farm under our umbrellas and they run through our channels here. They’re offered the same discounts and availability of markets that we have.”
One of the other relationships Sun Valley Packing values is with Golden State Farm Credit. The partnership dates back to nearly 50 years ago with Walt and the former CEO Butch Frane, who were best friends. Since that time, the banking relationship has been almost completely exclusive, Casey said.
Golden State Farm Credit has helped the Jones family acquire land, purchase new equipment, maintain operations, and be aggressive when purchasing new property. The relationship is mutually beneficial to Golden State Farm Credit as well. Sun Valley Packing’s attention to sustainability and efficiency is one Golden State Farm Credit fully supports and is proud to be a part of.
Most recently, the Jones family, with the help of Golden State Farm Credit, invested $15 million into state-of-the-art automation that will help palletize boxes, add more soft-touch features to the packing line, and create a smoother packing experience. This technology will also make the process have a less than 12-hour turnaround time, from processing to packing to send-off, making it more ideal for their customers.
In this market, it is difficult to stay competitive and keep up with demand. When Casey returned to the family business full-time some years ago, Sun Valley Packing was one of the many stonefruit growers in the area, he recalled. Today, that number has greatly diminished.
This investment in state-of-the-art technology is one that will guarantee Sun Valley Packing stays robust and can overcome the challenges of the ever-changing California agricultural space. That cou not be done without the help of Golden State Farm Credit.
“We would not be where we are without Golden State Farm Credit,” Casey concluded.