John D'Arrigo

D’Arrigo Bros.
Salinas, California

Words to Live By:

“Education is the key. I believe if people understand the importance and value of farming, they will support it.”










Farm

D'Arrigo Bros.

“My grandfather, Stefano, and great uncle, Andrea, were immigrants from Italy who came to America looking a better life – much like the Latino immigrant today. When they arrived, they and their fellow country men couldn’t find broccoli here, so, longing for the flavors of home, had their father, my great grandfather, ship them some broccoli seeds.” The D’Arrigo Bros. are credited with starting the commercial broccoli business with the first transcontinental shipment of broccoli from the West Coast to the East Coast.
Environmental Responsibility
"We are good stewards of the land – our land. We are committed to reduce, reuse and recycle. We support our workers, utilize crop rotation, and otherwise continue to be innovative in managing our resources. However, many people don’t understand and appreciate the value of farming and don’t realize how important it is to support agriculture in this country. We are the food supply producing the safest, cleanest and best medicine in the world."

 
Challenges

“Each generation of farmers has incredible challenges. My father and grandfather had them and I have them; invasive pests, water, labor, regulations, you name it. As difficult as it is, it always presents opportunity for those who can persevere and adapt.”

“Perhaps, what we need in this country is a good old fashioned food shortage to wake some people up,” said John D’Arrigo as he discusses the challenges facing America’s farmers. With perpetuated misperceptions, it makes it hard for farmers to continue to do their business, state-side. “Can you imagine what kind of peril America would be in if we were in Japan’s shoes? They import close to 70% of their food!”
Family

He and his wife Sandy have three boys – Christopher, Michael, and Matthew. They love to share adventures together such as scuba diving, water and snow skiing, and mountain biking.”
Community Involvement

The D’Arrigo family consider themselves fortunate to work with many organizations, giving back to the community. One of the family’s projects that is closest to John’s heart is the Kinship Center, a non profit adoption, foster care, and mental health facility in Salinas. “It is a story of how agriculture and the community came together to support our local children, many of whom have been abused and neglected, and help them find loving homes.”

Specifically, John’s family focused on the mental health aspect. “The adoption infrastructure was there, but my family built the D’Arrigo Children’s Mental Health Clinic to focus on how the children, as well as the foster families are adapting mentally to their new environments.”