SOUTH SANTA CLARA VALLEY’S AG CULTURE
Farm to Table
Written & Photographed By Robin Shepherd
H
ere in South County we owe
it to ourselves to understand
agriculture’s vital role in our
quality of life today and in the future.
What better way than to talk with the
farmers and ranchers whose families have,
for generations, cultivated one of the best
ag regions in California?
Once known as the Valley of Heart’s
Delight, Santa Clara County has seen
45 percent of its agricultural land
converted to other uses between 1984
and 2000. According to a 2013 report
by the Santa Clara County Food System
Alliance (SCCFSA), 55 percent of the
County’s remaining farmland is at risk of
development.** While agriculture con-
tinues to make use of new technology
and farming techniques, and to achieve
increases in productivity per unit worker
and per unit of land, there are tough
challenges to overcome.
South County is home to many
dedicated and talented ag industry
professionals who run businesses large
and small. They are active in industry
and community affairs through the Santa
Clara County Farm Bureau, the Western
Growers Association, working committees
58
of the Santa Clara Valley Water District,
and other groups. And they are generous
supporters of education and career
opportunities for the next generation of
farmers through donated scholarships and
support of FFA programs at local schools.
Over the years they have donated gener-
ously to the Second Harvest Food Bank
and St. Joseph’s Table as well as shelters
and other organizations with programs to
feed the hungry. Recently,
TODAY
had the opportunity to meet with some of
these good people. A common thread runs
through their stories.
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Uesugi Farms
Joe Aiello and his son Pete welcomed the
opportunity to provide a tour of their
farming operations, and Joe started things
off with a little family history.
“My grandfather worked in the produce
industry before the Great Depression of
the 1930s,” Joe said. “He helped launch
the Contadina label at a cannery back
east in Highlands, New York. I grew
up in Santa Clara County, spent a few
summers doing farm work as a teenager,
and graduated from Cal Poly with a degree
in agriculture. In the early 1970s I started
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
JULY / AUGUST 2016
growing sweet corn in Morgan Hill. I
spent several years working with George
Uesugi, who had about 130 acres of
strawberries and chili peppers in Morgan
Hill at the time. From there, I became a
foreman for a large operation known as
the Newhall Land & Farming Company.
In 1980, George offered to sell his farm
to me and my business partner Dennis
Humphrey. We kept the Uesugi Farms
name as a tribute to George.”
According to Pete Aiello, “Dad
eventually bought out Dennis’ share of the
business. He worked hard and had the
courage to take calculated risks to grow
the business over time. Today our farming
operations span 5,000 acres. We operate
in eight California counties and also work
with growers in Mexico and partners
in Arizona. Peppers are our biggest
crop including more than 20 varieties
of bell and hot peppers. We also grow
Napa cabbage, sweet corn, strawberries,
pumpkins, beans and other crops. We
move tens of thousands of tons of produce
items annually.”
The Aiellos are not only growers,
but buyers, consolidators and sellers
who partner with growers and food
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