Issue: 171

May 2024

May is Here!

Here at the Ranch, May is one of our favorite months of the year! We get to say thank you to all the mother figures in our lives, and we get to honor our military heroes who have given their lives to serve our country. Read on to find out how we at Limoneira like to celebrate! Like always, all we do has a splash of citrus!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s our Limoneira drones!⁠

Hovering high above our orchards, drones keep a vigilant eye on our citrus. With the help of our Limoneira drones we can observe how each piece of fruit is growing. With that information, we can determine the best course of action to keep our fruit growing healthily, apply adequate water and nutrients, and prevent waste. Our drones monitor our tree health, which in turn ensures that every sun-kissed fruit thrives and that we have a fruitful harvest!⁠ 

A Taste of Limoneira Citrus

Nothing says good morning like some Limoneira lemons! Start the day with a little bit of Limoneira zest and a squeeze of sunshine with these lemon ricotta pancakes! You will need:

🥞 2 cups all-purpose flour

🍋  1/4 cup granulated sugar

🥞 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

🍋  3/4 teaspoon baking powder

🥞 3/4 teaspoon salt

🍋  2 large eggs, at room temperature

🥞 1 and 1/2 cups whole milk

🍋  1 cup full-fat ricotta cheese

🥞 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

🍋  1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

🥞 2 teaspoons lemon zest

🍋  Maple syrup or fresh whipped cream, for serving

1. In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; whisk well to combine. 
2. In a separate bowl, add the eggs and lightly beat them with a whisk. Add in the milk, ricotta, and vanilla and beat until well combined. 
3. Stir this wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring just until everything is combined. 
4. Quickly fold in the Limoneira lemon juice and zest, stirring until evenly combined. Be careful not to over mix the batter.
5. Pour batter by 1/3 cupful onto a buttered hot pan or griddle, adding only a few at a time so that they do not blend together. 
6. Cook for about 3 minutes before flipping them over, or until small bubbles form on top. 
7. Cook on the second side until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. 
8. Repeat with all pancake batter. 
9. Serve pancakes warm, with syrup or whipped cream. Enjoy!

Thank you to @bakerbynature for this TASTI recipe!

Squeezing All the Love Out of Mother’s Day

This Mother’s Day, spoil that special mother figure in your life by adding a refreshing twist to the celebration! Here are some fun citrusy ideas!

Bake some delicious lemon desserts together! There’s nothing more special than spending time together and creating something delicious to enjoy as a family. This can go hand in hand with our next suggestion . . . 

Plan a lemon-themed brunch! You can’t go wrong with some delicious lemon ricotta pancakes, lemon scones, or any tasti lemony baked goods. You can serve refreshing lemonade, lemon tea, or even some fun lemon-infused cocktails!

The scent of lemons is like nothing else! Consider lemon-scented candles, bath products, or room sprays as a gift for that special mom figure. The refreshing lemon scent is sure to be a big hit!

Limoneira Talent

Amy Fukutomi, our Vice President of Compliance and Corporate Secretary, was recently featured in the Pacific Coast Business Times as a Top Woman in Business!

Amy talks about her journey to Limoneira. After graduating from USC, Amy headed back home to Ventura County and began working with attorneys. From there, she joined Kinko’s until she made the transition to Amgen, where she spent 12 years in the legal and compliance department.

In 2013, Amy “jumped off a cliff with no parachute” when she said goodbye to Amgen and hello to the agriculture field! She went all in on her family’s business, Oxnard Lemon Company, and became the principal partner. In 2016, our CEO, Harold Edwards, approached Amy about buying Oxnard Lemon. By 2018, the sale had closed, and Amy had joined the Limoneira family!

What has set Amy apart throughout her career is her drive to constantly learn and achieve high goals. Amy takes that drive to serve as a director of business and non-profit organizations. She has served as a director of Sunkist Growers, Inc. and Fruit Grower’s Supply. She also served as a director and president of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation. Amy currently serves as a director of the Boys and Girls Club of Camarillo, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, and chair of the Ventura County Agricultural Association.

We are so thankful to have such an incredible leader and spirited colleague here at Limoneira!

Limoneira Picks Only the Best!

Since 1893, Limoneira lemons have been handpicked by some of the hardest-working people around. We are so thankful for each and every one of our Limoneira pickers. Our harvest crew’s caring touch ensures that the most fruit will reach your table unscathed. Thanks to our talented Limoneira family, we are able to minimize food waste!

Limoneira’s Treasured Guests

Our orchards form a truly breathtaking landscape. All that beauty attracts some very special guests. . . hummingbirds! These beautiful flying acrobats with a zest of nectar cannot resist the sweet smells that come from our lemon orchards. Hummingbirds are the only birds capable of hovering in mid-air, allowing them to sip nectar from flowers. To support these and other pollinator species, we have added hundreds of acres of diverse plants and flowers to our orchards, creating a safe haven for treasured guests!

A History of Innovation

Limoneira’s innovation harkens back to our early days! Charles Collins Teague joined Limoneira in 1893 to work with his great uncle, Wallace Hardison, one of Limoneira’s co-founders. Teague would go on to become a director of the Company and Chairman of the Board of Directors. One of his pivotal contributions to Limoneira is the Teague Method!

⁠

The Teague Method is a curing method that controls the temperature and humidity of fruit, decreasing the rate of fruit decay. Using canvas tarps to cover the fruit and well-ventilated, open-air storage sheds, fruit was kept cooler and fresher longer until air conditioning became available. With all the hard work and nutrients that go into growing fruit, Limoneira has always done whatever it can to ensure that the fruit stays fresh until it reaches your water cup.

Drum roll please! . . . this month’s winner is Cindy Croom from Flower Mound, Texas! Thanks Cindy for following all things Limoneira. Check in next month to see if YOU are our next winner!