The future of Johnston Farms was once a young girl riding her bike through a packing house while her father Dennis loaded produce onto nearby trucks. Today, that girl is Jaclyn Johnston-Green, who is helping to lead a fourth-generation family operation nestled at the base of the Tehachipi Mountains in California.

With nearly 80 years of history behind it, Johnston Farms is entering a new chapter, guided by a generation determined to preserve its roots while navigating the evolving landscape that is California agriculture. That generation includes Johnston-Green along with her cousins, Derek and Ryan.

The Johnston family story began in 1947, when J.C. Johnston retired from the railroad, moved his family from Oregon to Kern County and invested his life savings into a potato crop. It was a risky gamble that most people wouldn’t have taken, but it ultimately paid off.

Johnston Farms would continue to grow its operations to include a potato packing house in 1955, a citrus packing facility in 1982 and a bell pepper facility in 1990, gradually building the diversified agricultural business that exists today. The family manages roughly 3,500 acres, including potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, almonds and citrus.

In reality, like most farmers, Johnston-Green wears many hats. Her responsibilities span nearly every aspect of the operation; she oversees the citrus packing house, helps with managing field logistics, handles human resources and often navigates the complex regulatory landscape that comes with farming in California.

“It’s a mishmash of everything,” she said.

But working on the farm wasn’t always part of Johnston-Green’s plan. After leaving home, she attended college in Colorado and later built a career in the Bay Area. At the time, multiple family members were already working at the farm, and she wasn’t sure there would be a clear role for her.

“I didn’t want to be one of many,” she said. “I wanted to make my own path first.”

Eventually, as family roles shifted and opportunities opened, Johnston-Green returned home. What started as a small step back into the family business quickly evolved into a leadership role.

Johnston-Green jokes that her job description is very simple: “I basically do everything my father no longer wants to do anymore.”

Family, First and Always

The Johnston family’s citrus business—Johnston Farms—has evolved dramatically over the decades. When its orange packing house was built in the 1980s, the facility processed roughly 150 to 200 bins of fruit per day. Today, the business is managed by two generations of family—Dennis Johnston, his nephew Derek Vaughn and Jaclyn; and Kevin Johnston and his son Ryan—and can handle as many as 550 bins daily.

Despite the growth, one thing has remained constant: Johnston Farms is still entirely family-run.

“It’s just our family,” Johnston-Green said. “And the fact that we all still get along says a lot.”

Working alongside relatives every day might be challenging for some businesses, but Johnston-Green says the shared sense of purpose helps keep the operation moving forward.

“I’ve had jobs where you dread going to work,” she said. “I’ve never felt that here.”

Carving Her Own Row

As a woman working in agriculture, Johnston-Green has also seen firsthand how the industry is changing. While farming has historically been male dominated, she said progress is being made.

“There are still moments where someone will say something off the cuff about ‘women these days’ and then realize they said it to my face. But in the last 10 years, I’ve seen a huge improvement,” she said.

Support from colleagues and industry partners has helped shift those dynamics.

“I’ve had a lot of people step up and demand that I’m treated with respect, and I think the number of women entering agriculture gives me a lot of hope.”

Hope is something Johnston-Green sees not only in the industry’s changing culture, but also in the next generation, including her own daughter.

Like many farm families, the Johnstons think in long timelines, Johnston-Green explained. The decisions they make today are often about ensuring the land remains productive for decades to come.

“We want the option to still be here,” she said. “If my daughter wants to farm someday, we want that opportunity to exist.”

Part of that legacy already lives on in the farm’s citrus brand. During the holidays, Johnston Farms ships gift boxes of Satsuma mandarins under the Blue Jay label, and customers often share memories tied to the fruit.

“We’ll have people come in and say, ‘I grew up eating these every Christmas.’ Now they’re buying them for their own families,” Johnston-Green said.

These moments reinforce the deep connection between farmers and the communities they feed, she explained.

“It’s really special to see that generational recognition. I’d love for that to continue—to have people who grew up with our fruit now sharing it with their kids.”

Farming in California is not without challenges. Water availability, regulations and shifting markets all add layers of complexity to an already demanding profession. But Johnston- Green remains optimistic.

“If you refuse to be optimistic, farming’s not for you. After all, farming has always been about persistence. You don’t get into this because it’s easy. You do it because you love it,” she said.

And nearly 80 years after J.C. Johnston took his first leap of faith on a potato crop, that passion is still driving Johnston Farms forward.