The Leavens family has called Ventura County home since 1900, when Joseph G. Leavens came to California with his family, seeking a better climate for his health.
By 1912, Joe and his brother had begun farming together between Santa Paula and Fillmore, growing Valencia oranges. After World War II, Joe’s son Paul and his wife, Anne, and their family moved to a ranch west of Santa Paula. This property, “The Home Ranch,” now serves as our headquarters.
With Paul and Anne’s support and encouragement, their children Mary, Dorothy, Paul Jr., and Sarah became partners in Leavens Ranches. Under Paul Jr.’s leadership, the partners expanded production and added acreage in Monterey County. We, the children and grandchildren of Mary, Dot, Paul, and Sarah, feel blessed to continue growing fruit, including on land in Ventura County that Joe Leavens acquired more than a hundred years ago.
Over the years, we’ve grown a variety of different crops, including lima beans, oranges, limes, grapefruit, lemons, avocados, and grapes. While what we grow has changed over time, we remain committed to good stewardship of the land.