February 6, 2020

*photo credit – The Mendrin Group

By Lynda Kiernan

Wonderful Citrus announced it has secured a long-term lease on the Bianchi Big Bench – a parcel of 846 continuous acres in Salinas Valley – from the Bianchi family based in Soledad, California. 

The deal was conducted through a confidential bid process, according to The Mendrin Group, representing the Bianchi family, which began farming in the Salinas Valley in 1776, after Jose Maria Soberanes arrived with the Portola Expedition. The support of the California Land Grant programs of the 1800s helped Jose Maria realize his goals of developing a cattle ranch on the land. 

Today, the Bianchi family continues to work a small herd of cattle in the area that is known for its vineyards, wineries, and lemon and avocado orchards. 

“For decades the Big Bench served the Bianchi family well, grazing herds of cattle and dry farming hay through peril, bounty and drought,” said Nicola Bianchi of the Bianchi Family. “In the early 1990’s, the decision was made to put the Bench into grapes and Robert Mondavi planted vines where cattle once roamed. Now, it’s time for The Big Bench to go through yet another evolution!” 

“The elevated terraced benches within the Santa Lucia Highlands are home to renown vineyards, wineries, and also the commercial production of lemon and avocado orchards,” said Al and Josh Mendrin of The Mendrin Group, exclusive advisors to the Bianchi Family in the transaction.

“The 846-acre Bianchi Big Bench is a historic Salinas Valley property easily viewed from Highway 101 between Soledad and Gonzales, it’s the largest flat bench on the west side.”

Wonderful Citrus, the leading grower, packer, shipper, and distributor of citrus fruits in North America, plans to develop the land into orchards for the production of Wonderful Seedless Lemons – a new variety of premium, naturally seedless, non-GMO Project Verified branded lemons in the U.S. and Canada.

The variety was originally developed in Australia by a farmer looking to propagate seedless lemons. After applying innovative breeding techniques over a course of years, a seedless lemon tree was developed in his orchard, and today, Wonderful has partnered with him to bring Wonderful Seedless Lemons to the U.S. and Canada. 

The company owns the exclusive rights to market and sell the seedless variety, which requires no pollination, and was made available in limited supply in November 2019. 

“We are very excited to be selected as the new long-term tenant for the Bianchi Family and produce our new Non-GMO Wonderful Seedless Lemons in this special citrus growing area,” said Zak Laffite, president, Wonderful Citrus.

“The unique micro-climates in the region provide optimum timing for lemon harvests to complement our year-round program of Wonderful Seedless Lemons. The Bianchi Big Bench property is a large single block of land along the Central Coast, a very rare find.”

– Lynda Kiernan is Editor with GAI Media and daily contributor to the GAI News and Agtech Intel platforms. If you would like to submit a contribution for consideration, please contact Ms. Kiernan at lkiernan@globalaginvesting.com.