Vanella Farms

At the age of 23, Robert (Bob) Vanella began farming. Bob and his new wife, Susan Peterson, bought their first almond huller in 1968. The Vanella family lives by farming, and Robert, Bob's son, started working in the business in 1991. Alfalfa and wheat hay, walnuts, almonds, and custom farming were all done together. Ryan, the other son of Bob, joined the farming business in 2002 and managed the almond hulling and processing. Together, they have grown the custom farming business over the past ten years to encompass more than 3,000 acres and three counties. The processing industry has also expanded, and India received the first international shipment of almonds in 1999.

Vanella Farms currently sells to China, India, and Europe, among other nations. Jerry MacNally, the family's son-in-law, is in charge of running the walnut processing plant that was built in Durham, California, in 2013 as they increased their walnut business.