In the heart of California’s Central Valley, the abundant sunlight and rich soil combine to create the epicenter of American agriculture. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, this valley, using just 1 percent of U.S. farmland, supplies 8 percent of U.S. agricultural output by value and one-fourth of the nation’s food.
Contributing to these impressive stats are Punjabi American farmers who, according to High Country News, “produce over 90% of the peaches, two-thirds of the prunes and 20% of the almonds and walnuts grown in the area.”
Yet for many, their stories of hard work, resilience, and a strong connection to the land, go untold.
Punjabi farmers — who come from the Punjab region of India — started arriving in California in the early 1900s looking for better job opportunities. Despite facing racism and tough land laws, they became recognized as skilled and hardworking farmers. Lea Terhune writes in her book, California’s Pioneering Punjabis: An American Story, that, “Early pioneers made their way into California, working as farmhands. They were paid much less than their European counterparts and oftentimes became victims of racial riots, wherein they were driven away from towns, their belongings destroyed.”
In 1913, California introduced the Alien Land Law, which prevented Asian people from owning and leasing land. Despite these hurdles, many Punjabis received help from their White friends, who would rent the property for them. It’s in this way that Nand Sing Johl, a Punjabi immigrant who made his way to California in 1908, managed to make a living. Johl finally purchased his own 10-acre orchard in the fall of 1946, shortly after the racist restriction was repealed.
A majority of Punjabi farmers are Sikhs. They follow Sikhism, a religion that emphasizes hard work, equality, and helping others. Many Sikhs moved to California in the early 1900s for better opportunities. According to SikhNet, “By the early decades of the 20th century, Punjabi men were leasing and farming about 300,000 acres in California,” showing their large impact on the state’s agriculture.
Most Punjabis in California are based in and around Yuba City, an agricultural community in the north Sacramento Valley that has even been referred to as “Little Punjab.”
“Today, numbering 5,000 in population, many of these Sikhs are engaged in the multimillion dollar enterprise of the orcharding of peaches, prunes, walnuts and almonds,” according to the Sikh Heritage Education website.
There are numerous examples of how the Punjabi community has added to the cultural richness of the Central Valley. Sikh temples, known as Gurdwaras, act as cultural and religious centers, providing support and a sense of community. Festivals such as Vaisakhi, which celebrates the harvest, are important events that showcase Punjabi traditions.
Not only have Punjabi farmers faced racism, but they’ve also struggled with Mother Nature. According to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, “California has become increasingly dry since 1895. From 2012 to 2016, California experienced the most severe drought on record: thirteen of the 30 driest months on record occurred during this period. Except for brief wet periods in the 2017 and 2019 water years, drought conditions have largely persisted through 2021 and 2022.”
Ameet Sharma, a farmer and lawyer in Yuba City, has a deep-rooted connection to agriculture. His father arrived in the 1980s and worked as a farm laborer while attending college. After graduating from Golden State University with a degree in finance, he saved enough money to buy a peach orchard.
“I grew up on the farm. My mom has always been a part of the farm as well. It’s a family operation,” Sharma said. “And you know, I won’t say I’m too much different than other farm kids, but even through law school, on occasion, I would jump on a tractor if it was what had to be done. If it was going to rain and you needed to get a spray on, you’d do it.”
Among his biggest challenges are Mother Nature — California was in exceptional drought in the mid-2010s, with conditions persisting into more recent years — and commodity market prices, where he said the wholesale price of almonds has dropped from $5 in 2015 to just $1.50 in 2023.
Sharma attributes this decline to two main reasons. “The first level is at the representation on the commodity boards. There are a set number of seats for growers and there are a set number for handlers. There are supposed to be more grower seats than processor seats, and frankly, that’s not happening right now,” he said.
Additionally, “There is asymmetrical information in our market — the supply side shows its hands while the demand side keeps on a poker face.”
More than 200 Punjabi farmers and advocates signed on to a letter pushing for regulatory reforms in the market. It wanted handlers and traders buying California nut products to also report important information, like sales data, which could be a crucial change for many Central Valley nut farmers and could provide a more accurate picture of the market.
Despite these challenges, Punjabi farmers remain optimistic about the future. Their success is measured by their crops and their commitment to community and cultural heritage.
“Farmers are natural optimists and they find a way to get to next year,” Sharma said.
He emphasized that their culture and religion play a significant role in their desire to do right by everybody.
“We are driven and motivated by our culture and heritage and strongly believe in making the communities we live in a better place,” he said.
The story of Punjabi farmers in California’s Central Valley is one of hard work and success. Their contributions to agriculture and their communities are plentiful and highlight how diverse the farming community can be. It’s clear that Punjabi farmers will remain crucial to the Central Valley’s agricultural success.
David Salazar serves as the 2024 American Farmland Trust Agriculture Communications Intern at AGDAILY, with a focus on helping to amplify diversity and minority voices in agriculture. David is originally from King City, California, and attended the University of California, Fresno, as a first-generation college student. He received a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology and has worked in California’s premier wine producing regions.
