A full-time optometrist, Jeff became a farmer at the age of 34. In 1998, Jeff and his wife Dianne decided to move their family from the city of Hanford to Kingsburg. Looking for an ideal setting in which to raise their family, they decided on a piece of property that included an additional career for Jeff, as well as built-in work for the entire family.

“For us, farming is a family affair! Out of necessity, our kids have worked hard, but it’s been a bonding experience and one that has shaped us into an appreciative family; we know the difficult work farming requires, and are able to appreciate how hard our farm laborers work for us. We are blessed to have this land and therefore, we try to be good stewards of it.”

In 2002, Jeff was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He has thankfully recovered and had no recurrence of cancer since his treatments.

“Naturally, I wanted to reduce my exposure to chemicals and toxins as much as possible,” he said. “We see organic farming as a way of life. Optimal health for our children, organic foods, and better nutrition is where it begins. We want our children to benefit from the organic lifestyle, and we want our consumers to share in this benefit as well.”

As a first-generation farmer in the nation’s richest farmland, Jeff and Dianne look forward to making their family’s relatively new farming lifestyle, and everything that comes with it—nutrition, values, nature and fun—available to future generations and their one-day grandchildren.

“I want this place to become a generational farm. I hope one day our grandkids say, ‘Please, please, let’s go out to Grandpa’s! Let’s ride the blue tractor, get in the canoes, let’s have fun!’ I want to be that grandpa,” he said.

That would surely be the cherry on top of what has already been a transformational experience for Jeff, Dianne, Jonathan, Matt and Noell.

The Whites farm several varieties of plums and pluots that make an appearance on grocery store shelves during June and July.