Sunkist® stories, articles & musings

“We were talking about maybe starting an animal shelter,” Lou recalls. “And then Bill comes to me and says he wants to plant citrus trees. I said, ‘What, are you crazy?’”

For Bill, it was a memory. As a 12‑year‑old, he had spent summers working on his uncle’s ranch. The dust, the sweat, the satisfaction of real physical work—those feelings never really faded. When he suggested planting citrus, Lou was caught off guard. Farming wasn’t on either of their radars. But the more they researched, the more it felt right.

What began as a retirement idea quickly became a serious study. The McCanns researched varieties, rootstocks, marketing windows, water requirements—everything. “This wasn’t a whim,” Bill says. “We did a huge amount of research.”

Falling in Love with the Land

Their first visit to the property in Terra Bella, CA at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills was transformative. Coming from the dense Bay Area, the quiet was startling in the best way. There were no freeways humming in the background—just open sky, clean air, and rows of potential.

What struck them most was how alive the land felt. They spent the day walking the terrain with the previous owners, and by sunset, they knew they had found their place. It wasn’t a business decision. It was a feeling—calm, grounding, and deeply natural.

“It just grabs you,” Bill says. “No traffic, no noise—just nature. Coming from the crowded Bay Area, it felt like breathing again.”

Lou remembers the moment she truly felt like a grower:
“One day I told Bill, ‘I’m going to walk the entire orchard.’ And it felt amazing—being connected to the trees, watching them grow from sticks into something beautiful. It was grounding.”

That connection has only deepened.

“It’s hard not to smile when you’re eating an orange,” she says. “And bringing bags to friends—oh, people light up. Those little joys matter.”

Choosing Sunkist: From Easter Orange Dreams to Global Markets

Originally, the McCanns thought they might market their fruit locally—a small, charmingly Bay‑Area plan involving farmers markets and a unique concept:

“We planted Barnfield navels,” Bill explains. “A late‑ripening variety—March, April. We imagined branding them as the ‘Easter Orange.’”

Their first packing arrangement had been modest—more manual, less structured—and didn’t feel like the long-term fit they needed. When they learned that Sunkist was not a corporation but a farmer-owned cooperative, things clicked immediately.

Joining the co‑op relieved pressure they didn’t yet realize they had been carrying. They no longer needed to invent their own marketing plan or figure out international sales windows. Sunkist’s global reputation and established export programs—especially in Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia—aligned perfectly with their late-season Barnfields.

“Sunkist solved problems we didn’t even know how to think about,” Bill says. “The marketing, the global sales, the reputation. Suddenly we weren’t trying to invent the Easter orange—we were part of something bigger.”

What they found inside the co‑op surprised them even more: a genuine sense of community. Growers from across California, some with families in citrus since the 1800s and others brand-new like the McCanns, all working together toward a shared goal—putting the best fruit possible into a Sunkist box. Lou adds: “It’s still surreal. We thought we’d maybe sell fruit at a local farmers market. Instead our oranges are in Japan.”

Planting for the Future

As first-generation growers, the McCanns didn’t begin this journey with legacy in mind. But now, with grandchildren Maggie and Elliot growing up, they can imagine the grove changing hands again in the future. Citrus trees live 60+ years. Many of the trees they planted will be productive long after the couple is gone. There is comfort—and pride—in that.

“We might be first‑generation farmers,” Bill says, “but they could be the second, or third. Who knows?”

They keep several trees reserved for personal use, visiting throughout the year to pick fruit, share with friends, and stay connected to the land. These small rituals remind them why they took the leap in the first place.

Lou smiles:
“I’m glad we have our own personal trees out of the 2,700 on the ranch. It gives us a reason to come down, pick fruit, soak it all in.”

Enjoy What You Have, Rather Than What You Want

Looking back, Bill says farming has brought something unexpected: peace.

“All of a sudden the financial side of life just… went away,” he says. “And what mattered was enjoying what we have.”

Lou nods:
“We have a great time. We really do.”

Community, Co‑op, and a Sense of Family: A New Kind of Fulfillment

What started as a major lifestyle change has become one of the most fulfilling decisions of their lives. The grove offers joy, purpose, and a return to the kind of grounded living they didn’t realize they were missing.

Being part of Sunkist adds another layer of meaning. For the McCanns, the co‑op represents stability, support, and identity.

“It gives us certainty, predictability, satisfaction—and pride,” Bill says.

Through meetings, barbecues, and packing‑house visits, the McCanns have met other growers—some fifth‑generation, some first‑generation like them.

“Everyone is so nice,” Lou says. “You feel like you’re part of something.”

Lou puts it even more simply:
“It feels like being part of a family.”