Issue: 173

July 2024

July is Here!

The Limoneira summer fun continues this July! Read on to learn more about Limoneira, find some delicious recipes, and win some incredible prizes!

Limoneira's Latest

Meet Chester Skotak, our General Manager of Northern Farming Operations! Chester is all about pushing ag-tech boundaries here at Limoneira! Our partner, Bluewhite, has created unique technology with unique capabilities. Bluewhite fits any brand of tractor and turns it into an autonomous machine! Bluewhite's unique capabilities have surpassed our expectations, from mapping all the Limoneira farms to executing flawless first rounds of spraying.

Limoneira takes pride in its workers, who lead the way in utilizing innovative technology in our fields. Each day, they are solving complex challenges and enhancing our agricultural practices to continue our 131-year commitment to sustainable farming. Watch the video here.

Sustainability

Sustainable land stewardship is at the heart of our core practices. Soil health is an incredibly important aspect of responsible stewardship. To that end, we use a diverse mix of cover crops, including ryegrass and malva, to prevent soil erosion. Our flowering nectar plants attract pollinators, sequester more carbon, and repress weeds as well. We also use organic mulch, clippings, and leaf litter to add nutrients to the soil that nourishes our orchards.

Here at Limoneira, we deeply care about the natural systems, and thanks to that, our trees are productive, and we can grow high-quality fruit! Check out this Reel put together by our friends, Native Monarchs!

Recipe of the Month

When life gives you Limoneira® limes, make some key lime pie! Zest up your summer, one slice at a time, with this delicious recipe. You will need:

FOR THE CRUST

💚 1½ cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs, from about 12 whole graham crackers

💚⅓ cup packed light brown sugar

💚 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

FOR THE FILLING

💚 Two 14-oz cans sweetened condensed milk

💚 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% or whole milk)

💚 1 tablespoon grated Limoneira® lime zest

💚 ¾ cup fresh Limoneira® lime juice

FOR THE TOPPING

💚 1 cup cold heavy cream

💚 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

💚 1 teaspoon grated Limoneira® lime zest

💚 8 to 10 thin Limoneira® lime slices

FOR THE CRUST

1.     Preheat oven to 375 °F and set an oven rack in the middle position.

2.     In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter; stir with a fork first, and then your hands until the mixture is well combined. Using your fingers and the bottom of a glass or dry measuring cup, press the crumbs firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 x 1.5-inch (deep-dish) pie pan. The crust should be about ¼-inch thick. (Tip: do the sides first.)

3.     Bake for 10 minutes, until just slightly browned. Let the crust cool on a wire rack.

FOR THE FILLING

1.     Lower the oven temperature to 350°F.

2.     In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, yogurt, Limoneira® lime zest, and Limoneira® lime juice. Pour the thick mixture into the warm graham cracker crust. Bake for 15 minutes, until the filling is almost set; it should wobble a bit. Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then place in the refrigerator to chill thoroughly, about 3 hours.

FOR THE TOPPING

1.     In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until medium peaks form. Top the pie with the whipped cream. Decorate with the Limoneira® lime zest and Limoneira® lime slices. Store the pie in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Slice the pie into wedges, wiping your knife clean between slices, and serve cold.

Thank you to @onceuponachef for this TASTI recipe!

Catch the Citrus Wave™

One of our favorite things about summer is our Catch the Citrus Wave™ campaign! Check out our packaging that features our fan-favorite summer citrus characters, relaxing and having fun under the Limoneira sun.

Don't miss out on our CCW giveaways! Check out our social media, particularly our Instagram, @limoneiraco, to see all the fun and exciting prizes you can win this summer!

The Foodservice Conference

Summer is the time to travel and see the world! If you find yourself in Monterey, CA, come check us out at The Foodservice Conference! The Foodservice Conference will take place July 25-26. It is designed exclusively for produce in foodservice and is the perfect time to make connections and discover innovations. Swing by booth #808 to see all the Limoneira awesomeness!

Honoring Limoneira Legacies

John W. Blanchard passed away this past June. John proudly served on the board of Limoneira Company for 46 years, retiring in October 2016. John's great-grandfather, Nathan Westin Blanchard, was one of the founders of Limoneira and a principal architect in the development of the City of Santa Paula. John was a valued member of the Limoneira board for many years, and his heart and soul were Limoneira. Our condolences to the Blanchard family. Rest in peace, John Blanchard. 

4th of July Twist

This 4^th of July, add some bubbles to the celebration! Turn your classic Limoneira summer lemonade into a little something special—a French 75!

For the kiddos, add Sparkling water and San Pellegrino Limonata soda to your lemonade. Otherwise, add a splash of your favorite champagne!

From all of us at Limoneira, Happy 4^th of July!

Limoneira Skills

Limoneira's lemon-picking skills are simply un-peel-ievable! Our farmers are highly skilled and knowledgeable and are able to time the harvest of the freshest, juiciest lemons from our orchards—it's both an art and a science! Our farmers take into consideration the lemon's color, size, and shape, as well as weather patterns and conditions to determine the optimal picking time. The meticulous attention to detail ensures that every lemon is bursting with peak flavor and nutrition, bringing you the very best citrus!

The Limoneira Employee Scholarship Fund

The Limoneira Employee Scholarship Fund Committee would like to thank Power Machinery for their generous contribution. Thanks to Power Machinery and the fundraising by our Committee we are able to award educational scholarships to our team and their dependents as they pursue higher education. We're so proud of our recipients. Best wishes as you pursue your education.

Congratulations to:

Winner of the Month

In this wonderful month of June, Martha Martinez from Ventura, CA—you are our winner! Congratulations Martha! Thank you for following along with all the Limoneira fun. We have so much more in store next month, so check back in July to see if YOU will be our next winner!