The Story Behind the Widely Followed Westside Farmer, @JoeDelBosque
Joe Del Bosque’s life in the melon industry began as a child picking melons alongside the field workers his dad managed. He didn’t know that one day he’d own those same fields.
Originally studying to be a dentist, Joe soon realized chemistry-oriented classes weren’t for him. So, after graduating in 1975 he returned to what he knew — farming.
He spent the next ten years working for other farmers until one day the thought came to him –“I think I can do this on my own.” Joe knew he would have to work hard to achieve the dream of having his own farm. But the experience he had working for his father as a young child prepared him. When his business first began, the only assets listed on his statement were the furniture and car he owned. But his knowledge and experience got him the financial backing he needed and Del Bosque Farms was born.
“People knew that I know melons and they helped me,” said Joe.
The first year of farming on his own, Joe successfully farmed 240 acres on the Westside of California’s San Joaquin Valley. This was just the beginning for Del Bosque Farms, which has grown not only in size, but has added almonds, cherries and asparagus to its list of crops.
Since 2004, Del Bosque farms has been producing organic melons that are sold across the nation from July through October. If you happen to be driving through the San Joaquin Valley, you can identify his fields by the rows of sunflowers planted between each acre. Ladybugs and other beneficial insects are released into the organic crops to help control pests. The sunflowers create a habitat for these “good” bugs that eat the “bad” bugs and act as a natural pesticide.
Joe’s been no stranger to giving back — not only to the land he farms, but also to the workers and the agriculture communities near his farm. Serving on the Board of Directors for the Central Valley Community Foundation, Del Bosque Family Foundation, Fresno State Ag Foundation Board, AgSafe, California Water Commission and many others, Joe continues to support the farm towns where many of his workers live in.
Developing a special relationship with his workers, Joe and his wife Maria believe their workers are what make Del Bosque Farms a success.
“The people are important to us. We are passionate about having a good relationship with our workers,” said Joe. “The fact that many of our seasonal workers come back to our farm year after year shows their loyalty to Del Bosque Farms. Maria and I take pride in that.”
Building relationships extends beyond his farm. Over the years, Joe Del Bosque has become a friend to media across the country. Reporters often contact him to come see and learn for themselves what happens on a real farm.
“Millennials will drive what we do on our farms,” says Joe. “Farmers need to be aware of that. We need to listen to the consumer and it’s important for them to get the facts.”
In 2009, during the drought Joe began using social media as a strategy for advocating for water so badly needed on California farms. He volunteered to speak as part of an event organized by California Latinos for Water that included the historic march from Mendota to the San Luis Reservoir. This march brought Latino leaders, farmers and workers together to raise awareness about the reduction in water deliveries allocated by the federal government. Many farmers were hesitant to speak in front of the media on this issue. But not Joe. He was there to tell the truth about the need for water and its importance to the farms, farm workers, businesses and communities of the San Joaquin Valley.
Joe continues to speak about water and agriculture’s need for it at rallies or meetings in Sacramento and Washington D.C. And the media continues to come. So have others. One visit left a particular impact on Del Bosque Farms. It came as a result of a Tweet from @westsidefarmer (Joe’s Twitter handle) to President Barack Obama.
Joe Del Bosque continues to be a positive influence on the cantaloupe industry by communicating with fans, consumers, elected officials and others through his social media presence. The farmer in the white cowboy hat shares valuable information with cantaloupe fans across the country. Not only do Joe’s followers get to learn about cantaloupes, but they can follow Joe on his farming journey and share his love for California farming.
You can learn more about Del Bosque Farms located in Firebaugh, CA by visiting their website at www.delbosquefarms.com or by following “@JoeDelBosque” on Twitter. Most importantly, look for the Del Bosque Farms logo on his organic cantaloupes which can be found in grocery stores across the nation.
