As the world marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026, the California Prune Board is shining a spotlight on female leaders who are indispensable to the state's agricultural success.
California currently produces virtually all of the prunes grown in the U.S. This global dominance is fueled by 45,244 women producers who manage 11.5 million acres and contribute $22.2 billion in agricultural sales.
“Women are deeply involved at every level — from orchard management and research to marketing and global trade. Their leadership helps ensure the long-term success of our industry,” says Kiaran Locy, director of brand and industry communications for the California Prune Board.
Stewards of the Land
For many, this work is a calling. Sandra “Sandie” Mitchell, a grower in Yuba City, manages a multigenerational operation. Her daily life involves the grueling, year-round stewardship of irrigation, soil care and harvest.
Mitchell says this labor is rooted in a fundamental desire to provide for others.
“Women are very quality-oriented. When it comes to our families, we want the best,” Mitchell says. ”And as California prune growers, we've dedicated our farming operation to producing a premium product for consumers.”
Innovation Beyond the Orchard
The industry's evolution is also being driven by women who see potential far beyond the food aisle. The Taylor sisters — Allison, Jacqueline and Elaine — leveraged their family's fourth-generation farm to launch Le Prunier, a skincare brand that repurposes plum seeds.
“The California Prune Board's primary focus is helping growers produce a consistent, high-quality crop that delivers strong returns in the marketplace,” Locy says. “At the same time, the entrepreneurial work of the Taylor sisters at Le Prunier shows the creativity that can emerge from farming families when they look at new ways to use every part of the crop. It's a great example of how innovation and storytelling can elevate the value of agriculture beyond the orchard.”
This spirit of advancement extends into the lab as well.
“Across the prune industry, we're seeing women shaping innovation from research labs to orchard management,” Locy says. “Researchers like Sarah Castro at the University of California, Davis, are helping advance new prune varieties designed to improve efficiency and reduce production costs, while growers and farm managers are increasingly focused on how those innovations translate into better labor management and long-term sustainability. That collaboration between research and on-farm decision-making is critical to keeping the California prune industry competitive.”
Similarly, in California's Central Valley, sisters Hilary Porter, CEO of Erick Nielsen Enterprises, and Heather Nielsen Reed, hospitality and social media manager, are among the many women helping lead and evolve the prune industry. Through their operational leadership, the sisters oversee custom orchard services across the state, including mechanical pruning, harvesting, brush shredding and orchard floor preparation — providing growers with specialized equipment and expertise that help orchards operate efficiently and remain competitive.
By serving both their own acreage and farms throughout the Central Valley, Porter and Reed maintain a close connection to the evolving needs of California growers. Their team has played a role in advancing harvest techniques and improving processes that support the delivery of premium California prunes to processors and markets worldwide.
A Resilient Future
The role of women in California prunes' agricultural history and future is vital, and supporting women in agriculture will remain key to maintaining strong farming communities and a resilient food system.
That's why the California Prune Board says it is committed to sharing the stories of these inspirational women in agriculture and inspiring the next generation of women to lead the industry into the future. Through features on CaliforniaPrunes.org and other digital channels, the board will continue to spotlight women growers and industry leaders and the impact they have across the California prune sector.
“The prune industry reflects the broader evolution happening across agriculture, where women are increasingly visible as leaders in orchards, research, marketing and governance,” Locy says. “Programs like the California Agricultural Leadership Program help cultivate the next generation of industry leaders, and the California Prune Board has been very supportive of that work. In my role as chair of CA Grown, I also see how important it is to elevate the people behind our food system. As we recognize the International Year of the Woman Farmer, it's really about acknowledging the leadership women are already bringing to every part of the agricultural value chain.”
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