Benzler Family Early Pioneers in California’s Organic Farming Community

The Benzler Farm was established in Fresno, California in 1952 when Bertha Benzler lured her husband Fred away from “city life” and the family gas station, convincing him to switch to farming. They planted 40 acres of grapes and started what would become a family farming legacy.

Fred and Bertha’s son, Tom, took to the land at a young age. He embraced a farm-focused education from kindergarten through college, working with his hands, tools, the soil and the food supply chain. Tom had early dedication to recycling and repurposed nearly everything he touched. Tom graduated from Fresno State and served our country in the Marines, all while working with his parents on the farm. The Alameny Farmers Market in San Francisco was a main outlet for their harvest and a market where Benzler continues to sell today.

The farm expanded to 80 acres with Tom’s involvement after college and diversified with citrus and persimmons. He took a job as a school teacher for 20 years while managing the farm with his wife Betty, under the supervision of semi-retired Fred and Bertha. This was in the early 70s, when synthetic chemicals were rapidly being discovered by farmers and the agricultural industry was changing. Tom and his parents did want to go down that path. The organic label had not been defined yet. They were planting cover crops, spreading manure and using soaps and oils to tackle pests without harming the planet.

Resolute in their commitment to the health of people and the planet, the Benzlers became the fourth farm to be registered organic in the State of California.

As the years passed, Tom and Betty’s son, Thomas, followed in his Grandpa’s and dad’s footsteps and became the third generation to farm. Thomas took the reins in 2005 and now the operation spans 200 acres.

We spoke to Thomas this week while he was on the road hauling a truckload of grapes to the cooling facility. His enthusiasm about growing grapes, their eco-friendly totes and Little Tommy, the fourth-generation of Benzler who’s learning to farm, is palpable. When talking about family, Thomas spoke from the heart about his crew, referring to his employees as “the magic of this movement.”
Many of the farm’s employees have been with them for generations. They’re an extension of the family – husbands, wives, kids – and are welcomed to live on the farm. The Benzlers offer their employees interest-free loans and reduced rent.

Thomas is equally passionate about the soil. The farm sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where the soil is enriched with the Sierra runoff. The Benzler family’s dedication to soil maintenance has ensured their long-term success.

“Our climate, our soil and our grapes − it’s like the perfect harmony. All we do is prune them, water them and talk to them,” said Thomas with enormous pride.