A Century of Care: The Nagata Family’s Legacy of Sustainable Strawberry Farming
For more than a century, the Nagata family has cultivated strawberries in Oceanside, California — building a legacy grounded in resilience, stewardship, and care for the land.
What began in the 1920s with Neil Nagata’s grandfather has grown into a multigenerational story of perseverance and innovation.
During World War II, the family lost everything when they were forced into internment camps, yet Neil’s father, George, returned to rebuild the farm from the ground up. That experience shaped the family’s deep sense of purpose — that farming isn’t just about producing crops, it’s about caring for people, the land, and the future.
“Sustainability in strawberries is a way of life. It means long hours, constant watchfulness, and adopting new tools and practices that protect the land and help it thrive.”
— Neil Nagata, Third-Generation Strawberry Farmer
For the Nagata family, sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s a commitment passed down through generations. Each decision, from how they manage water to how they treat their workers, reflects a philosophy rooted in gratitude and respect for the land that sustains them.
Neil still walks the same fields his grandfather did 100 years ago, but his gaze is fixed firmly on the future — one where California strawberry farming continues to flourish responsibly, feeding families and inspiring the next generation of growers.
👉 Read more about the Nagata family’s legacy of sustainable strawberry farming in Oceanside, in Neil’s own words: Legacy of Sustainable Strawberry Farming in Oceanside.
