Mariani Nut Company: The Secret to Success
What’s the secret to longevity in agriculture? If you ask the folks at Mariani Nut Company, it’s diversification and relationships. Over the last 50 years, what started as a small family operation has evolved into a thriving business, creating hundreds of employment opportunities in their small community of Winters, California. By expanding and diversifying their operation to include bulk processing and retail, they’re better suited to withstand trends, weather, and price fluctuations. It’s a risk that they hope will help them to remain in business for another 50 years – or more!
Mariani Nut Company began in 1972 when two cousins, Jack and Dennis Mariani, founded a fledgling farming and processing operation in Winters, California. Although Winters is just a few miles west of the state capital, the two locations couldn’t be more different. Sacramento is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state, while Winters is a small town surrounded by wide open spaces. It was here that Jack and Dennis Mariani decided to put down roots and plant their orchard.
Fun fact: Jack and Dennis weren’t new to farming – just new to Winters. Their family had farmed in the Santa Clara Valley for decades. If you know a thing or two about California history, you know that the Santa Clara Valley was once home to thousands of apple, nut and stonefruit orchards. By the 1970s, the area became a hub for the emerging tech sector – with computer companies eagerly gobbling up farmland. Today, the Santa Clara Valley is home to a sprawling Apple campus…but very few actual orchards.
Diversity is key: From farming to processing and retail
Agricultural longevity, if you ask the folks at Mariani Nut Company, requires diversification. At first, the cousins focused on walnuts. They had a small processing facility, but it only handled the nuts from their own orchards. When their cousin Martin joined the operation, Mariani Nut Company expanded to include almonds. Little did they know, but this was the first of many evolutions their business would undergo.
Over the next few decades, Mariani Nut Company continued to grow and expand. They began processing for other local almond and walnut growers, gradually updating their processing facility with new state-of-the-art equipment. Because Winters is a small farm town, the Marianis had existing relationships with many of the growers in the area. They were known for being kind, humble and fair, so it was easy for local growers to trust them with their product. In fact, many of those original relationships have endured for almost 50 years!
How else did they diversify? In addition to processing and packaging, Mariani Nut Company also supplies branded and private-label nuts to retailers worldwide. They also sell product in bulk to confectionaries, cereal companies and more. In fact, See’s Candies, a famous California chocolatier, is a long time client.
Diversification not only helps to expand the operation, but also better positions them to weather economic storms. Today, the Mariani family still grows nuts – but they also operate one of the largest family-owned processors in the Nation while also navigating an expanding retail arm. This vertical integration allows them a unique opportunity to control the quality of the product from the farm all the way to your table.
Prioritizing relationships
Business and relationships don’t always go hand in hand, but the Mariani’s have made grower relations a priority. A dedicated team maintains grower relationships, which ensures that the Mariani’s can accurately estimate the amount of product they’ll be processing, and that growers can expect a fair return.
These same principles of kindness and fairness run throughout their business. Many members of their farm and processing teams have been with the family for decades – and not just because it’s one of the largest employers in the area.
Sustainability: A Relationship with the land and resources
As many farmers do, the Marianis understand the important relationship between sustainability and viability. Responsible stewardship of natural resources allows the land to remain productive for generations to come. This same commitment to sustainability extends to their processing facility. In 2024, Mariani Nut installed solar panels that provide 100% of the power needed to run the operation. By 2025, they aim to transition to an all-electric forklift fleet.
Sustainable practices also include establishing relationships that help Mariani Nuts to be a zero-waste operation – a source of pride for Mariani Nut Company. Any by-products from processing are used for other agricultural purposes. Nutshells and hulls often see new life as livestock feed and bedding and are also used to aerate the soil.
Diversifying markets and creating demand
For many years, retailers primarily stocked nuts in the baking section. This placement in the store subtly reinforced the idea that the main use for nuts was as a secondary ingredient in cakes, cookies and breads.
The Mariani Family led the charge to diversify public understanding about the versatility of almonds and walnuts – helping to create greater consumer demand. The Mariani’s leveraged their relationships with retailers to encourage them to follow suit. Take a quick look at Mariani Nut Company’s website and you’ll see a variety of delicious ways to enjoy walnuts and almonds that aren’t necessarily just baked goods – from protein-packed breakfasts like Almond Joy Overnight Oats to savory Caesar Salads. But fans of nut-studded baked goods need not worry – walnuts and almonds still play a starring role such as in these Pumpkin Walnut Cookies.
Support local farmers and buy California Grown
The folks at Mariani Nut encourage everyone to buy California Grown! When you choose California Grown walnuts or almonds, you’re not only supporting local farm families, you’re supporting your local economy AND buying the safest, freshest produce available.
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Need proof that almonds and walnuts are incredibly versatile?
Article and photography by Hilary Rance.