Manseena Orchards: Growing the Future of California Agriculture
Meet Sureena Bains Thiara and Manpreet Bains, the women behind Manseena Orchards. We met up with the sisters to learn more about their Yuba City operation and were treated to a masterclass on the importance of diversity and communication in agriculture.
Sureena Bains Thiara and Manpreet Bains farm 143 acres of prunes, walnuts and almonds in Sutter County. The county has a few “claims to fame.” It boasts the world’s smallest mountain range, the Sutter Buttes, and is home to the Sunsweet headquarters – a move that makes sense considering that Sutter County grows more prunes than any other county in California. Sutter County also boasts a thriving Indian community – one that Sureena and Manpreet are proud to be a part of.
While less than 10% of all California farms are estimated to be Indian-owned, nearly 65% of prune growers in Sutter and Yuba counties are of Indian descent. The sisters point to this fact as one of the reasons they’re proud to be California Prune growers. “It’s not only part of our family history, but it’s the commodity that really lifted our Indian community here,” Manpreet explains.
Learn more about Manseena Orchards! Link to prunes article
Women in agriculture
Growing up on their family farm, the fact that they happened to be female didn’t seem to matter. Manpreet recalls working the dipper on the family’s commercial dehydrator, while her sister drove trucks and forklifts. As Manpreet and Sureena became more involved in all the different aspects of California agriculture, they began to understand the importance of representation.
When they eventually took over the family farm, the sisters noticed that women – and minorities – weren’t as well represented as they initially assumed. “I think once we got to those spaces, we realized that there were not very many people that were women, let alone women that looked like us,” Manpreet recalls.
Investing in the future of agriculture
To that end, both women are investing in the future of California agriculture beyond their family farm. Sureena is a partner in the family’s crop insurance business, while Manpreet serves on the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources President’s Advisory Council and participates in the California Ag Leadership Program. They both feel a personal responsibility to use their roles to create change and inspire other women. “I think it became even more and more incumbent upon both of us to be that person that can show others what is possible and that there’s a path to get there,” Manpreet admits.
Representation matters
The sisters advocate for diversity because they believe that everyone brings something different to the table, and that embracing different voices will only make California agriculture stronger. While they note that they have seen an increasing number of women in agriculture, there’s still a lack of diversity in leadership roles – and that’s something they hope to change. Sureena explains, “A woman’s way of thinking and analyzing is much different than a male. Young people see things differently than the older people, with AI and technology. We need to be unafraid of diversity. I think you need that diversity to be a really good board and give good advice to communities.”
Writing the story of California agriculture
Increased representation helps to tell a more accurate story of California agriculture. “I think that the misconception is that farming is, you know, somebody with overalls and a pitchfork,” Sureena comments, cracking a wry smile. Manpreet adds, “I think there are a lot of misconceptions about agriculture. One is that all food comes from bigger operations, which is not true.” She pauses to gather her thoughts, then continues, “I think people don’t realize where their food comes from. A lot of the food that we eat is coming from small growers, like my sister and I. It’s not as esoteric or hands-off as I think some people might think.”
The sisters hope that by sharing their story, they’ll help to change the way people think about farming. Manpreet explains, “I think the more these types of stories come out, the more that people see her and I, they’ll be able to understand that there’s a lot more heart in what we do. I think of the end person. I think of the other person buying the bag of prunes next to me at the grocery store when we make our decisions, and especially with respect to labor and the people that we live with.”
Reality check: What do farmers really look like?
Regarding the aforementioned pitchfork and overalls imagery, it’s important to note that while 37% of California farmers and ranchers are female, only 15 to 20% of agricultural producers are from minority or BIPOC groups. Sureena believes that women play an important role in driving diversity in agriculture. “I think women being involved, really being educated voices out in the community, does get the message out more.” She hopes that as more women move into positions of power, we’ll see increased representation across the board. “I think they (women) have the wherewithal to create space for people, and want to create change.”
Sureena and Manpreet believe that diversity will help create a stronger future for California agriculture. That starts with making sure more voices have a seat at the table – and showing the next generation that there’s a place for them, too.
Article by Hilary Rance. Photography by James Collier.