johnston farms
Johnston Farms is a fourth-generation family farm in California's San Joaquin Valley that grows, packs, and sells seasonal citrus, potatoes, and green bell peppers to individual consumers via on-site farm stand sales and gift boxes under the Bluejay label.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersEdison, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What johnston farms does
Johnston Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned farming operation headquartered at 13031 E Packing House Rd in Edison, California, in the San Joaquin Valley near the base of the Tehachapi mountains. Founded in 1947 by J.C. Johnston, who moved from Oregon after retiring from the railroad, the company began with a potato crop and subsequently expanded into cotton, citrus (80 acres purchased in 1962), and green bell peppers. The company is vertically integrated, operating three on-site packing facilities: a potato packing house established in 1955, a citrus packing facility opened in 1982, and a bell pepper facility established in 1990.
The company's core products are seasonal fresh produce: navel oranges, satsumas, and mandarins (November through March); yellow, red, white, and Victor-label potatoes (April through July); and green bell peppers (June through July). Products are sold primarily under the proprietary Bluejay label, which represents quality standards for taste, texture, appearance, and nutrition. Distribution is concentrated through direct-to-consumer channels: an on-site citrus gift stand (Nov 3, 2025 – Mar 21, 2026), pre-packaged gift boxes for holidays and special occasions including Lunar New Year, and limited wholesale distribution. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
The business model is a traditional direct-to-consumer farm operation supplemented by gift box sales and limited wholesale activity. Primary customers are individual consumers purchasing produce for personal use or gifting, with a secondary segment of wholesale/retail buyers sourcing under the Bluejay label. Marketing is limited to organic Instagram engagement and on-site seasonal events. The company has no institutional investors, no public listing, and no disclosed headcount or financial figures.
johnston farms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- johnston farms
- Legal name
- Johnston Farms
- Website
- https://johnstonfarms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Johnston Farms is a fourth-generation family farm in California's San Joaquin Valley that grows, packs, and sells seasonal citrus, potatoes, and green bell peppers to individual consumers via on-site farm stand sales and gift boxes under the Bluejay label.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
johnston farms industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fresh Produce Farming
- NAICS
- Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Fruit and Vegetable Retailers (44523)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fresh Produce Distribution (CRAOABAB), Produce Markets & Greengrocers (CRAHAHAA)
Keywords
Where johnston farms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
johnston farms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fresh Produce Sales: Direct sales of fresh produce including citrus, potatoes, and bell peppers through farm stand and gift box programs. Products are sold in various packaging sizes including 40lb cartons, 50lb bags, and 1/2 bushel containers. Seasonal availability drives product mix.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Citrus products available in various sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Potato products in 50 lb bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Green bell peppers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
johnston farms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Johnston Farms grows, packs, and sells fresh produce — citrus fruits (navel oranges, satsumas, mandarins), potatoes (yellow, red, white, Victor label), and green bell peppers — directly to consumers through its on-site farm stand and gift box programs in Edison, California. Products are sold under the proprietary Bluejay label in various packaging sizes (40 lb cartons, 50 lb bags, 1/2 bushel containers, specialty Lunar New Year cartons) on a seasonal basis.
Product overview
Johnston Farms is a fourth-generation family farming operation in the San Joaquin Valley that grows and sells fresh produce. The company offers seasonal products including citrus fruits (oranges, satsumas, mandarins) from November through March, potatoes (yellow, red, white, and Victor label) from April through July, and green bell peppers from June through July. Products are sold under the Bluejay label and Johnston Farms brand with various packaging sizes including 40 lb and 50 lb bags, half-bushel containers, and specialty Lunar New Year cartons.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bluejay: The Bluejay label represents Johnston Farms' superior produce brand, known for taste, texture, appearance, and nutrition.
- Victor
Products and services
- Premium Navel Oranges Premium grade navel oranges packed in 40-pound cartons, available seasonally from November through March for individual consumers and wholesale buyers under the Johnston Farms / Bluejay label.
- Choice Navel Oranges Choice grade navel oranges packed in 40-pound cartons, available seasonally from November through March for individual consumers and wholesale buyers.
- Lunar New Year Citrus Carton Citrus product packaged in a Lunar New Year themed carton for holiday gifting, available November through March.
- Stem & Leaf Satsuma Mandarins Satsuma mandarins sold with stems and leaves intact in half-bushel containers, available November through March.
- Mandarins (1/2 Bushel) Mandarins sold in half-bushel containers, available November through March.
- Yellow Potatoes (50 lb) Yellow potatoes packed in 50-pound bags, available seasonally April through July.
- Red Potatoes (50 lb) Red potatoes packed in 50-pound bags, available seasonally April through July.
- White Potatoes (50 lb) White potatoes packed in 50-pound bags, available seasonally April through July.
- Victor Label Potatoes (50 lb) Potatoes sold under the Victor sub-brand label in 50-pound bags, available April through July.
- Green Bell Peppers Green bell peppers packed at the bell pepper facility established in 1990, available June through July.
Companies that use johnston farms
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
johnston farms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
johnston farms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights2 records
johnston farms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sunkist Growers: Cooperative of California/Arizona citrus growers marketing Navels, mandarins, and gift citrus under a national label. Most comparable broad incumbent for Johnston Farms' citrus and gift-box business, but at vastly greater scale and channel breadth.
- Wonderful Citrus: Vertically integrated citrus grower/packer/shipper (part of The Wonderful Company) handling mandarins, Navels, and specialty citrus. Operates at industrial scale in the same San Joaquin Valley-adjacent growing region, making it a clear scale comparator to Johnston Farms' citrus line.
- Melissa's Produce: Specialty produce distributor/brand marketing heirloom potatoes, peppers, and citrus to retail and foodservice. Closest mid-tier broad incumbent competitor for Johnston Farms' potato and bell pepper SKU mix.
Direct peers
- Bee Sweet Citrus: California-based vertically integrated citrus grower, packer, and shipper with a comparable Navel, mandarin, and specialty citrus lineup. Closest mid-sized private competitor to Johnston Farms' citrus packing facility in scope and integrated model.
- Harry & David: Multi-channel gift fruit and food brand operating seasonal gift towers and direct-to-consumer shipping. Strong comparator to Johnston Farms' holiday gift box / Lunar New Year carton model and citrus-first SKU set.
- Frog Hollow Farm: Family-owned California farm selling seasonal stone fruit, citrus, and pantry items direct-to-consumer and through farm stands. Closest DTC-farm-stand/gift-crate analog to Johnston Farms' on-site retail model.
- Stemilt Growers: Multi-generation family-owned vertically integrated fruit grower, packer, and shipper with branded programs (e.g., Lil Snappers). Comparable to Johnston Farms in family ownership structure, vertical integration, and branded produce strategy.
- Full Belly Farm: Certified organic California farm selling diversified produce, citrus, and value-added items through CSA, farm stand, and wholesale channels. Comparable family-farm scale, diversified crop mix, and direct/farm-stand retail model.
Emerging players
- Frieda's Specialty Produce: Specialty produce wholesaler and brand operator introducing niche fruits/vegetables to retail channels with branded packaging. Comparable to Johnston Farms' use of the Bluejay label and gift-citrus positioning as productized produce.
- The FruitGuys: National DTC office snack and home-delivery fruit/produce subscription business sourcing from small and mid-sized farms. Adjacent channel-mix comparator that intersects with Johnston Farms' DTC gift and farm-stand model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
johnston farms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
johnston farms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
johnston farms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
johnston farms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about johnston farms
What does johnston farms do?
Johnston Farms grows, packs, and sells fresh produce — citrus fruits (navel oranges, satsumas, mandarins), potatoes (yellow, red, white, Victor label), and green bell peppers — directly to consumers through its on-site farm stand and gift box programs in Edison, California. Products are sold under the proprietary Bluejay label in various packaging sizes (40 lb cartons, 50 lb bags, 1/2 bushel containers, specialty Lunar New Year cartons) on a seasonal basis.
Is johnston farms a public or private company?
johnston farms is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was johnston farms founded?
johnston farms was founded in 1947.
Where is johnston farms based?
johnston farms is headquartered in Edison, United States, in the North America region.
How does johnston farms make money?
One revenue line is on record: fresh Produce Sales.
Who are johnston farms's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sunkist Growers, Wonderful Citrus and Melissa's Produce. Direct peers are Bee Sweet Citrus, Harry & David, Frog Hollow Farm, Stemilt Growers and Full Belly Farm. Emerging players are Frieda's Specialty Produce and The FruitGuys.
Does johnston farms have an API?
No public API is recorded for johnston farms.
What industry is johnston farms in?
johnston farms's product category is Fresh Produce Farming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAHAE, Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food), with a secondary code of CRAOABAB, Fresh Produce Distribution. Its NAICS code is 11121 and its SIC code is 100.