Grower Stories · Turlock, California
Turlock Fruit Company
Four generations of Smiths, one hundred years of melons, and the longest partnership in Nathel & Nathel history.
The Smith family has farmed in California's Central Valley for over a century. Their melons are known as some of the sweetest around — the result of four generations of hands-on expertise and an enduring commitment to quality over quantity.
Their partnership with Nathel & Nathel goes back to 1964 — the longest-standing relationship in our history. That kind of trust doesn't happen overnight. It's earned, season after season.
James Smith earned his nickname the old-fashioned way. By the time people started calling him "Cantaloupe" Smith, he had spent enough years in the melon fields of California's Central Valley to have earned it twice over. When he founded Turlock Fruit Company in 1918, he wasn't building a brand — he was doing what his family knew how to do: grow sweet melons in good soil and get them to people who wanted them.
Four generations later, the Smiths are still at it. In the late 1980s, the operation relocated from Turlock to Firebaugh, where the ranch now spans Merced and Fresno counties. Don Smith led the family operation for decades, remaining active in the fields until just weeks before his passing at the age of 95. His son Steve carried on the day-to-day operation, and Alec — the fourth generation, a Yale graduate who came back to farm — continues the work. That continuity isn't incidental. It's the whole point.
Turlock grows seven varieties of melons — cantaloupes and honeydews chief among them — alongside asparagus, cherries, wheat, and tomatoes. Their Peacock label has become one of the more recognized melon brands in the New York market, a name that carries real meaning to the buyers who know what it guarantees. And Turlock remains one of the few farms in California still growing asparagus at scale, preserving a tradition that's quietly disappeared from most operations.
"My father started working with Daniel Nathel over 60 years ago, and that partnership built on trust and shared values has grown into one of the most enduring and meaningful relationships in our family's farming history."
Don Smith · Turlock Fruit Company
The relationship between Turlock Fruit Company and Nathel & Nathel goes back to 1964 — making it the longest-standing partnership in our history. It started when Don's father teamed up with Daniel Nathel, united by a shared conviction that exceptional produce is worth the extra care it takes to grow and handle properly. That handshake — forged over a melon, in a California packing house, six decades ago — is still the foundation of how both families do business.
1929 – 2024 · Turlock Fruit Company
Education
University of the Pacific, '52
B.S. Business
Board of Regents
University of the Pacific
1984 – 2006
Industry Service
President,
Western Growers Association
"Don and Ira spoke daily — even through the off-season — sharing not just business, but a true bond of friendship and respect."
Nathel & Nathel is deeply saddened to share the passing of Don Smith — a true leader in the produce industry, a lifelong steward of California agriculture, and our friend. Don passed away at the age of 95, having remained active in his fields until just weeks before his passing.
As owner of Turlock Fruit Company, he was known for his unwavering commitment to quality and his deep connection to the land. His produce was instantly recognizable by the iconic "Sycamore" label on his honeydews and the "Peacock" label on his cantaloupes — trusted names across markets for generations.
The Smith and Nathel families share a partnership that spans more than six decades and four generations. James Smith, Don's father, first established a working relationship with Daniel Nathel, the grandfather of Ira Nathel. Don proudly carried that partnership forward, building close ties with Alvin Nathel, then Ira, and ultimately continuing with the next generation of the Nathel family. What began as a business connection grew into something much deeper.
Don was not only a grower, but a leader and visionary. He graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1952 with a degree in business, and later served on the university's Board of Regents from 1984 to 2006, where he played a pivotal role in shaping its growth and direction. He also served as President of the Western Growers Association, where he helped shape the broader landscape of American agriculture.
Don Smith will be remembered for his brilliance, humility, and tireless dedication — a man who loved his work, his land, and the people he worked with. His legacy lives on in every box of melons, in the wisdom he shared, and in the generations he inspired.
Rest easy, Don. You will be deeply missed.
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