Justin Wylie is a fifth-generation farmer and partner at Wylie Farms, a family-run ranch
management company stewarding more than 4,000 acres of permanent crops in
California’s Central Valley. About half the acreage is now farmed under organic and
regenerative practices, while the rest are still in conventional production.
He describes his approach as “standing on the shoulders of the farmers and researchers
who came before us, using most of what they taught us with a few key tweaks focused on
soil health.” That balance between tradition and adaptation shapes his vision for farming
today.
Justin’s family’s pistachio legacy began in the 1970s, when his father and uncle, Chris and
Craig Wylie, worked alongside pioneer Bob Peterson to establish some of the first orchards
in the region. After graduating from the University of California, San Diego, Justin returned
to the family business in 2008 to carry that legacy forward with a focus on healthier soils
and long-term resilience.
Elected to the American Pistachio Growers (APG) Board of Directors in 2017, Justin is now
serving his third term as Vice Chair, Chair of Membership Services, and a member of both
the Executive and Sustainability Committees, where he advocates for practical, grower-led
solutions that support both profitability and stewardship.