Although Marysville, California is quite a distance from Punjab, India, both regions are deeply steeped in agricultural heritage, where growers take deep pride in the stewardship of their lands and the crops they produce. In 1966, Sarb Johl and his family immigrated to California, leaving behind India’s crops of wheat and rice and settling in Northern California to raise one of the state’s and country’s most beloved fruits: peaches. Led by his father, his family fully embraced American agriculture, setting the foundation for two generations of cling peach farming and industry leadership. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology/Electronics from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Johl officially joined his father in the family business in 1976. Now, almost 30 years later, the business has increased to nearly five times its original size and includes prunes and walnuts on farms in California’s Yuba, Sutter and Butte counties. In addition to upholding the family’s farming tradition, Johl owns Bi-County Irrigation, S & P and D-Ten Receiving Stations, South Sutter Cold Storage, and Sundial Walnut Drying & Hulling. Johl’s passion for the Cling Peach business has encouraged his extremely active participation in the industry. In 1986, when the California Cling Peach industry was experiencing a sharp decline, Johl was one of many growers who were left with thousands of tons of unsold peaches and looming financial consequences. In his refusal to give up, Johl was presented with a promising, yet controversial business proposal. The plan involved the formation of Sacramento Growers Cooperative and Sierra Quality Canners (SACCO), a Co-Op/Corporate Joint Venture that was strongly opposed by many industry leaders. Despite industry opposition, Johl committed his entire crop to the venture, playing an important role in the formation of SACCO. His leadership as the only Chairman of the Co-Op’s Board, and his Presidency throughout SACCO’s organization, led both the Co-Op and the industry to a successful year. In addition to his instrumental role with SACCO, Johl served as Vice Chairman of the California Cling Peach Board (CCPB) for nine years. The 2003-2004 year begins Johl’s first term as Chairman of the Board, during which he will represent nearly 700 growers of Cling Peaches in California. Johl’s responsibilities as Chairman are substantial. Working closely with Board management to ensure that goals and objectives are met, he regularly represents the industry as a spokesman and advocate amid the rising tide of lower-priced imported fruit. Johl also assumes an active role within his community. In addition to serving as the Chairman for the CCPB, he serves as the Director of the California Canning Peach Association, Director of the Tudor Mutual Water District, Vice Chair of the Northern California Growers Association and is a member of the Punjabi American Heritage Society. When not working on the farm or serving his community, Johl enjoys golfing, traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends in his hometown of Marysville, CA. His wife, Prabhjot, is a schoolteacher; his eldest daughter, Kiran, graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Crop Science and works for The California Farm Bureau as an Associate Director for national affairs; his middle daughter, Anu, is a third-year Managerial Economics and Communications student at the University of California, Davis; and his youngest daughter, Sureena, is a seventh grader at Gray Avenue Middle School in Marysville.