Underwood Ranch
category: Farming, Ranching, and Hot Sauce Manufacturing
Founder: Urban Daniel Underwood
Founded: 1913
position: Ventura County, California
Current CEO: Craig Underwood
Representative products: Jalapeno, vegetables, herbs, fruits, cotton, Underwood Ranches Sriracha Saucechili garlic sauce, barbecue sauce, and a T-shirt with a cartoon dragon on it.
At a glance:
- Iconic Seasoning and Incredible Backdrop: The Underwood family began farming 300 acres in Ventura County in 1867, making it one of the oldest family-owned and family-operated farms in California.
- Today the farm spans 3,000 acres.
- For 28 years, the farm supplied peppers to Huy Fong Foods, makers of Sriracha sauce, before the two companies had a falling out that worked to Underwood Ranch's advantage.
- Underwood uses a combination of modern and traditional farming techniques, including sustainable agriculture, with a real commitment to protecting the land.
- Underwood now produces his own brand of Sriracha sauce using peppers grown on the farm.
In CEO Craig Underwood's own words
“Agriculture teaches you perseverance. Every year is different and every crop has its challenges, but you adapt, you learn and you keep moving forward. That's the nature of what we do.”
“We believe in producing the highest quality product possible, with integrity and care for the land and community. It's not just about growing food, it's about growing it right.”
“We're always looking for better ways to do things — more efficient, more sustainable, more effective. Agriculture isn't about maintaining the status quo, it's about moving forward with lessons learned.”
“Supporting local farmers isn't just a trend; it's essential to our communities, our economy and our future. Buying local is an investment in our neighbors and a more sustainable food system.”
“We are excited about future developments at Underwood Ranch. The future looks to expand our reach, innovate our products and stay true to our roots as growers focused on quality and sustainability.”
