2024 FOBA winner Family Legacy Award – Baloian Farms: From the soil to the Kingdom

Baloian Farms, the Family Legacy Award winner for 2024, has earned quite the reputation for itself after more than a century in business.

Baloian Farms was established in 1917, emerging as a premium grower and supplier of select fruits and vegetables. The fourth generation, vertically integrated family farm provides quality produce year-round, with a strong focus on bell peppers, but also eggplant, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and more.

Tim Baloian, third generation, leads operations as CEO and owner.

Baloian Farms’ story starts with Tim’s grandfather, Charles, who escaped the Armenian genocide, first farming in New York and selling in Manhattan, and then eventually relocating to the Fresno area.

After years of farming, Charles became a wholesaler, with Tim’s father and uncle working along side him. His dad started getting small growers together and shipping their product.

From then on, they began farming to provide a continuity of supply.

Today, Baloian Farms operates in several California cities, and has grown and sourced operations in several Mexican cities, including in Mexicali, Santo Tomas, Hermosillo and Guaymas.

Their storage operations are located in Fresno, Los Angeles, Thermal and Otay Mesa in California; and Nogales, Arizona.

Baloian said they are thankful and humbled to even be in the running for FOBA.

“I’m honored. I’m taken aback to be considered like that,” he said. “I’m the third generation, and typically, that’s the generation that is supposed to fail. We’ve had failures, but by the grace of God we are still here and still doing business. With the next generation here, I think we will be around for a while.”

The farm has implemented an Entrepreneurial Operating System, which allows the leadership team to be on the same page and plan the next one to three to 10 years.

There currently are fourth-generation Baloians working in the company, and there is one in the fifth generation that has expressed interest in working for the family business in the future.

But it’s not just those that have the Baloian name who are considered family, Baloian said, but also the people that are working toward realizing their core values.

“Our greatest asset is our people. It is their hard work and innovative ideas that keep us going. We look forward to a bright future here at Baloian Farms,” Baloian said.

Along with their service to the ag and business community, the company is also active in the local community, and abroad.

The Baloian Family Foundation has supported local food banks, charities, and educational and youth programs. Some of this support includes “Seeds in his Garden” children’s home in Kenya, Catholic Charities, San Francisco/Fresno, Bill Glass Behind the Walls prison ministry, Fresno Mission, Tesoro Club and Champions for Tomorrow.

The company has grown, and continues to grow with its innovative farming practices, creative engineering, and close family collaborations, allowing Baloian Farms to expand throughout California and Mexico.

Baloian said he gives all credit and glory to God, putting them through trials and tribulations, but still blessing them with success.