Limoneira broke ground on the company’s Harvest at Limoneira master-planned community in Santa Paula with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by government officials and community members.

The ceremony took place Wednesday, November 8, following a decade of hard work and dedicated planning.

“Limoneira’s Mission involves community development, and we are proud to continue our legacy of stewardship within Ventura County and the Santa Paula Community,” said Harold Edwards, CEO of Limoneira, in a press release.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the partnership we have forged with The Lewis Group, the City of Santa Paula, Parkstone Companies, Meridian Consultants, Jensen Design & Survey, and Sargent Town Planning to create Harvest at Limoneira, and we are thrilled to be moving forward with the build out of this exciting project,” Edwards said.

The Harvest at Limoneira project will be built on 500 acres at Limoneira’s East Area 1 property in Santa Paula, California.

The comprehensive development will host 1,500 new homes and apartments, new school facilities, community facilities for health care, new commercial spaces, a sports park, an amphitheater, and hiking trails.

It is expected to provide economic stimulus and new jobs for the important Highway 126 corridor from Ventura to Santa Clarita.

“Harvest at Limoneira involved years of thoughtful planning, and we expect strong demand for its new homes thanks to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, its access to major highways and the greater L.A. area, as well as the limited supply of new homes throughout Ventura County,” Edwards said.

Harvest at Limoneira won the 2016 American Planning Association Award, California Chapter, Central Coast Section. The project is a development partnership between the Limoneira Company and The Lewis Group of Companies—both companies with significant experience in residential development.

Limoneira noted in its press release that the Lewis Group, based in Upland, California, is a multi-generational company with a longstanding successful track record in home building and master planned community development in the Western United States. Founded in 1955, The Lewis Group’s focus is on land development, master-planned community development, and income property development—including commercial centers, industrial properties, and apartments.

“We’ve all been eagerly anticipating this date and the new school facilities, new parks and new amenities at Harvest at Limoneira will enhance Ventura County’s well-deserved reputation for balance and sustainability,” said Randall Lewis, executive vice president of marketing, Lewis Group of Companies. “The project will feature homes at a range of price points while providing a sense of community for its residents, as well as reaping great benefits for both Santa Paula and Ventura County.”

Limoneira also noted that it has been actively involved in community development in the city of Santa Paula, and Ventura and Santa Maria counties since its inception in 1893.

Limoneira explained that the project came to fruition as a result of successful Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources and Local Agency Formation Commission votes. The SOAR vote victory represents the first and only large-scale master-planned community project to obtain the approval of public voters since Ventura County’s SOAR initiative was implemented in 1991, underscoring Limoneira’s ability to build consensus within its local community. Harvest at Limoneira is expected to generate significant cash flow for the Limoneira Company over the next 7 to 10 years.

This article was first published by And Now U Know, Produce Industry News.