Young Farmer Dolce Calandra Carries Family Legacy Forward

“The Ag Meter”, Nick Papagni, recently visited Wildwood Packing and Cooling in Kingsburg, California, for a conversation with fourth-generation farmer Dolce Calandra about family, farming, fruit, water, labor and the challenges facing the next generation of California agriculture.

A Fourth-Generation Farming Family

Calandra’s agricultural roots stretch back to his great-grandfather, George, who started as a strawberry farmer. The family operation grew under Mark Woods Sr., who developed farming, trucking and packing businesses that helped establish the foundation for today’s operation.

Dolce said his family has kept him involved in agriculture from an early age. He started in the fields, thinning, picking and driving tractors before moving into the packing-house side of the business.

Today, the Calandra operation farms about 800 acres of owned and leased ground, extending through the Kingsburg area toward Reedley and Hanford. Approximately 200 acres are devoted to citrus, with the operation also producing tree fruit.

The family works with Jamara for marketing and hopes to build its stone-fruit and citrus business toward the scale of some of the company’s other commodity programs.

Tree Fruit Season Brings Challenges

At the time of Papagni’s visit, Wildwood was packing its final white peach variety, Late White Delight. Calandra said the late-season peaches had respectable Brix levels, good shelf life and strong eating quality.

But the 2026 tree-fruit season has been difficult to predict.

Unusual weather and early heat pushed some varieties as much as four weeks ahead of schedule. Although the crop eventually slowed, Calandra said production remained roughly two weeks ahead of normal timing.

Shelf life has also been shorter this year. Calandra would ideally like fruit to move out of cold storage within about two weeks, while the marketing team works to move product quickly.

Wildwood markets fruit throughout California and across the United States, with some exports as well. Calandra said expanding export opportunities is part of the family’s future plans.

Water, Labor and Energy Costs

Water is one of the family’s biggest concerns.

Some blocks in the Alta Irrigation District have access to district water, but another block near the Hanford area has been affected by groundwater-management changes involving the Mid-Kings GSA.

Calandra said growers are dealing with groundwater allocations, fees and penalties, creating additional uncertainty over future farming costs. The family has already paid penalties associated with exceeding allocated water use.

Cold storage presents another significant expense. Wildwood uses solar power, but Calandra said California electricity and utility costs remain expensive.

Labor is equally challenging. Stone fruit requires substantial hand labor, and costs associated with workers’ compensation, taxes and other expenses continue to rise.

Automation Could Be the Next Step

Those labor pressures have the family considering automation and robotics at the packing house.

Calandra believes technology is the future, but making the investment is not an easy decision for a small family business.

The upfront cost can be substantial, and the family must determine whether the resulting labor savings will provide a sufficient return on investment. Technology also continues to evolve, creating the possibility that today’s expensive equipment could eventually be replaced by something better.

For Calandra, that risk is especially important for young farmers who may not have the financial cushion to absorb one bad season after making a major investment.

Family, Football and the Next Generation

The Calandra family extends well beyond agriculture. Dolce is one of five brothers, and football has become another family tradition.

Dolce and Carino played receiver, while younger brothers Arion, Cenzo and Armani have played quarterback. Cenzo is the junior quarterback for the Sanger Apaches.

Friday nights bring the family together to watch the younger brothers play. Papagni has affectionately nicknamed Cenzo the “Italian Stallion,” a name the entire family has adopted.

Dolce credits his mother, Jonna Calandra, with helping build both the family and the business. He calls her the backbone of Wildwood and says she instilled the work ethic and people skills that have helped him in agriculture.

Although Dolce did not participate in FFA because of football, he said his mother taught him how to communicate with adults, be respectful and work with people.

Keeping the Family Business Alive

What keeps Dolce focused through the industry’s challenges is the desire to preserve the family legacy established by Mark Woods Sr.

At times, he said, he wonders whether the family is making the right decisions. But conversations with other farmers have shown him that many agricultural businesses are confronting similar challenges.

His ultimate goal is to keep the operation going and eventually pass it to his own children.

That goal has already become personal. Dolce and his wife, Carrington, have a 15-month-old daughter, Marcella Woods Calandra.

For a fourth-generation farmer, the prospect of one day handing the family business to another generation provides motivation to keep adapting.

Working Together for California Agriculture

Calandra believes farmers need to continue learning from one another, particularly across generations.

He said older farmers have provided him with information and experience that he could not simply find online.

“We’ve only really got each other,” Calandra said.

His message is for farmers to keep working together, share knowledge and help ensure the public understands the challenges involved in producing food in California.

Despite the pressures surrounding water, labor, regulations, energy and markets, Calandra remains hopeful about the future of California agriculture and the Central Valley.

Listen to the Full Ag Meter Interview

Dolce Calandra’s conversation with “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni provides a personal look at what it takes for a young farmer to carry a multigenerational California agricultural business forward.

From Wildwood’s packing and cooling operation to tree fruit, citrus, water, labor, automation, marketing and family, Calandra offers an inside perspective on the opportunities and obstacles facing today’s young farmers.

To contact Dolce through The Ag Meter, email Nick@agnetmedia.com.

Listen to the full interview with Nick Papagni and Dolce Calandra for the complete story of a young farmer working to preserve his family’s agricultural legacy for the next generation.