John Garamendi was raised on his family’s ranch in Mokelumne Hill, California. He received his B.A. in business from UC Berkeley where he was a Wheeler Scholar, second team All America offensive guard, two-time all Pacific Coast Conference team, and the 1964 West Coast heavy weight wrestling champion. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. He and his wife Patti served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia before returning to the U.S and settling down in Walnut Grove, where they raised six children. They now have 14 grandchildren and continue to raise Angus cattle on their ranch and grow pears in their Delta orchard in Walnut Grove.
As a lifelong cattle rancher, I understand the unique needs of California agriculture. California feeds America and much of the world, and it’s important that we pursue policies that help farmers and ranchers pass their way of life on to the next generation.
I am proud to represent California’s Third Congressional District, which has a unique and vibrant agricultural economy. From rice to walnuts to peaches to tomatoes, you can find it all. Because of this, I am a strong supporter of programs to help California farmers expand overseas markets, increased investment in agricultural research, investment in conservation programs which benefit farmers and wildlife, and federal crop insurance and commodity programs.
As a huge proponent of Buy America, I am pursuing policies that ensure that our school children are eating safe, nutrition foods grown in here in the United States, rather than places like China.