We arrived early before the crowd gathered — moms and their kids began showing up, the little ones gazing in awe, many seeing a farm for the very first time after growing up in suburbia. Glenn Tanaka is a sansei, a third-generation Japanese-American farmer, who carries forward the traditions and resilience of his family's past.
Glenn Tanaka is a sansei — a third-generation Japanese-American farmer — who carries forward the traditions and resilience of his family's past. His parents and grandparents farmed in Dinuba, California, but their lives were disrupted during World War II when they were sent to internment camps. Despite that history, the family returned to the land, and Glenn has continued that legacy in Irvine.
Tanaka Farms is one of the last working farms in Orange County, surrounded by the sprawl of suburban development. What Glenn has built here is not just a farm — it is a living classroom, a gathering place, and a weekly tradition for hundreds of Southern California families.
Walking through the strawberry fields, you could feel why this place matters. Children who had never touched soil were suddenly on their knees, pulling strawberries, laughing. Glenn watched with the quiet satisfaction of someone who has done this thousands of times and still means it every single time.
The farm operates as an agritourism destination, with U-pick strawberries, seasonal pumpkins, and educational tours. But beneath the public-facing experience is a serious farming operation — one that has adapted year after year to stay viable in one of the most expensive agricultural regions in the country.
This material is based upon work supported by the Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under grant number 24FMPPCA1238. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
