Hueneme High School Students Visit Reiter Affiliated Companies in Oxnard

Programs

Mar 20

On March 19th, nearly 70 students from Hueneme High School (grades 9-12) had the incredible opportunity to visit Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC) in Oxnard for their STEM Career Pathways in Agriculture field trip. As the largest fresh multi-berry producer in the world and the leading supplier of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries across North America, RAC provided an insightful, hands-on experience showcasing the diverse career opportunities within the agricultural industry.

Upon arrival, students were greeted with Reiter Affiliated baseball caps—a fun and fitting welcome to the ranch! After introductions from the RAC team, students split into three groups to explore different areas of the ranch. Their journey took them through key locations, including the blackberry and strawberry harvesting sites, the mechanics shop, and the vermicomposting area filled with thousands of hardworking worms.

At each station, students actively engaged by asking questions, picking strawberries, digging into the vermicompost to find worms, and getting a look at the mechanics behind farm operations. The RAC team provided valuable insights into what goes into growing berries, as well as the logistics of shipping, distribution, and cost management.

Here are some key takeaways from the field trip:

One of the biggest challenges in growing berries is climate change and extreme weather—high temperatures, strong winds, wildfires, and even pest outbreaks can significantly impact crop yields.
Hand-picking is preferred at Reiter—unlike some crops that can be harvested by machines, berries are delicate and require careful handling to avoid bruising and maintain quality.
Precision agriculture plays a vital role—monitoring moisture levels in the soil and tracking pest outbreaks helps ensure healthy crops and sustainable production.
A vermicompost enhances soil structure and water retention, making fields more resilient to drought and extreme weather.

One highlight from the trip was hearing each rancher's academic and career journey—how their studies and experiences led them to where they are today. A key theme that resonated throughout the day was agriculture’s diversity. Whether a student is interested in business, IT, engineering, or even the arts, there are endless career paths within the industry, both indoors and outdoors.

It was an inspiring day filled with fascinating facts, hands-on exploration, and a deeper understanding of how the food supply chain works. A huge thank you to Reiter Affiliated Companies for hosting such an engaging and educational experience!