(CLIVE, Iowa) – Peoples Company, a leading provider of land brokerage, land management, land investment and appraisal services, today announced the company’s expansion into California, the nation’s largest agricultural market.  With offices in Fresno and Southern California, the team, led by Curtis Buono and Jeremy Darner, will focus on providing agricultural brokerage and appraisal services throughout California.

The growth into California comes after recent announcements that Peoples Company opened offices in Michigan, Washington and Nebraska.

“California alone represents over thirteen percent of the nation’s total agricultural value[1]. With over 400 commodities grown in the state, over thirty-three percent of the nation’s vegetables produced and about sixty-six percent of the nation’s fruits and nuts[2] harvested, California has been a place Peoples Company has sought to establish a permanent presence,” Peoples Company President Steve Bruere said. “As we looked to continue our growth westward into California and beyond, we made certain to stay true to our brand of providing our clients superior service, expertise and counsel – backed by our industry-leading technology and marketing – to achieve positive results. Curtis and Jeremy are exceptional additions to our team and will build a robust Peoples Company presence in California.”

Curtis Buono brings 18 years of real estate experience to Peoples Company.  Curtis joins from Cushman & Wakefield where he was the National Practice Leader of the Agribusiness Valuation & Advisory service line and also led agricultural brokerage services throughout the western U.S.  In these roles, he assisted institutional investors, local farmers and large agricultural operators with dispositions and acquisitions, appraisals, appraisal reviews, appraisal process management, and consulting services.  Although much of his work has focused on permanent crops such as nut orchards, vineyards, citrus groves, and date plantations, he has also worked extensively with row crop and berry farms as well as wineries, greenhouses, and processing and storage facilities.

Curtis holds the ARA designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers where he sits on the California Chapter’s Board of Directors and serves as a regional Chairperson for the Chapter’s annual Trends Publication.  Curtis also holds the Appraisal Institute’s MAI and AI-GRS. 

Curtis joins Peoples Company as a Managing Partner.

Jeremy Darner brings over 15 years of real estate experience to Peoples Company.  Jeremy joins from Cushman & Wakefield where he focused on agricultural appraisal and consulting assignments throughout the western U.S.  He has extensive analytical experience in a wide array of agricultural assets, including field and row crop farms, vineyards, groves, orchards, wineries, nurseries and greenhouses, ranches, vacant and transitional land, and other complex property types throughout California and the U.S.

Jeremy is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of California and holds Certified General Appraiser licenses in California and Arizona. He has achieved MAI, SRA and AI-GRS designations from the Appraisal Institute and currently serves as the President of his Appraisal Institute Chapter.

Jeremy also joins Peoples Company as a Managing Partner.

With today’s announcement, Peoples Company is now licensed to provide agricultural real estate services in 22 states:  Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.

[1] California Department of Agriculture - https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/

[2] California Department of Agriculture - https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/