Nat DiBuduo

Nat Dibuduo is the FCFB Land Use Chairman

Nat DiBuduo, of Fresno, is extremely proud of his Italian heritage. All four of his grandparents are originally from Bari, an agricultural community toward the southern tip of Italy. Today, it is known as an industrial and university city, because of its proximity to the ocean and through its ports.

DiBuduo’s grandparents came through Ellis Island during the early 1920s and settled in Fresno where some of their relatives already lived. DiBuduo has visited Ellis Island. “I’m very interested in what the early Italian immigrants went through to become American citizens,” he said. “Because of my grandparents ag background in Bari, they naturally became farm labor as they worked long and hard in order to buy their first ranches here.”

DiBuduo believes his ancestors’ experience and heritage reflects the way he lives his life today. “Family has always been important to me. Our family has built a foundation on good morals, good character, faith and placed a major emphasis on family.” DiBuduo has one brother, and three sisters who all live in the Fresno area and share these same values.

Growing up in agriculture has been a way of life for DiBuduo. He said the ethics, morals and integrity of those in agriculture have been a good model in his life. “Having survived the ups and downs of being a grower has made me a stronger person over the years.”

DiBuduo’s grandfather, along with his father and uncle, started M DiBuduo & Sons (fruit company) in the early 1940s, producing grapes and various tree fruit. Eventually, DiBuduo’s father began working with his uncle’s company, D. Papagni Fruit Company, where he worked until the mid 1980s.

Papagni Fruit Company, whose operation was located at what is now Copper River Ranch in northeast Fresno, was DiBuduo’s first experience in agriculture, where he worked growing up until he graduated in 1973 from California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor’s degree in viticulture.

Shortly after DiBuduo graduated, he and his brother Jerry began DiBuduo Land Management Company.  Their father was both an advisor to the company and farmed his own grapes for the wine, table and cannery business.

DiBuduo has spent many years in agriculture, consulting and managing different commodities. He eventually moved to Capitol Agricultural Property Services, Inc., where he handled 22,000 acres of different commodities throughout California and Arizona.  While he enjoyed the responsibilities and the opportunities that his work provided, his passion remained in the grape growing industry. And, in 2000, DiBuduo had the opportunity to return to the wine grape industry.

For the past eight years, DiBuduo has been President CEO of Allied Grape Growers, a winegrape growers marketing cooperative association representing nearly 600 members through California for over 50 years, producing over 250,000 tons annually. DiBuduo believes Allied may reach 300,000 tons in 2008.

Having worked with former Allied Grape Growers Presidents
Bob McInturf and Barry Bedwell, an opportunity opened up for the position when Bedwell transferred to another wine-related business, and DiBuduo went through the application process and was hired as President.

Over the seven years DiBuduo has been president, the winegrape industry has been faced with many challenges, including sluggish demand, surplus production, and a depressed market. Now that prices are slowly rebounding and the industry is closer to a balance, he notes that rising operational costs are still creating challenges by cutting into growers’ bottom lines. While it has been challenging, he said it has been rewarding to utilize his creativity to improve existing relationships while pursuing new relationships that will benefit grape growers and the wine industry.

DiBuduo contributes the success of Allied Grape Growers to the nucleus Bedwell left behind and the expansion of a quality staff. “The success we have had would not be possible without the total commitment of both our staff and growers,” he said.       

Outside of work, DiBuduo is involved in a number of activities, boards and organizations, including the Big Fresno Fair’s Friends of the Fair Foundation, Fresno City Planning Commission, United Cerebral Palsy, CSUF Alumni Association, Republican Central Committee of California’s Agricultural Committee, CSUF Bulldog Foundation, California Agriculture Leadership Alumni, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Agricultural Council of California, California Grape & Treefruit League, Wine Institute, Pierce Disease / Glassy Wing Sharp Shooter Advisory Task Force and the CSU Fresno Viticulture & Enology Industry Advisory Board.

DiBuduo is the Land Use chairman for FCFB, and has been a valuable resource to board, using past and present experiences to address agricultural issues. DiBuduo first started with Farm Bureau through Young Farmers and Ranchers in Madera and has been involved with Farm Bureau ever since.

 Family Matters

DiBuduo has been married to Marilyn for 36 years. They met in the early-1970s at Fresno State when he was the vice president of student government. Marilyn, who was born and raised in Easton, grew up on a dairy. Her family also grew almonds and other crops.

When they get a chance, the DiBuduo’s go to the central coast to relax. Formerly having many accounts on the coast, they grew very fond of the area. “I will travel to anywhere from as far north as Cayucos to as far south as Santa Maria,” he said.

DiBuduo has three grown children: daughter Nicole, 32, married to Colby Linder; son Marcus, 31, married to Amy; and daughter Analise, 24. He also has a four-year-old granddaughter Sophia Linder.

“One of my favorite things to do is to spend time with family,” DiBuduo said.

 Words to live by

“The number one priority is to take of your family the best you can, and help each of them individually achieve personal success,” DiBuduo said. “Love is the most important thing.”

“Put the Lord, Jesus Christ at the top of the list. The success I have had at Allied or in the community has nothing to do with Nat, it has to do with the abilities that God has given me. I must walk the walk so I do not do anything I would be ashamed of or that He would be ashamed of.

“A commitment to your job, and doing the best you can every day is important. We need to do it because it’s the right thing to do.

“We also need commitment to our community. I have enjoyed every board and association I have ever been on, and I would challenge others to engage and share in the same enjoyments I have had through my volunteerism.”

DiBuduo received the Greater Chamber of Commerce Co-Agriculturalist of the Year Award in 2007 and is one of the initial Big Fresno Fair Hall of Fame recipients. It was recently announced that DiBuduo is the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award, a prestigious honor awarded by the Fresno State Alumni Association.

Meet Your Board Members Profile: Ag Today, Sep 08
By: John Migliazzo