SANTA PAULA, CA. - Limoneira Company (NASDAQ: LMNR), a leading agribusiness with prime agricultural land and operations, real estate and water rights throughout California, was awarded the first-ever Annual Excellence in Agricultural Stewardship and Sustainability Award by the Ventura County Resource Conservation District (RCD). The award was presented at a November 19 meeting of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts in Ventura.

Award criteria were developed by the Ventura County RCD in collaboration with the Ventura County Farm Bureau, the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance and the Ventura County Cattlemen’s Association. It included responsible and sustainable land management, economics, innovation, conservation excellence, overall land health, community outreach and industry leadership. The Ventura County RCD also looked for landowners, ag operators and producers engaged in and committed to management practices that increase conservation, demonstrate stewardship of the environment and sustain agriculture.

"It is our hope that this annual award will be another way to honor the great contribution agriculture makes to Ventura County, our people, our unique heritage, our economy and our community," says Marty Melvin, Ventura County RCD executive officer. "Limoneira Company admirably demonstrates all the qualities we were looking for in our establishment of this Annual Award for Excellence. In addition, its commitment to giving back to the community in both services and financial support provides another example of why it was selected to receive this award."

"Limoneira is honored to receive the first Excellence in Agricultural Stewardship and Sustainability Award from the Ventura County RCD," says Harold Edwards, Limoneira's president and CEO. "The roots of our company's sustainability and conservation philosophy go back over 100 years. We believe that incorporating these sound practices not only makes good business sense, but is critical for our industry's future success and for the health of our planet."

Nominations for the 2011 award will be available in February 2011. For more information about the Ventura County RCD, visit www.conserveventura.org. For more about Limoneira and its sustainability efforts, go to www.limoneira.com.