Marino Giampaoli emigrated from his native Tuscan birthplace of Marlia, Italy to the United States in 1926 searching for greater economic opportunities, a safe place to raise a family and the perfect location to grow tomatoes. He found the ideal location in the fertile San Joaquin valley town of Le Grand, California. Marino was convinced that the combination of a Mediterranean climate and the deep rich soils he found in Le Grand would enable him to successfully grow beautiful, delicious tomatoes like those he grew in Tuscany.
 
Marino quickly established his own farm and then partnered with several cousins to begin a tomato packing operation in 1929 known as Giampaoli and Marchini. Marino traveled back to Marlia, Italy to marry Damocle Marchini and they returned to Le Grand to continue farming and to raise three sons. Their sons, Raymond, Elmo, and Dario assumed daily management of the farming and packing operations during the 1960’s. Purchasing complete ownership of the tomato packing operation in 1980, the three brothers renamed the entity Live Oak Farms in homage to the company’s first packing location under the shade of a Live Oak tree.