Long considered one of the premier growers in the Salinas Valley, Bengard Ranch continues to prosper with its focus on the core commodity products that the nation’s Salad Bowl produces.

Headed by Iceberg lettuce, Bengard’s product list mirrors the top vegetable sellers in virtually any retail or foodservice operation. On that list are such items as broccoli, Romaine, Romaine hearts, celery, cauliflower, green onions, red leaf, green leaf, kale, cilantro and parsley.

The Bengard family has been farming the fertile soils of the Salinas Valley since the 1850s. In fact, the family is one of the larger growers-shippers in the area as the operation produces vegetables for many other shippers in addition to selling its own items. Bridget Bengard, a member of the third generation of Bengards to work at the current Bengard Ranch iteration of the family business, said about 50 percent of the farm’s output is sold by Bengard Ranch and the other 50 percent by other shippers.

According to the company website, the Bengard family started out as true pioneers in the Salinas Valley in 1855. That year, James Bardin traveled across the country to California by covered wagon, searching for rich farming and grazing land. Wes Eade came to California in the 1880s to farm and raise cattle. This heritage led to Tom and Terry Bengard, the grandchildren of James Bardin and Wes Eade, establishing Tom Bengard Ranch in the early 1960s. Originally Tom grew sugar beets, small white beans, potatoes and spring lettuce. As Tom added more acreage, he also added various row crops. While he was busy in the field, Terry managed the bookkeeping and together they successfully grew the ranch.

In the early 1970s, they began packing and shipping some of their own production under various labels. Over the following three decades, the ranch continued to expand as the next generation became more involved. Tom Bengard retired in 2000, passing ownership to his three children: Bardin Bengard, Tom Bengard and Tracy Pezzini. Today Bengard Ranch is one of the larger grower-shippers in the western United States, farming in California and Arizona with extensive operations in Mexico and Florida.

Bardin Bengard serves as president, while both Tom and Tracy are intimately involved and play an active role in the organization. “I’m the oldest person in my generation and so I am the first one to join the family business from the third generation,” said Bridget, who is Bardin’s oldest child.

She came aboard about a year-and-a-half ago and is a project manager involved in various tasks, including updating the company’s information systems.

Bengard said the company continues to grow with much of the current expansion focused in Florida and Mexico. Several years ago the company partnered with several established growers in Florida to form TKM Bengard Farms in Belle Glade, FL. She said that company specializes in providing top-quality lettuce to processors in the area. In fact, a couple of years ago, TKM Bengard received the American Vegetable Grower’s 10th annual Grower Achievement Award, partially for its ability to adapt to market changes and deliver high-quality product to processors.