Gold Coast Packing is a family business that was started by two long-time friends, Ron Burk and Bob Espinola. Both owners have been actively involved in the company since its inception and still have a large role in the business. Throughout the years, both Burk’s and Espinola’s children have joined the company and remain as leaders of the business.

This past year has been possibly the most challenging year that Gold Coast Packing has endured, but the company got through it without laying off any employees.

“It definitely made us stronger, wiser and more committed as a team,” said Crystal Chavez, marketing coordinator for the Santa Maria, CA-based company. “Gold Coast has always been a predominately foodservice company and as restaurants and schools closed, we saw a decline in that portion of our business. Our retail business did well throughout COVID-19, so we decided to focus on innovation and create new retail items.”

The company’s focus in 2021 is about expanding its retail offerings and it has a lot of “great items” that it is working on and are set to release soon.

For instance, the company recently added new two-pound retail items to its lineup.

“One thing that we do well here at Gold Coast is work with our customers on customization,” Chavez said. “Since we are a smaller company, we have the ability to cater to the needs and likes of our customers, letting them have a say on each step of the process to ensure the items are just as they requested.”

The company is also focused heavily on innovation. Chavez noted its product development and innovation team has been working on the next up-and-coming items and hopes to see some of those items come to market in mid-2021.

“Collaboration is also an initiative that Gold Coast has for this year,” she said. “We are looking to partner up with other companies within the industry because as we learned in 2020 we are stronger together.”

Gold Coast works with foodservice distributors, restaurant chains, manufacturers and retailers.

“Our secret to strong partnerships is our transparency, constant communication and our willingness to customize,” Chavez said.

Santa Maria is the perfect location for the company as it offers an ideal climate to grow its core items of broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and cilantro. In addition, being centrally located along the coast of California, midway between Los Angeles and the Salinas/Monterey growing region, makes it the perfect one-stop shop for its customers.

She added that Santa Maria is an excellent growing region because of its fertile soils and micro-climates.

“Our core items are not the only items grown in the region. Wine grapes, strawberries and head lettuce are also big crops in the area,” Chavez said. “The Santa Maria Valley is also located along the 101-Freeway making access in and out of the area for fresh produce quick and easy.”

Gold Coast started with Brussels sprouts a few years ago and that has grown into one of its stronger items, as both it and cauliflower seem to be increasing in demand.

“Cauliflower has been a trending item for several years now and many thought its time in the spotlight was over, but cauliflower continues to spike as consumers are more health conscious than ever before,” Chavez said. “Brussels sprouts have also gained popularity with healthier eating, and throughout the pandemic as more people cooked at home with veggies, they were trying for the first time or trying in a new recipe.”