Christopher Ranch marks milestone at gala
Christopher Ranch marks milestone at gala
SAN MARTIN, CA -- Though the Christopher family has been farming in California since the 1880s, today's Christopher Ranch has grown to a position of prominence through the expertise of third-generation family member Don Christopher.
The company is celebrating 50 years in business, and at its annual dinner July 28 at the CordeValle resort, here, it marked the milestone.
In 1955, third-generation brothers Don and Art Christopher bought property in Gilroy, CA, and in 1956, A&D Christopher Ranch was founded. Don Christopher's expertise has helped the ranch grow from 10 acres of garlic to taking a leadership role in the garlic industry. In 1956, the company also had 130 acres of lima beans and sugar beets. Today, it is a major international agribusiness with more than 300 year-round employees and a seasonal harvesting crew of 1,000.
Bill Christopher, a member of the company's fourth-generation, joins his father, Don, in overseeing 3,000 acres of row crops including garlic, bell peppers, shallots and pearl onions.
In 1957, the company planted strawberries plus cherry and pear orchards, and it began increasing garlic production by five to 10 acres every year. In 1960, Christopher Ranch started packing garlic in San Jose with Rudy Cimino, but in 1962 it started its own packing shed here.
In the early 1970s, Christopher Ranch hired its first saleswoman, which was unusual for those days in the produce industry. In 1978, the company had its best season for all crops -- lettuce, corn, garlic, bell peppers and onions.
"It was the first time that all crops made money," Don Christopher said.
In 1978, Don Christopher started the Fresh Garlic Association to promote fresh garlic throughout the United States. Also in 1978, the company hosted a Rotary garlic luncheon, which spawned the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Don Christopher, the late Dr. Rudy Malone and Val Filice co-founded the Gilroy Garlic Festival, launched in 1979, which helped raise the public's awareness -- and taste -- for garlic. Christopher Ranch donated funds, land, labor, equipment and garlic to the festival.
In the mid-1980s, Christopher Ranch developed varieties of late garlic including "virus-free" garlic that helped increase production by 50 percent.
In 1990, Christopher Ranch added a division in Los Angeles and continued to expand with branches in Edison, NJ, and Chicago, and one in 1997 in Pompano Beach, FL.
Also in 1990, Christopher Ranch was named Gilroy Business of the Year.
In 1991, the company opened a peeled garlic facility in Macon, France. That year, it became the first to use drip irrigation on bell peppers. Now almost all of its crops are on drip, saving more than 2 million gallons of water per day.
In 1994, Christopher Ranch helped form a new group of California garlic shippers and lobbied in Washington, DC, to keep U.S. garlic farmers in business. A 377 percent tariff on Chinese garlic was levied as a result.
In 1994, the company built a child-care center on-site to offer child care for the pre-school age children of its employees, a move that Don Christopher said is a source of great pride. In 2005, the company donated land for a new high school in Gilroy.
In 2004, Bill Christopher became the primary managing partner of Christopher Ranch. The company has started importing garlic from China, and Bill Christopher travels there each year to meet with the company's suppliers.
Today, the company continues to donate time, labor, funds, facilities and garlic to local charities and schools, and remains active in many events and organizations.
The company continues to develop new products and pack styles and new packing processes and farming methods. It grows, packs and ships more than 50 million pounds of California garlic each year.
The company is celebrating 50 years in business, and at its annual dinner July 28 at the CordeValle resort, here, it marked the milestone.
In 1955, third-generation brothers Don and Art Christopher bought property in Gilroy, CA, and in 1956, A&D Christopher Ranch was founded. Don Christopher's expertise has helped the ranch grow from 10 acres of garlic to taking a leadership role in the garlic industry. In 1956, the company also had 130 acres of lima beans and sugar beets. Today, it is a major international agribusiness with more than 300 year-round employees and a seasonal harvesting crew of 1,000.
Bill Christopher, a member of the company's fourth-generation, joins his father, Don, in overseeing 3,000 acres of row crops including garlic, bell peppers, shallots and pearl onions.
In 1957, the company planted strawberries plus cherry and pear orchards, and it began increasing garlic production by five to 10 acres every year. In 1960, Christopher Ranch started packing garlic in San Jose with Rudy Cimino, but in 1962 it started its own packing shed here.
In the early 1970s, Christopher Ranch hired its first saleswoman, which was unusual for those days in the produce industry. In 1978, the company had its best season for all crops -- lettuce, corn, garlic, bell peppers and onions.
"It was the first time that all crops made money," Don Christopher said.
In 1978, Don Christopher started the Fresh Garlic Association to promote fresh garlic throughout the United States. Also in 1978, the company hosted a Rotary garlic luncheon, which spawned the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Don Christopher, the late Dr. Rudy Malone and Val Filice co-founded the Gilroy Garlic Festival, launched in 1979, which helped raise the public's awareness -- and taste -- for garlic. Christopher Ranch donated funds, land, labor, equipment and garlic to the festival.
In the mid-1980s, Christopher Ranch developed varieties of late garlic including "virus-free" garlic that helped increase production by 50 percent.
In 1990, Christopher Ranch added a division in Los Angeles and continued to expand with branches in Edison, NJ, and Chicago, and one in 1997 in Pompano Beach, FL.
Also in 1990, Christopher Ranch was named Gilroy Business of the Year.
In 1991, the company opened a peeled garlic facility in Macon, France. That year, it became the first to use drip irrigation on bell peppers. Now almost all of its crops are on drip, saving more than 2 million gallons of water per day.
In 1994, Christopher Ranch helped form a new group of California garlic shippers and lobbied in Washington, DC, to keep U.S. garlic farmers in business. A 377 percent tariff on Chinese garlic was levied as a result.
In 1994, the company built a child-care center on-site to offer child care for the pre-school age children of its employees, a move that Don Christopher said is a source of great pride. In 2005, the company donated land for a new high school in Gilroy.
In 2004, Bill Christopher became the primary managing partner of Christopher Ranch. The company has started importing garlic from China, and Bill Christopher travels there each year to meet with the company's suppliers.
Today, the company continues to donate time, labor, funds, facilities and garlic to local charities and schools, and remains active in many events and organizations.
The company continues to develop new products and pack styles and new packing processes and farming methods. It grows, packs and ships more than 50 million pounds of California garlic each year.
