Thomas Merrill has died
Thomas Merrill has died
Longtime Salinas Valley industry leader Thomas Monroe Merrill died Tuesday, April 8, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. He was 79.
Mr. Merrill was born Feb. 21, 1929, in Salinas to T.R (Russ) and Wilma Merrill. He was raised in Salinas and graduated from Salinas High School in 1947, where he starred as quarterback on the school's football team. He attended Stanford University and graduated from the University of California-Davis in 1951 with a degree in agriculture economics. He served in the U.S. Army and then joined the family business, Merrill Farms, which was started by his father in 1933.
Merrill Farms was a leader in the growing and shipping of fresh vegetables. Mr. Merrill took over the business after his father's death and continued as president until his retirement in 2000.
In the 1990s, he recognized the changing paradigm in the fresh vegetable business and transitioned the firm from its grower-shipper status to concentrate on production. Today, the firm continues as a respected grower operation in the Salinas Valley.
Very active in the produce industry, his community and charitable organizations, Mr. Merrill received numerous awards and accolades over the years for his devotion and contribution to the community at large and the agricultural industry. Among those many awards, he was the recipient of the prestigious Western Growers Award of Honor in 2004. Mr. Merrill served on the Western Growers Association board for 32 years, from 1966 to 1998, and was chairman of the board in 1990.
He was renowned for his passion for politics and his life-long dedication to advancing agriculture and the fresh produce industry. He was an innovator and ardent supporter of growers in the ongoing battle to receive a fair return for their efforts.
Mr. Merrill was one of the architects of WGA's efforts to inform the produce industry of the farmgate price of fruits and vegetables in an effort to shine a light on the disparity between the retail price and the price returned to the grower.
Mr. Merrill was very active in the political arena and was a leader in WGA's evolution as an influential organization on the political scene. Longtime industry member Don Brock, who served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President Ronald Reagan, recalled the time Mr. Merrill had both future President Reagan and future Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz seemingly promoting the "Merrill Farms" brand.
"At the 1972 Republican convention in Miami, he and Governor Reagan and Secretary Butz were promoting the cause of a strong U.S. agriculture, and the basic prop was some lettuce carton using a brand new label -- something that was red, white and blue, with some appropriate logo. When they got finished with their pitch at a specially arranged news conference, the reporters were converted, Reagan and Butz were pleased, and off camera, the owner of the carton, Tom Merrill, had a look of satisfaction."
Mr. Merrill was a recognized leader throughout the fresh produce industry and his community. He served as president of the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association of Central California, and was on the board of directors of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, the Central California Lettuce Producers Cooperative, the California Iceberg Lettuce Commission and the Lettuce Research Advisory Board.
Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Susan, and their daughter, Joanne Merrill; his sons, Brian and Ross; daughter, Lynn Paduck; and seven grandchildren.
Mr. Merrill was born Feb. 21, 1929, in Salinas to T.R (Russ) and Wilma Merrill. He was raised in Salinas and graduated from Salinas High School in 1947, where he starred as quarterback on the school's football team. He attended Stanford University and graduated from the University of California-Davis in 1951 with a degree in agriculture economics. He served in the U.S. Army and then joined the family business, Merrill Farms, which was started by his father in 1933.
Merrill Farms was a leader in the growing and shipping of fresh vegetables. Mr. Merrill took over the business after his father's death and continued as president until his retirement in 2000.
In the 1990s, he recognized the changing paradigm in the fresh vegetable business and transitioned the firm from its grower-shipper status to concentrate on production. Today, the firm continues as a respected grower operation in the Salinas Valley.
Very active in the produce industry, his community and charitable organizations, Mr. Merrill received numerous awards and accolades over the years for his devotion and contribution to the community at large and the agricultural industry. Among those many awards, he was the recipient of the prestigious Western Growers Award of Honor in 2004. Mr. Merrill served on the Western Growers Association board for 32 years, from 1966 to 1998, and was chairman of the board in 1990.
He was renowned for his passion for politics and his life-long dedication to advancing agriculture and the fresh produce industry. He was an innovator and ardent supporter of growers in the ongoing battle to receive a fair return for their efforts.
Mr. Merrill was one of the architects of WGA's efforts to inform the produce industry of the farmgate price of fruits and vegetables in an effort to shine a light on the disparity between the retail price and the price returned to the grower.
Mr. Merrill was very active in the political arena and was a leader in WGA's evolution as an influential organization on the political scene. Longtime industry member Don Brock, who served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President Ronald Reagan, recalled the time Mr. Merrill had both future President Reagan and future Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz seemingly promoting the "Merrill Farms" brand.
"At the 1972 Republican convention in Miami, he and Governor Reagan and Secretary Butz were promoting the cause of a strong U.S. agriculture, and the basic prop was some lettuce carton using a brand new label -- something that was red, white and blue, with some appropriate logo. When they got finished with their pitch at a specially arranged news conference, the reporters were converted, Reagan and Butz were pleased, and off camera, the owner of the carton, Tom Merrill, had a look of satisfaction."
Mr. Merrill was a recognized leader throughout the fresh produce industry and his community. He served as president of the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association of Central California, and was on the board of directors of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, the Central California Lettuce Producers Cooperative, the California Iceberg Lettuce Commission and the Lettuce Research Advisory Board.
Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Susan, and their daughter, Joanne Merrill; his sons, Brian and Ross; daughter, Lynn Paduck; and seven grandchildren.
