Nov 14, 2022

Tanimura & Antle celebrates 40th anniversary

On Nov. 10, 1982, two families who migrated to the Salinas Valley chasing the California dream shook hands and established a company that would impact the fresh produce and agriculture industry forever.

Built upon a long-standing partnership of trust, perseverance and decades of industry knowledge, Tanimura & Antle is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a vertically integrated grower-shipper of premium fresh produce.

“I am truly amazed each and every day of the dedication, hard work and pride that each employee has for Tanimura & Antle. It is a culture that cannot be purchased and is very difficult to replicate,” Scott Grabau, president and CEO of Tanimura & Antle, said in a news release. “Forty years of trust between the owners, the employees, the community and industry has been built one box and one year at a time. I am excited for everyone here for this great milestone and thankful for each and every employee that will be part of the next 40 years to come.”

When founding Tanimura & Antle in 1982, the company set out on a mission to be the industry leader in quality, service and innovation and earned the reputation of consistently having the best quality premium fresh produce; building a loyal following of customers and consumer fans across the United States, Canada and beyond.

“It’s humbling to look back at how far we’ve come as a company and partnership in the last 40 years,” Brian Antle, executive vice president of sales, said in the release. “Growing up in the company gave me the unique opportunity to experience the early years as a child, being on the farm with my family and the Tanimuras before becoming an employee as soon as I was old enough to do so.

“Growing up during those times and having the opportunity to be a part of shaping Tanimura & Antle into what it is today is something that gives me great pride,” he said in the release. “What we have accomplished in 40 years is not only a testament to the strong partnership between the Tanimura and Antle families, but also a result of the hard work of so many people. Without the dedication of every single employee at Tanimura & Antle, none of this would be possible and this is truly a day to thank every employee from day one to today for their loyalty, commitment and hard work towards the Tanimura & Antle vision.”

Tanimura & Antle continues its legacy in fresh produce and agriculture innovation as an employee- and family-owned company. As the cost of farming inputs continue to rise, skilled labor becomes increasingly difficult to find and sustainability continues to be a key industry focus, the company has invested in a number of agriculture innovations to address growing industry issues. The company acquired an automated transplanting company, PlantTape, in 2014, for commercial development and today, growers use the system across the globe for a variety of crops. In Livingston, Tennessee, the company has a greenhouse that grows a variety lettuces with 90% less water.

Tanimura & Antle became one of the only grower shippers to invest in its own seed supply in the early 2000’s when it acquired a local seed company. That gives the company a direct line of sight to seed development and upcoming new products. In response to the industry’s critical need for reliable automated farm machinery, the company became an investor in Stout Industrial Technology in 2019 and now uses the Stout Smart Cultivator, an automated, AI powered weeder, throughout their farms, further decreasing reliance on scarce skilled labor. In 2021, the company acquired Green City Growers, an urban farming company based in Boston that provides communities, organizations and individuals with hands-on experience and education on where their food comes from through local gardens.

“It’s hard to believe it has been 40 years since we started Tanimura & Antle. It is amazing to see what my Uncle George’s idea and vision has evolved to today,” Gary Tanimura, executive director, said in the release. “The Tanimuras originally started out on the growing side of the business. But once Tanimura & Antle was founded, my brother Keith Tanimura and I had the opportunity to learn about the industry as a whole and it’s been an incredible journey. l appreciate all of our dedicated and hardworking employees who have helped us reach this important milestone and 40-year legacy.”