About Us

Tom and Steve Church each began their fresh produce experience in high school loading lettuce during the summers in the Salinas Valley. They took similar paths through different sales desks learning the business and developing relationships with customers and growers. Their careers came together in the mid 1980’s at Fresh Western Marketing, now known as River Ranch Fresh Foods. Tom and four other partners formed the company in 1981. Steve joined the team in 1985, after his career at Grower's Exchange.  The River Ranch years were marked by innovative ways of approaching harvest, cooling, packaging and load consolidation. Unique ideas and passion for the work led to opportunities to flourish in field packed products and to initiate a fresh produce processing arm, Fresh Valley Produce.  The processing addition led to many new salad and vegetable combinations.  A “Can Do” attitude has long been a trademark of the Church Brothers.

There is a long list of new ways to supply produce to the industry that the Church brothers have had a hand in developing. Here is the list:

• Field packed broccoli

• Ice Injection cooling systems

• Split packaging cartons for smaller stores

• The first form, fill and seal machine used for packaged salad

• “Salads to Go”- kit salads in sealed plastic containers, eaten on the go

• Microwaveable vegetable mixes complete with sauce in rigid containers

• Controlled atmosphere packaging

• “Angel Hair” Coleslaw

• Development partner with Jake Hougham on Whole Leaves

• Primus Labs co-founder (with others)

• Full service fresh load consolidation

• Truck appointment loading

These are some of the concepts that have now become industry staples.

A fair deal for both grower and customer and a work environment where the individual is challenged to take personal responsibility are business fundamentals that have always made our team feel to be part of the family.

After the sale of River Ranch, the Church Brothers started back up as a growing, sales and marketing company. They eventually broke other new ground by bringing together six independent grower shippers from two growing regions to form Fresh Kist Produce. Along with their growing responsibilities the Church Brothers managed sales and marketing for the new company. Again innovative ideas led to another broccoli success, iceless broccoli in a bag for foodservice customers.

Eventually, Tom and Steve set out again to serve their growers and customers in their inimitable style. They have the love, expertise and desire to form and keep successful relations centered on everyday excellence in produce.

Church Brothers today represents years of sound business fundamentals and innovative ideas performed by skilled and motivated people. We supply a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to processors, foodservice customers, retail customers and the international marketplace. We also have a partnership with True Leaf Farms, processing spinach, spring mix and whole leaf singles. Our ability to consolidate and assemble complicated mixed vegetable and fruit loads rounds and arrange for transportation allows the customers to experience “fresh produce made easy”.

Business Fundamentals

We have long held that the Four "I's" are the building blocks of success.

• Integrity- Our commission is to provide a seamless transaction between the grower and the buyer that is fair for both.

• Innovation- There often is a better solution to today's circumstances.

• Industriousness- A willingness to work builds a strong foundation.

• Improvement- There is nothing done today that cannot be improved upon for tomorrow.

Our People

Church Brothers Produce may begin with the talented Church brothers, but it blossoms with a dedicated sales force and support team, united in purpose of fostering relationships where all parties may succeed together. We have assembled a team of employees, growers, harvesters and food safety support necessary to compete in an increasingly demanding environment. We are dedicated to supplying products that have value day in and day out. Starting with the harvest crews and throughout our workforce, attention to the smallest details on a daily basis is what makes the difference between above average and excellent. Our growing/ production, sales, buying, quality assurance, sales support and accounting teams are united in purpose to serve the needs of customers, transportation, growers and suppliers. We appreciate the contributions of each and every employee to our success.