Leading U.S. garlic grower to lift wage well ahead of California timeframe
The USA's largest fresh garlic grower has announced its commitment to accelerate the US$15/hour minimum wage four years earlier than required by California under state legislation. 
Christopher Ranch, which is also the country's largest packer and shipper of California heirloom garlic for the fresh market, is set to meet the new minimum wage expectations by July, 2018, after lifting the level to US$13/hour this year.
Californian has recently moved to increase the state-wide minimum wage to US$15/hour by 2022.
“Our commitment to corporate social responsibility is a cornerstone for our company, and we want to be an example not only for California-based companies, but for agribusiness as a whole,” said Ken Christopher, third-generation farmer and vice president at Christopher Ranch.
“We believe that investing in people is one of the best things we can do to support our employees and their families – when our employees thrive, so does our business.”
With 800 full-time, year-round employees and over 1,000 employees seasonally, Christopher Ranch is one of the largest employers in South Santa Clara County in California.
The company supports local community outreach and has been able to sponsor a Head Start Preschool and donate acreage to the school district for the building of a new high school – all of which was made possible from the community’s support of this local, family business.
Christopher Ranch seeks to set a tone within the industry that values people and community first.
While crop expansion, upkeep, and environment are important, the company stands firm in its belief that, without people, their product wouldn’t make it onto family tables in the first place.
"The reward we see, both personally and in our own business, is what fuels our commitment to these types of initiatives," Christopher added.
"We’re thankful for the time and effort that our employees spend every day to ensure that our garlic is of the highest quality, and hope that these and other efforts help us demonstrate our gratitude."
Subscribe to our newsletter
