ABOUT US
California Tomato Farmers is a cooperative of family-owned farming businesses committed to a new and higher standard of growing tomatoes. Members of CTF produce nearly 9 out of every 10 fresh tomatoes grown in California –- more than enough to fill the needs of every retail and foodservice outlet in North America during the extensive growing season.
However, the most impressive thing about CTF isn't the volume of tomatoes it produces, but rather the incredibly high guidelines for quality, food safety, and worker conditions that CTF insists upon meeting and exceeding. These guidelines are called "The Fresh Standard."
When consumers reach for a tomato grown by a member of California Tomato Farmers, they enjoy a tomato of the highest quality, grown under the strictest food safety standards and harvested by workers who enjoy a safe and positive work environment.
What is the Fresh Standard?
• Highest quality tomatoes
• Verified through government advantagess
• Standards are mandated, transparent, and verifiable
Members must adhere to strict standards
• Quality
• Food safety
• Worker conditions
• Environmental stewardship
Diverse and knowledgeable advisory panel
• Government officials
• Academics
• Retailers and foodservice operators
• Environmentalists
• Community activists
• Consumer advocates
WHO ARE THE CALIFORNIA TOMATO FARMERS?
California Tomato Farmers is a cooperative owned by family farming businesses whose fresh tomatoes are grown by, or for, the companies listed below. In total, California Tomato Farmers produces nearly 9 out of every 10 tomatoes produced in California. (Based upon USDA-AMS statistics, May 1 - Nov 30, 2009)
Ace Tomato Co., Inc. Manteca, CA
Contact: Dean Janssen 209-982-5691
Sales: 209-982-5691
Sales Contacts: Chris Lagorio, Henry Cole, Bruce Yonon, Brian Alonso
Website: www.lagorio.com
The DiMare Company, Newman, CA
Contact: Jeff Dolan 209-862-2872
Sales: 209-862-2872
Sales Contact: Caesar Muratore
Website: www.dimarefresh.com
Harry Singh & Sons
Oceanside Pole, Oceanside, CA
Contacts: Bill Wilber 760-758-2942
Sales: 760-758-2942
Sales Contacts: Bill Wilber, RJ Deakins, Dino Lacovino
Learn more about Oceanside Pole
Gargiulo Inc., Firebaugh, CA
Contact: Terry Doyle 559-659-3359
Sales: 800-743-9915
Sales Contacts: Rob Pearson and Dan Subbert
Live Oak Farms, LeGrand, CA
Contact: Bob Giampaoli or Scott Vaughan 209-389-4576
Sales: 209-389-4576
Sales Contacts: Scott Vaughan, Donna Vaughan
Learn more about Live Oak Farms
Sun Pacific, Exeter, CA
Contact: Al Bates 559-592-5168
Sales: 559-592-7121
Sales Contacts: Evan Gusar, Louie Biglieri
Website: www.sunpacific.com
Pacific Triple E, Triple E Produce, Tracy, CA
Contacts: Billy Heller, Jon Esformes 209-835-5123
Sales: 209-835-7500
Sales Contacts: Joey Poklemba, Jack Esformes, Todd Giardina
Website: www.sunripeproduce.com
Learn more about Pacific Triple E
San Joaquin Tomato Growers, Crows Landing, CA
Contact: Mark Perez 209-837-4721
Sales: 209-837-4721
Sales Contact: Mark Perez
Learn more about San Joaquin Tomato Growers
HS Packing, Stockton, California
Kent Kiefer (Owner) - Office: 209-463-2364 | Fax: 209-463-0965 | Cell: 209-649-3456
Sandy Kiefer (Owner) - Office: 209-463-2364 | Fax: 209-463-0965
Ryan Olson (Manager) - Office: 209-463-2364 | Fax: 209-463-0965 | Cell: 209-518-1813
Henry Cole - 209-982.5691
HS Packing joins California Tomato Farmers this year. Check back soon for updates on this family owned farming company. Their USDA audit certificate will be posted once the farming and packing operations are audited by USDA and they're in full compliance with the food safety programs of California Tomato Farmers.
OUR COMMITMENT
WORKER SAFETY
A Safe Workplace and Fair Wages – It's the Right Thing To Do
California Tomato Farmers members are committed to providing a safe working environment and fair wages for our workers not only as a means of ensuring an adequate workforce, but simply because it’s the right thing to do. Many of California's agricultural workers are seasonal. California Tomato Farmers members are conscious of the limited availability of this important workforce and recognize that workers must be treated fairly so they continue to want to work for California field-grown tomato operations.
California has the most stringent standards in the nation governing worker safety and field sanitation. These standards are not only protective from a food safety standpoint, but also ensure that California farm workers are adequately protected under the law. For instance, California is the only state that has established regulations for working in hot conditions to prevent heat related illnesses. Extensive and regular worker training is also required in California so that farm workers are well versed on worker compensation requirements, the safe use of pesticides, proper hygiene in the field, procedures if workers encounter harassment in the field, wage and hour requirements in the state, and other working condition requirements mandated by California law.
But while California standards are stringent, California Tomato Farmers members want to do more to ensure their workers enjoy a safe and productive work environment. Recently, all members were required to implement a new program called Spray Safe. The Spray Safe industry initiative is a program to encourage increased communication and prevent incidents of pesticide drift, particularly those which impact farm workers and field crews. At the heart of the program is a commitment to take every safety precaution when applying pesticides, to communicate often with neighboring farms, workers, labor contractors and applicators and to be vigilant in watching for potential problems in the field.
The California Tomato Farmers members are also committed to working with our Advisory Panel to review working conditions and wage standards of our employees to ensure that we are meeting and exceeding the protections provided under California law.
California Tomato Farmers members recognize the value of the people who help them grow, pack and ship fresh tomatoes, particularly those who diligently work in the fields and packing houses of California’s fresh tomato industry.
We would not be in business without you.
SUSTAINABILITY
Over 20 years ago, long before "going green" and "sustainability" became popular corporate buzzwords, the members of what is now California Tomato Farmers made a commitment to the development of production strategies based on Low Input Sustainable Agriculture (LISA). Collaborating with world-class researchers from the University of California, California Tomato Farmers members have field-tested and adopted new growing technologies that promote sustainability from seed to consumption.
Our members farm over 18,000 acres, in small parcels from San Diego County to Sacramento County. We do not farm in the Salinas Valley. For many of our farmers, this is farmland that has been in the family for years. With urban encroachment becoming a challenge for California agriculture, it's important that our remaining farmland remain productive. Which is why our farmers employ a number of sustainable farming practices – practices that are good for the farmer, the environment, and our workers.
COVER CROPS
• Improves soil health
• Controls weed populations
• Improves water balance in a drought-prone environment
• Reduces emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4, and N2O
CONSERVATION TILLAGE
• Maintains soil organic matter (SOM)
• Reduces dust generation
• Reduces wind-related soil erosion
• Earthworm populations increase and improve soil fertility
DRIP IRRIGATION
• Reduces water waste/use
• Reduces herbicide use
• Reduces aerial pesticide applications
• Avoids water run-off
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
• Utilizes pest monitoring, traps, mulches, predatory insects, pheromones, and bacteria
• Minimizes the use of toxic/synthetic pesticides
• Balances crop risk with environmental impact
SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
• Provides fair treatment, competitive wages, equal opportunity, and safe working conditions for all employees
• Utilizes Spray Safe program, which minimizes risk of pesticide drift to farm workers
OUR ADVANTAGES
Measures to Protect Their Workers
Higher Standard for California-Grown Tomatoes
A survey of consumers by The Perishables Group found that more shoppers prefer field grown tomatoes. And, and overwhelming 63% of shoppers 65 and older preferred field grown tomatoes.
Those who preferred field-grown tomatoes said they liked the flavor (83%), the appearance and freshness (62%) and quality (59%).
Price is especially important to consumers: 67% of customers surveyed by the Perishables Group said that price is a primary driver in their decision to purchase tomatoes.
While the price that consumers pay at the supermarket is generally not related to the price a grower receives for his tomatoes, Supermarkets are often able to purchase tomatoes from our growers at a price that's less than greenhouse tomatoes. And, when supermarkets pass on those savings to you, that lower cost teamed with our higher quality, brings extraordinary value to shoppers throughout North America.
A survey by the Perishables Group found that 53% of shoppers purchased tomatoes each week. Round and Roma tomatoes were the #1 and #3 choice of consumers. Few consumers purchase heirloom tomatoes, as 74% of consumers surveyed say that they never buy heirloom fresh tomatoes.
And, in a survey of Supermarket decision makers by the Perishables Group, retailers indicated that their customers prefer tomatoes grown in the United States. Of retailers surveyed, 57% said they’re buying domestic products for food safety concerns, logistics, and to support local growers.
Food service loves fresh tomatoes. In an NPD survey of Canadian consumers, one of four visits to a foodservice outlet includes a menu item that features fresh tomatoes. And, not surprisingly, over 51% of fresh tomatoes served were topping burgers. And, two-thirds of all tomatoes are served at lunch.
We subscribe to “Spray Safe” – a grower-to-grower commitment to reduce risk to our workers in the field.
The Spray Safe industry initiative is a program developed by farmers to encourage increased communication and prevent incidents of pesticide drift, particularly those which impact farm workers and field crews.
At the heart of the program is a commitment to: make all farmers aware of the need to take every safety precaution when applying pesticides; to communicate often with neighboring farms, workers and applicators; and to be vigilant in watching for potential problems in the field.
California Tomato Farmers have the only mandatory food safety program that employs governmental oversight for fresh tomatoes in California. It’s a program that sets stringent standards and includes announced and unannounced government auditing of our farms to ensure compliance with recognized, science-based standards. The Fresh Standard also requires that our growers adopt a Code of Social Accountability in Employment that covers our farm workers and participate in Spray Safe, a grower-to-grower commitment to reduce the risk to farm workers from pesticide use in the field.
ADVISORY BOARD
California Tomato Farmers is organized under a cooperative structure so that standards for quality, food safety, environmental stewardship and fair treatment of workers can be mandated. Members of California Tomato Farmers want our efforts in these areas to be transparent and verifiable. To ensure this, we have formed an Advisory Panel to help guide our efforts in developing the standards which will govern our activities.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Bihn is a senior extension associate in the food science department of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and is currently program coordinate for the University's National Good Agricultural Practices program.
Her areas of interest include Good Agricultural Practices, food safety, educational material design and photography, protein localization, confocal microscopy, plant transformation, DNA isolation and purification. Bihn holds an M.S. in Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, and a B.S. in Zoology with a minor in Plant Biology, Ohio State University.
Gary Campisi has been involved in the food industry for more than 26 years and currently serves as Director of Quality Control for Wal-Mart. His responsibilities include quality control for Wal-Mart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM's Club. His staff of nearly 300 associates in the U.S. is focused on superior quality and customer service excellence for more than 2349 Supercenters, 124 Neighborhood Markets, and 585 SAM'S Clubs.
Mr. Campisi is a graduate of the University of Nebraska earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. Campisi is involved with various industry organizations, and he currently serves on the United Fresh Food Safety & Technology Council.
• Born and raised in Chicago, IL. Actually lived in the NW suburb of Mt. Prospect, IL.
• B.S. in Community Health (’77) with a minor in Athletic Training from Mankato State University in Mankato, MN. Now part of the U of Minnesota schools.
• Worked as health inspector and then Registered Sanitarian at the McHenry County Dept. of Health in Woodstock, IL. from 1977 to 1982.
• Became Registered Sanitarian in 1979 by exam in IL. Responsibilities were wide ranging from foodservice, retail and processing inspections to well and septic evaluations as well as nuisance complaints.
• Sat on the IEHA Sanitarians Registration Board for 13 years reviewing and administering the registration exam.
• Joined Darden (Red Lobster) as a Total Quality Manager in 1982. Main responsibility was food safety and sanitation programs in the Red Lobster Chicago division (100 restaurants) until 1996. I worked with some of our other concepts as well such as Olive Garden, York Steak House, China Coast and a few more over the years in a dual role capacity.
• 1996 moved to Dallas and worked with the Red Lobster Dallas division restaurants in the same function but with 90 restaurants and continue to live in Dallas today. Currently a National Environmental Health Assoc. and Texas Environmental Health Assoc. member.
• Moved from the Darden Total Quality (TQ) Restaurant group to the TQ Produce team in spring of 2008. I currently cover the western US and upper Midwest in regards to produce farms, processing plants and distributor food safety programs in support of our Nourish & Delight produce brand.
Geoff Cooney is the director of Ready Fresh Produce which is a pre-cut value added produce plant specializing in potatoes, french fries, salads, leaf items, specialty mixes and a repacker of fresh tomatoes. Ready Fresh is a member of Gordon Foodservice, one of Canada's leading foodservice suppliers.
In May 2000, Teresa DeAnda helped form El Comité para el Bienestar de Earlimart, an organization of local residents dedicated to protecting the health of their families and neighbors from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure. The organization has continued organizing and raising awareness about the issue and is working with local and state officials to implement policy reforms. In 2003, Teresa was hired by the Californians for Pesticide Reform as their Central Valley Representative, and she now works part time to limit the harmful effects of pesticides on the Valley's residents.
She also serves on various boards including the advisory board of Center on Race Poverty and the Environment Advisory board, the Department of Pesticide Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and the California Environmental Justice Committee.
Rick Melnicoe is the Director of the Western Integrated Pest Management Center, whose mission is to work with stakeholders to create collaborative relationships that identify and address critical pest management needs that are responsive to economic, environmental, and human health and safety concerns. Rick is also the University of California Statewide Pesticide Coordinator. In this capacity he coordinates and reviews Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, activities pertaining to pesticide research, experimentation and use.
Rick was a Biologist with the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 1979-1981; Registration Specialist, CDFA from 1981-1984; Environmental Hazards Specialist, CDFA from 1984-1986; and a Pesticide Enforcement Branch Program Supervisor, from 1986-1991.
Mike Spinazzola is a partner and president, for Diversified Restaurant Systems, Inc. (DRS), a food consulting & marketing company, specializing in development, procurement and distribution functions as they relate to the fast food industry. DRS developed produce programs for many QSR's in Southern California and has been instrumental in developing the SUBWAY® National Produce Program. DRS is now responsible for supplying over 23,000 restaurants with Gold Standard produce from approved vendors for IPC / SUBWAY® and is directly involved in the food safety, GAP's, and social responsibility requirements for this program.
Mike is a current Board Member for the Produce Marketing Association and Supply Chain Services, Inc., and a member of the San Diego Restaurant Association.
Dr. Trevor Suslow is a leading researcher in the area of postharvest pathology and microbiology of perishable horticultural commodities and lightly-processed (fresh-cut) vegetables. His areas of interest include examining the role of environmental and crop production practices on postharvest quality and safety of edible horticultural crops, microbial safety and disinfection of preharvest and postharvest water, biological control and other biologically-mediated controls of postharvest diseases. He is currently conducting applied research programs on several key commodities that address preharvest and postharvest risk assessment and hazard analysis specific to the epidemiology of Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella.
Suslow is actively involved in numerous organizations and affiliations with respect to food safety and farming. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Science along with a M.Sc. and a Ph.D in Plant Pathology.
Tim York is the President of Markon Cooperative Inc., a purchasing, marketing, and logistics cooperative serving North America's leading independent foodservice distributors. Based in Salinas, California, Markon distributes produce to forty-three facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
Mr. York has held numerous committee and task force positions, including serving as a member of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Council; chairman of the Produce Marketing Association (2002), Director of the PMA, 1993-1996; Chairman of PMA's Foodservice Division, 1994-1996.
FAQ
We subscribe to "Spray Safe" –- a grower-to-grower commitment to reduce risk to our workers in the field.
The Spray Safe industry initiative is a program developed by farmers to encourage increased communication and prevent incidents of pesticide drift, particularly those that impact farm workers and field crews.
Spray Safe program components include the following:
• An annual meeting with growers, pest control advisors, applicators and county Ag Commissioners to review the rules and regulations governing pesticide use and to share experiences and discuss concerns.
• California Tomato Farmers-sponsored ongoing education on improving existing practices or policies that will further enhance public safety.
• A CTF checklist to remind our growers and applicators about precautions that must be taken when applying pesticides.
• A concerted effort to support our growers getting to know neighboring farmers and to share phone numbers or contact information for owners, foremen and labor contractors who work and farm nearby.
• Spray Safe signage and informational materials for all of our growers to help spread the word about the need for vigilance and safety.
Our tomatoes are generally available from May through early December.
California Tomato Farmers have the only mandatory food safety program that employs governmental oversight for fresh tomatoes in California. It's a program that sets stringent standards and includes announced and unannounced government auditing of our farms to ensure compliance with recognized, science-based standards.
The Fresh Standard also requires that our growers adopt a Code of Social Accountability in Employment that covers our farm workers and participate in Spray Safe, a grower to grower commitment to reduce the risk to farm workers from pesticide use in the field.
Over fifty growers produce tomatoes for California Tomato Farmers. Our growers include family farms that have been producing tomatoes for multiple generations.
We've always grown tomatoes in the fertile soil of California. It's something we've been doing for generations. We know the soil. We understand that the right combination of fertile soil, warm sunny days, and understanding the micro-climate of a field will grow tomatoes of the highest quality and flavor and meet the needs of supermarkets, restaurants, and today's value seeking consumer.
In season, you'll find our tomatoes at supermarkets and restaurants in Canada, Mexico and the United States. To ensure your tomatoes are from members of California Tomato Farmers, ask your supermarket where their tomatoes came from.
And, if you're in California, remind your supermarket to support "Buy California" -- it's time to buy local -- and that means fresh tomatoes from California Tomato Farmers.
67% of customers surveyed by the Perishables Group said that price is a primary driver in their decision to purchase tomatoes.
