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JOHN GALVEZ, 39
Quality Assurance Director Markon
HQ: Salinas, CA
Hometown: Lindsay, CA
Hobbies: Playing guitar, photography, hiking, mountain biking Personal/Community: Married, two daughters
Motto in life: Earn your opportunities. Work history: Galvez began his career at Markon as a field inspector in 2000 and followed the seasonal vegetable crop transi- tions between Salinas, CA, and Yuma, AZ, as well as other key growing regions. With an eye for detail in the fields and packing facili- ties, he helped to strengthen Markon’s repu- tation for superior quality and yields. His role expanded to include some food safety and marketing responsibilities. He helped in developing the company’s “From the Fields” communications and YouTube videos, and has played a lead role in planning and presenting in front of large customer field tours. In 2011, the position of quality assur- ance director was created, and he has held that position ever since. He has taken part in regional supplier inspections across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and more recently has presented at training events for customer sales and marketing teams.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
On numerous occasions, I’ve happened upon some animal intrusion in a supplier’s field that was about to be harvested or a ques- tionable food contact surface in a processing facility, for example. I’m most proud of the fact that my efforts have helped make produce safer and have contributed to expanding the culture of food safety.
Q: What advice would you give someone new to the produce industry? Make it a point to show appreciation to the hardworking people in the fields and
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packing facilities who do such strenuous work under difficult conditions daily. Without them, we might all be out of a job.
Q: What do you think the industry can do to promote more produce consumption?
Give kids more exposure to produce opera- tions through school field trips to the farm. Getting them interested early and allowing them to make a connection to their food source can do wonders for growing their appreciation and appetite for healthy fruits and vegetables.
Q: What was the “aha” moment when you knew the produce industry was the best choice for you?
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to see the look on people’s faces when they first see how lettuce is harvested, or they bite into a fresh strawberry right out of the field on one of our customer tours. I can remember the first time that a visitor turned to me and said, “Thank you for showing me how my produce is grown and harvested. I’ll never takeitforgrantedagain.”Sincethen,Ireal- ized that I have a very unique job.
Q: What do you see as the most critical “hot button” issue facing the industry in the next decade?
The shortage of incoming labor to replace an aging workforce is the main concern I hear about and see firsthand out in the fields.
Q: How has the industry changed during your tenure?
The evolution and importance of food safety programs and best practices is by far the most significant change I have witnessed. The 2006 e.Coli crisis related to spinach was a huge turning point and caused the industry to come together and create the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and the Center for Produce Safety. These orga- nizations have been instrumental in setting benchmarks that are science-based.
Q: What has shocked or surprised you about the produce industry?
The amount of waste that gets left in the field or on processing room floors is astounding; it’s probably the No. 1 comment we get from visitors. I consider myself lucky to have access to so much pristine produce, but many people would be perfectly happy with something that is slightly misshapen or has a few minor blemishes.
MARK GARCIA, 39
Chief Financial Officer
Freska Produce International, LLC
HQ: Oxnard, CA
Hometown: Oxnard
Hobbies: Soccer, cycling, surfing Personal/Community: Engaged, two daughters, executive board member at Cal State-Channel Islands, volunteer/coach Fillmore girls softball, adjunct professor at California Lutheran University
Motto in life: Hard work always pays off. Work History: Garcia started working for Freska in 2009 as the controller. Previously, he had worked in the tech and insurance industry. Given that he is the only one in his family of first- and second-generation
immigrants to graduate from college, and the only one to obtain a degree in higher education, Garcia viewed the opportunity at Freska as his tribute to his family who worked hard in the fields and packing houses of Oxnard. In his early years with Freska, he was not afraid to jump in and learn something new to get the job done. His knowledge and duties extended beyond accounting, and at times he took on various other roles, including IT work. In early 2019, he was promoted to chief financial officer. He is known for his natural leadership and great work ethic. He finds value in training and mentoring his employees and peers.
Q: How have you changed during your tenure?
I have an appreciation for all the hard work that goes into being able to grab fruit and vegetables off the shelf at stores or farmers markets.
Q: What industry improvements would you like to see?
I would like to see continued increases in wages and benefits. We are still behind the curve. Companies must continue to share in the responsibility of not only paying their employees more but also offering more benefits for them and their families.
Q: What do you see as the most critical “hot button” issue facing the industry in the next decade?
The most critical issue is the impact our industry has on our environment. A lot of our packaging still is ending up in landfills, and here we are coming from an industry where we depend on the ground and water to be the best in order to produce the best.
Q: What are some of the more chal- lenging aspects of a career in the produce industry today?
One challenging aspect is the ability to get the new workforce to have the same work ethic from past generations. I have encountered potential employees wanting or requiring less work hours or the ability to work remotely. I think our industry is made up of a large portion of personal and busi- ness relationships. Keeping to those core
values one gets by meeting face-to-face on a regular basis reinforces those traits.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
I am most proud of becoming chief financial officer for Freska Produce because it made my mother and father the proudest of me. If it wasn’t for their sacrifices and struggles, I would never be where I am today. My father grew up in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, where my grandfather worked as a field laborer. My grandfather would tell me stories of when he used to see Cesar Chavez because they used to live in Delano, and how Chavez used to fight for them to have a better way of life. My mother grew up in the jungles of Sinaloa, where she lived in extreme poverty. Despite the lack of money and at times food, one thing that always prevailed in my parents’ household was love, respect and hard work.
‘Despite the lack of money and at times food, one thing that always prevailed in
my parents’ household was love, respect and hard work.’