Growers Express

Mike is a fifth generation Salinas, Californian. He attended Salinas High School and graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

After college, Mike worked for Soil Serve, where one of his customers was David Gill, a major grower in the Salinas Valley. In 1981, David and Mike became partners in a new farming operation. Mike describes himself as the "harvesting, packing, numbers guy--not the farmer guy." Among his many duties and responsibilities are the planning and logistics side of the business and following through on all programs.

In 1986, Mike and David teamed with five other major growers in the Salinas Valley to form Growers Vegetable Express. Together the partners formed one of the most innovative and respected fresh vegetables growing and farming operations in the North America.

Mike has some very basic and straightforward rules with his business dealings: First, always be fair and honest: Second, don't burn bridges; and last, but most important: be open minded and non-judgmental.

Always up to new challenges, Mike believes the ever-changing fresh produce industry presents new and unique opportunities every day. To that end, Mike is continually looking for ways to stimulate cost-savings, while exploring new ideas and techniques in the production of fresh vegetables.

In his free time Mike enjoys hunting and golfing. He and his wife, Alice, have two grown children, Jason and Katie.