Taylor Farms

Taylor Fresh Foods (known colloquially as Taylor Farms) is an American-based producer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. It is based in Salinas, California. Taylor Farms[2] was founded by former Fresh Express (now Chiquita) founder and CEO, Bruce Taylor, in 1995. As of 2009, Taylor Farms is ranked as the world's largest salad and fresh-cut vegetable processor.[3] The company distributes their produce through third-parties like Golden State Foods to several California school districts and chain restaurants, such as McDonald's and Chipotle Mexican Grill.[4]

Taylor Farms
TypePrivate
Founded1995 as Taylor Fresh Foods
HeadquartersSalinas, California, US
Key people
Bruce Taylor, CEO
ProductsLettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, other Vegetables
Number of employees
20,000[1]
Websitewww.taylorfarms.com

History

Taylor Farms was established by Bruce Taylor, a third-generation member of a family engaged in the fresh produce industry. Prior to Taylor Farms, Bruce Taylor founded Fresh Express, which was later acquired by Wahquita Brands. In 1995, Bruce Taylor and a group of partners founded Taylor Farms.[5]

In May 2011, Taylor Farms acquired River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC, incorporating it as a wholly owned subsidiary. However, River Ranch later ceased operations in 2013.[6] River Ranch then closed in 2013.[7]

In August 2015, Taylor Farms inaugurated its downtown Salinas headquarters, a state-of-the-art facility spanning 100,000 square feet and costing $38 million. The headquarters serves as the hub for Taylor Farms' Foodservice, Retail, and Deli segments, accommodating approximately 150 employees.[8][9]

Operations

Taylor Farms supplies many of the largest supermarket chains and foodservice restaurants in the United States.[10] Taylor Farms headquarters are located in Salinas, California with 2,000 employees; and with regional processing plants with another 8,000 employees in the following locations: Salinas, California; Tracy, California; Gonzales, California; Yuma, Arizona; Dallas, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Smyrna, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Annapolis Junction, Maryland; Swedesboro, New Jersey; Quonset, Rhode Island; Chicago, Illinois; Kent, Washington and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.[10]

Taylor Farms has faced difficulties with labor shortages, labor contractors, and salaries.[11] In addition, the company has been subject to claims that they abused the 'temporary worker' contractors by keeping the 'temporary' employees as low-salaried long-term employees.[12][13]

In 2012, Taylor Farms introduced fuel cell technology as an energy efficiency development, cutting energy costs at one facility by 30%.[14] The company has also developed a facility utilizing power co-generation, wind, and solar energy.[15][16]

Food safety recalls

Taylor was one of the companies whose products were recalled due to food safety concerns in 2011, including a May recall of salads mixed with grape tomatoes supplied by Florida growers and an October recall of salad blends produced by Taylor. No illnesses related to consumption of the recalled products were reported.[17][18] Additional product recalls in 2012 included mangoes voluntarily removed August 30 by Taylor Farms New Jersey and retailers from East Coast food stores in four states.[19] Drew McDonald, vice president of national quality systems for Taylor, had testified at a 2009 house panel convened to consider the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. In this testimony, McDonald expressed the opinion that final-product testing doesn’t improve food safety and, in some cases, punishes good facilities for their surveillance when a problem is found.[3]

Teamsters Union protest

In 2016, members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a labor union, protested in front of Chipotle restaurants, aiming to pressure the chain to recognize their supplier, Taylor Farm, to the union.[20]

References
  1. "Our Story".
  2. "Bruce Taylor". Hartnell College Foundation / The Western Food Safety Conference. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  3. Sherry, Kristina (17 July 2009), "Farmers critical of food safety bill", Los Angeles Times, retrieved 10 September 2012
  4. Chamlee, Virginia (2016-04-14). "Why Chipotle Is Getting Hit With Farm Worker Protests". Eater. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  5. "Our Story - Taylor Farms". Taylorfarms.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  6. "Taylor Fresh Foods acquires River Ranch". Thepacker.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  7. "River Ranch fails to 'regain viability,' closes". Packer. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  8. Donnel, Jessica (18 August 2015). "Taylor Farms Opens its New Salinas Headquarters". Andnowuknow.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  9. "Produce giant Taylor Farms buys new Salinas building - from itself - for nearly $38 million". Montereycountyweekly.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  10. "Taylor Farms Locations". Taylor Fresh Foods. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  11. "Taylor Farms and employees reach pay raise agreement". Thecalifornian.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  12. Main, Capital and (28 May 2014). "The Dirty Truth Behind Fast Food Lettuce". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018 – via Huff Post.
  13. Carroll, Rory (23 November 2014). "Billion-dollar California salad company exploits undocumented migrants, say workers and Teamsters". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  14. "CORRECTED: Alternative energy powers Taylor Farms salads". Thepacker.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  15. "Taylor Farms wants to make food without fossil fuels". Techcrunch.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  16. "Taylor Farms Introduces Largest Solar Installation To Date". Foodmanufacturing.com. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  17. Rizzo, Denise Ellen (4 May 2011), "Salads with grape tomatoes recalled", Tracy Press, retrieved 10 September 2012
  18. Lunsfod, Mackensy (20 October 2011), "Taylor Farms recalls 3,625 cases of salad blends due to potential salmonella contamination", Mountain Express, archived from the original on 2011-10-22, retrieved 2019-09-11
  19. Collins, Nikkita (4 September 2012), "Mangoes recalled from campus Wawa", The Daily Pennsylvanian, retrieved 10 September 2012
  20. Castellon, David. "Union targets Taylor Farms through Chipotle". The Salinas Californian. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
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