Steve Smith
Steve Smith
Turlock Fruit Company
Turlock, California
“We are a medium sized family business. What keeps us going is the idea that if we work hard and are creative and continue to be good stewards of the land then there will be a future for us.”
Family:
Steve and his wife of 30 years, Kathy, reside in Turlock where they raised daughter Hilary, who is 28 and son Steve, who is 24. As far as hobbies go, “I like to snow ski and occasionally attempt to play golf, which is the right way to put it.”
History:
The Turlock Fruit Company has been synonymous with the cantaloupe industry for more than three-quarters of a century. In fact, the founder of the firm, Steve’s grandfather James H. Smith, was commonly called by his nickname, Cantaloupe Smith. He founded the firm in 1923 and it has been growing cantaloupes, honeydews and mixed melons ever since. In recent years, the firm has expanded its growing operations from its San Joaquin Valley roots to include production in the Imperial Valley and Mexico.