Christopher Ranch, grower, packer, and shipper of California heirloom garlic for the fresh market, announces its commitment to accelerate the $15/hour minimum wage bill passed by California Legislation four years earlier than required by the state.
Recently, California moved to increase the state-wide minimum wage to $15/hour by 2022. However, Christopher Ranch plans to meet those expectations in 2018 with an increase to $13/hour in 2017 and then to $15/hour by July 2018, making them one of the only businesses in the United States to make that commitment.
From left to right: Bill Christopher, President, Ken Christopher, Vice President and Don Christopher, Founder
“Our commitment to corporate social responsibility is a cornerstone for our company, and we want to be an example not only for California-based companies, but for agribusiness as a whole,” said Ken Christopher, third-generation farmer and vice president at Christopher Ranch. “We believe that investing in people is one of the best things we can do to support our employees and their families – when our employees thrive, so does our business.”
With 800 full-time, year-round employees and over 1,000 employees seasonally, Christopher Ranch is one of the largest employers in South Santa Clara County in California. The company supports local community outreach and has been able to sponsor a Head Start Preschool and donate acreage to the school district for the building of a new high school – all of which was made possible from the community’s support of this local, family business.
Christopher Ranch seeks to set a tone within the industry that values people and community first. While crop expansion, upkeep, and environment are important, the company stands firm in its belief that, without people, their product wouldn’t make it onto family tables in the first place.
Photo: Ken and Bill Christopher
“The reward we see, both personally and in our own business, is what fuels our commitment to these types of initiatives,” added Christopher. “We’re thankful for the time and effort that our employees spend every day to ensure that our garlic is of the highest quality, and hope that these and other efforts help us demonstrate our gratitude.”
For more information, contact:
Sarah Bockholt
DMA Solutions
Tel: 214-206-3047