Rick Antle, CEO of Tanimura & Antle, Passes Away

Rick-Antle

Rick Antle, CEO of Tanimura & Antle

Rick Antle, CEO of Tanimura & Antle, died Saturday, April 14, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 61. During his long career, he helped shape the vegetable growing industry of today.

“The lesson that can be learned from Rick is to always be looking at continuous improvement within your company,” says Tom Nassif, President and CEO of Western Growers. “Rick was never a person satisfied with status quo and was willing to take risks that looked at new technologies and improvements with business processes. What may be most instrumental was how Rick treated employees as an integral part of the Tanimura & Antle success.”

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In fact, in Antle’s opinion, his greatest accomplishment was finding ways to help everyone working for Tanimura & Antle, including field workers, to live a good life. He made that a priority from the beginning of his career, introducing 401(k) to all employees in the 1980s. He continued to create programs that benefit employees throughout his career.

Jim Bogart, President & General Counsel of Grower Shipper Association, describes two of Rick’s major and recent accomplishments.

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“The first was his amazing leadership in addressing the need for farmworker housing here on the Central Coast. Rick was instrumental in the planning and building of the Spreckels Crossing farmworker housing project, which today is home to some 800 Tanimura & Antle employees. The second was his leadership in creating an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) which gives its many employees an actual stake in Tanimura & Antle’s operation. Something truly innovative in the industry,” Bogart says.

“What we can learn from Rick is to not fear taking a strong stand and think ‘what can be,’ and always look toward improving the supply chain and ultimate consumer satisfaction,” Nassif says.

Through all of these efforts, Antle earned respect, even from his competitors.

“No doubt, Rick was the toughest of competitors. He, like his father, was not afraid to engage industry change, and he made change through innovation and leadership,” says Tom Nunes, Jr., President, The Nunes Company.

Another competitor, Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Taylor Farms, has similar views.

“Rick was a leader in the creation of a fantastic business in Tanimura and Antle, and he leaves behind a rich legacy. I will miss our competitive fun, his appetite for risk, his positive energy, and his succinct way with words,” Taylor says.

His local community also took note of Antle’s endeavors. His local newspaper wrote an unusally eloquent obituary, saying, “Rick Antle was on a mission to create a compassionate, conscientious agribusiness of the 21st century when he died on Saturday, April 14.”

Services for Rick Antle, a celebration of life ceremony, are scheduled for  will be held at Friday, April 27 at the Tanimura & Antle headquarters at 2 p.m. in Spreckels, CA. The family requests that donations be made to The Rick & Tonya Antle Community Foundation Fundcfmco.org/AntleFund in lieu of customary remembrances.

The Industry Honors Rick Antle

On What They Learned From Rick

Tom Nassif, Western Growers: Rick was engaged, generous of his time and resources and leaves a legacy of engagement, which we should all look to emulate.

Jim Bogart, Grower Shipper Association of Central California:  I think the best lesson I learned from Rick is the value of forming effective relationships and lasting partnerships with people.  The best example of this is the Antle family’s extraordinary and inspiring relationship with the Tanimura family.  Different heritages and cultures to be sure, but a shared vision and core values has resulted in a company that has thrived for more than 35 years and will continue to be a leader in the years to come.  I can’t think of a better legacy.

On How He Impacted Their Lives

Tom Nunes, Jr., President, The Nunes Company: Ricks passing is a true loss for our industry and for me personally. He was a competitor and a friend and I will miss his generosity and courage.

Bogart: This is truly a significant loss for agriculture, not just here on the Central Coast, but for the nation and the world.  Rick not only made a significant and lasting contribution to agriculture, but also to the community.  He was so generous to so many.  While I am deeply saddened by his passing, I will take great comfort in having had the honor of working with him on so many things over so many years.  He was a good friend whom I will miss dearly.

Nassif: I would say, the quality he had which had the most profound effect on me is “Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.”  He was creative, progressive, enlightened — a true innovator.  I’d like to think I’ve demonstrated some of these characteristics and qualities in my professional career.

Todd Brendlin, Ranch Manager, Grimmway Farms: I remember Rick having the natural skill at being able to conceptualize new ideas versus traditional ones. “Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.”

Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Taylor Farms: Rick and I grew up as neighbors in the 5th grade. Our grandfathers were partners in the produce industry’s first vacuum cooling operation in Salinas. We have been friendly competitors for over 35 years and enjoyed the journey. I have always admired Rick and his family for driving innovation in fresh produce growing and harvesting practices, developing unique commodity varieties and the great respect they have for their people.

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