April 11, 2016

Graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Ag Business in 1975. Worked for Santa Clara Produce for 8 1/2 years. In 1983, co-founded Mission Produce, Inc., and is currently President / CEO with over 40 years in Agribusiness.

Mission is a leader in the global avocado industry, with operations in seven countries and seven states. Mission pioneered the use of regional avocado ripening and distribution centers in North America, and currently operates eight strategically located Forward Distribution & Ripening Centers, with three more under construction in Shanghai, Calgary, and the Netherlands.

In 2015 Mission opened two new state-of-the art packing and distribution facilities—one in Oxnard, California, and the other in Chao, Peru. In addition to California and Peru, Mission has facilities in Mexico and Chile, and sources from New Zealand and Columbia.

Mission is vertically integrated in Peru, with over 2,600 hectares of planted avocado trees in production, and 1,400 hectares of blueberries and mangos planted.

Steve has served on the Boards of Sunkist and the California Avocado Commission, is past chairman of the Produce Marketing Association. Past President of Ventura County Taxpayers Association; past chairman of Western Growers Association and director of the Cal Poly University Foundation (San Luis Obispo).

He was awarded The Packer’s “Produce Marketer of the Year” in 2003, and Cal Poly’s Alumnus of the Year for the School of Agriculture in 2003.

Steve resides in Santa Paula, California with wife, Shelly, and has two sons that both work for Mission Produce.