GILROY, CA - It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Don Christopher, third-generation farmer, industry leader, and Co-Founder of Christopher Ranch and the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
Alongside his brother Art Christopher, Don Christopher helped co-found Christopher Ranch in 1956, according to Gilroy Life. Over the course of decades, the duo elevated the company to new heights, producing nearly 105 million lbs of garlic in 2022.
Throughout his impressive career, Christopher helped evolve the garlic industry, becoming one of the first to expand to value-added products like peeled, roasted, and jarred garlic.
On top of his role at Christopher Ranch, Christopher had a passion for philanthropic work and was involved in the Gilroy school system. He was committed to local education and bettering the lives of those in the Gilroy community.
Sharing his passion and knowledge about garlic with others, Christopher helped found the popular Gilroy Garlic Festival in 1978, when the first “unofficial first garlic festival” came to be. In 1979, the official first Gilroy Garlic Festival took place, welcoming over 15,000 attendees that year. Since then, the festival has raised more than $12 million to fund school programs and nonprofit organizations.
Christopher is survived by his wife, Karen, two sons, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
While he may be gone, Christopher's legacy and commitment to bettering the lives of others will live on. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.
