CARMEL VALLEY, CA - AndNowUKnow is extending our deepest condolences to all who were lucky enough to know Tom Nunes (T3), as the industry vet recently passed away on August 5 at the age of 95 in Carmel Valley, California. With a farming career spanning over 70 years, Tom is honored for his extensive leadership and innovation in the fresh produce industry.
Tom’s passion for ag was sparked at a young age, born into a farming family of Portuguese immigrants in Chualar, California. In his early years, Tom helped his father in the field. Beginning his career in the Salinas Valley, Tom started two successful grower-shipper companies and garnered various industry awards and honors throughout his tenure. Despite these honors, he would have said his greatest achievement and pleasure came from his family, including his three sons, daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, an obituary read.
In 1955, a good friend, Bill “Chopper” Brown approached Tom about starting a new company growing, harvesting, and shipping Iceberg lettuce. He and each of the five other partners invested $5,000 and grew 400 acres of Iceberg lettuce for their new company, Growers Exchange. The company enjoyed success with Tom as President from 1955–1965, ultimately growing and shipping out of Salinas, El Centro, Yuma, Phoenix, Aguila, and Alamosa. It was at Growers Exchange where Tom and his brother Bob Nunes began their lifelong partnership.
Tom and Bob worked six years together at Growers Exchange, leaving in 1966 to form Nunes Bros. of California, an integrated grower-shipper of fresh vegetables. Nunes Bros. immediately displayed innovation and creativity, driving industry evolutions with film-wrapped lettuce.
Recognizing his leadership at Nunes Bros. the Salinas Valley produce industry elected Tom to the Directors of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California Board of Directors, where he served as Chairman from 1967–1968.
In 1976, Tom and Bob went on to establish The Nunes Company, which eventually grew into a truly integrated grower-shipper that included shipping, cooling, growing, and harvesting operations.
“We had a great advantage of building a company and then selling it and getting to start over. It allowed us to look at what we did right and look at what we did wrong and build a better company,” Tom once said.
Tom believed that people were the company’s most important asset, and mutual loyalty and respect were evident as most of the top employees from Nunes Bros. returned to work with Tom and Bob at The Nunes Company.
Please click here to read Tom Nunes’ obituary in full.
Our hearts are with the Nunes family, The Nunes Company, and all who knew this beloved industry leader.
