In January 1958, the Grower Shipper Association moved into its current office in Salinas. While recently remodeled, the office still maintains its mid-century architecture and heritage.
“And so too will the Grower-Shipper Association continue to grow into the future, backed by the strength, commitment and expertise of a remarkable group of people.”
In 1930, 15 shippers were chosen by their peers to establish what is now known as the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA).
GSA’s original mission was to “…cultivate and create a spirit of cooperation among the members of the association, among the shippers and handlers of vegetables in the Salinas, Watsonville, Hollister districts, and receivers and handlers in other parts of the United States.” At that time, the main commodity grown and shipped was iceberg lettuce. In 1930, the Salinas-Watsonville District shipped 20,101 railcars of lettuce to Midwest and East Coast markets.
From GSA’s inception, the industry grew as quickly as innovations in agriculture and transportation created efficiencies and opportunities. By 1963, the one millionth railcar of iceberg lettuce was shipped from the region.
The founding decade was rich with industry innovations – many introduced by our early members. From the first-ever concept for lettuce cello wrap, the adjustment of truck axles enabling vehicles to straddle two beds in the field to the introduction of the basket system, the first successful field lettuce loader and the standardization of lettuce crates – the industry grew as quickly as the Association’s membership.
In the summer of 1930, Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association (GSVA) was founded with a committee of 15 shippers. The Association’s first President was Henry L. Strobel.
By 1955, vacuum cooling of head lettuce gained popularity in the industry and Bud Antle pioneered the use of cardboard cartons that held 24 heads of lettuce, instead of wooden crates that held 48 heads.
Today, the companies represented by the association are spread throughout the Central Coast and North America. Together they bring to the world’s table a diverse variety of commodities, including leafy greens, numerous vegetable crops, berries, and wine grapes.
The past has brought to the present a storied history of commitment, achievement, hard work, and the ongoing quest to generate new and better ideas. We are dedicated to protecting and enhancing the viability of our membership through creative approaches that address complex industry issues.
History is something that is continuously unfolding. And so too will GSA as we continue to grow into the future, backed by the strength, commitment and expertise of a remarkable group of people.
For the Grower-Shipper Association, the past has brought to the present a storied history…of commitment, achievement, hard work and the ongoing quest for new ideas. We are dedicated to providing new opportunities, programs and services to our members, including:
- New ways to address the complex and expanding issues facing the industry, from food safety and security to pest and plant disease prevention, control and eradication.
- Advocating for land use and improved water supply.
- Research and education to government, legislative and regulatory affairs.
- Worker safety, training to labor and employment law.
History is something that is continuously unfolding. And so too will the Grower-Shipper Association continue to grow into the future, backed by the strength, commitment and expertise of a remarkable group of people.
Advancing GSA’s Mission.
There are numerous compelling and challenging issues impacting farmers and farming in our region. Because agriculture is such a big part of life on the Central Coast and an economic driver, we understand that what impacts us, impacts the community.
GSA leadership focuses on helping farmers and farming companies address current challenges, identify emerging concerns and find solutions. Many of these challenges are unique to agriculture requiring a novel approach that will allow farmers to continue to farm, protect the livelihoods of employees and enhance the quality of life in our region.