In the crisp December air of Watsonville, California, the area strawberry fields of California Giant Berry Farms lie dormant, waiting for spring. But for employees of California Giant, the spirit of giving is always in season. While the company has built its reputation on delivering the sweetest, highest quality, sustainably grown berries to tables across the globe, their roots are firmly planted in community service and philanthropic giving.
“We are incredibly proud of our employees' generosity and passion for giving back,” said Joe Barsi, president of California Giant Berry Farms. “Their dedication to making a positive impact on our community is inspiring and reflects the values that our company was founded upon.”
For more than four decades, the Watsonville-based berry producer has cultivated not just award-winning strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, but also a legacy of community support that grows stronger with each passing season. During the holidays, this spirit of generosity shines especially bright through their participation in KSBW's Share Your Holiday event, supporting The Salvation Army's efforts across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.
California Giant is helping local families have a happier holiday with donations of new and unwrapped toys, clothing, blankets, food, bottled water, and monetary contributions. It’s just one of many examples of the company’s dedication to giving back. California Giant co-founder Bill Moncovich started the company with a vision that measures success not just in harvest yields, but in lives touched and communities strengthened.
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At California Giant Berry Farms, Giving Back Is Always in Season
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The numbers tell part of the story: over 40 million trays of berries shipped annually, reaching markets worldwide. California Giant is also the first strawberry supplier in the world to achieve the Sustainably Grown certification from SCS Global Services, as well as the USA’s First Fair Trade Certified Open Field Strawberry Operations. But the true measure of California Giant's success lies in the less tangible metrics – the families supported, the children fed, the communities strengthened. Their commitment to quality extends far beyond their agricultural practices to enhance the quality of life throughout their community.
As the holiday season unfolds, California Giant Berry Farms continues to demonstrate that when corporate success and community service grow together, they produce a harvest that nourishes both body and spirit.
Through programs like Share Your Holiday and its ongoing foundation initiatives, California Giant Berry Farms proves that the sweetest fruit of their labor is found in the ability to cultivate hope, support neighbors in need, and create positive change that ripples through generations. In an industry measured by seasons, California Giant Berry Farms has created something truly perennial: a legacy of giving that continues to bear fruit year after year.
California Giant's impact resonates throughout the community in countless ways. Their support extends to vital programs addressing food security, helping families bridge difficult times with dignity and hope. The foundation's signature events, including their largest fundraising event, the annual Skirt Steak BBQ fundraiser, and employee-led Bunko Nights, Gift Basket Raffles and Meal Occasions, have become beloved community traditions that generate crucial resources for local charitable organizations.
California Giant Berry Farms understands its role as a leader of community engagement and philanthropy. Highlighted each year around the holidays by partnerships with the Salvation Army and KSWB, these efforts are year-round. Learn more about California Giant’s legacy of giving back at www.californiagiantfoundation.org
– Jarl E. Saal, First Alarm founder
As members of the community who live here, work here, and shop here, the success of First Alarm and the success of our communities cannot be separated.”
California Giant’s philanthropic vision crystallized in 2015 with the establishment of the California Giant Foundation, which has since invested over $1 million in local nonprofits. Led by Bill Moncovich, whose generous nature inspires employees to give back, the California Giant Foundation matches employee contributions annually, creating a powerful engine for positive change across the Central Coast region.
The foundation's "Spreading Smiles" program represents a year-round approach to community service. Operating through four essential pillars – childhood obesity and nutrition, hunger and food insecurity, prevention and awareness, and community support – the program has forged meaningful partnerships with organizations like Monarch Women’s Services and Pajaro Valley Shelter Services. These collaborations create a web of support that catches those who might otherwise fall through society's cracks.
The California Giant Foundation
