Tanimura & Antle Patriarch Receives Community Award
November 2009
Bob Antle Recognized for Improving Conditions for Farm Workers
SALINAS, CA – Tanimura & Antle’s Co-Chairman of the Board, Bob Antle, received the 2009 Ben Heller Award for Courage and Leadership at the Center for Community Advocacy’s (CCA) 14th Annual Dia de los Muertos Banquet held on November 1st. The event is held on Dia de los Muertos not only to honor current community leaders, but also to remember and celebrate the award’s namesake, Dr. Ben Heller.
The Heller Award is given annually to a member of the community who has shown courage, leadership and a strong commitment to the farm worker community and the goal of improving housing and health conditions throughout the Pajaro and Salinas Valleys. It is named in honor of Dr. Ben Heller, who served on CCA’s Board of Directors from its founding in 1988 until his death in 1994. Dr. Heller believed that all of us should be involved in finding solutions to the problem of substandard housing in our community.
Bob Antle received the award in acknowledgement of his long history of passionately taking up the health and housing cause for farm workers and their families. Mr. Antle’s initial involvement with CCA was on a CCA committee composed of both grower representatives and farm worker advocates, to consider the impact of health reform initiatives on farm workers and the agricultural industry.
Previously, Antle was instrumental in helping CCA and other social justice organizations defeat a ballot measure that would have placed limitations on non-profit, affordable housing developers, which would have adversely impacted farm workers. He also supported CCA and the Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc. (CHISPA), a premier affordable housing developer, during negotiations over the housing element of the Monterey County General Plan - the blueprint for future growth in Monterey County.
When contacted by CCA to inform him of the award, Antle replied, “Why me? Rick and Mike (his sons) run the company and Sue (his wife) runs the family.” His humility in the face of being honored is mirrored in the way he works. Bob is known and loved for his open door policy. He has always encouraged employees to share their ideas because be believes those ideas have helped make Tanimura & Antle the success it is today.
Community service and support is an integral part of the Tanimura & Antle philosophy. “We pride ourselves on being an involved and considerate community neighbor,” said Antle. “It is such an honor to be personally recognized by an organization like CCA that is doing such good work in the region.”
Tanimura & Antle’s commitment runs the gamut from caring for their workforce to supporting community agencies. The company has long provided health insurance for its employees and above market wages for its field workers. Its direct involvement with the community is reflected through the company’s involvement with the Tanimura & Antle Child Development Center, the Salinas Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Ag Against Hunger, The California Rodeo and the Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library at California State University, Monterey Bay.
For more information about Tanimura & Antle’s community involvement, visit their website, www.taproduce.com.
About Tanimura & Antle
Tanimura & Antle is an industry leader whose commitment to premium quality produce has remained strong since its formation in 1982. The Tanimura & Antle families combined more than 50 years of experience and knowledge to establish a produce company unrivaled in its quality products, innovation and dedication to growers, customers, consumers and employees. Today, as one of the largest independent lettuce growers in the United States, Tanimura & Antle farms more than 30,000 acres of rich, fertile farmland and ships a full line of premium fresh produce products throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.taproduce.com.
About Center for Community Advocacy
The Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) trains farm workers to form and lead neighborhood-based tenant and health committees that, themselves, advocate for improved housing and health conditions for farm workers and other low-income families in Monterey County and Santa Cruz County.
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