This summer, members of the Associated Food Stores produce teams participated in the Robinson Fresh Produce Tour, an educational trip designed to deepen appreciation for the work that goes into getting fresh produce from the field to the shelf.
Sponsored by Robinson Fresh and several partner vendors including Sunkist, The Wonderful Companies, and Four-Star Fruit, the multi-day tour gave produce managers and team members an inside look at farming, harvesting, packaging, and the remarkable supply chain behind the fruits and vegetables AFS stores provide every day.
For ARO Produce Sales Manager Danni Barnhart, the tour reinforced just how much effort and passion drives the produce industry. “The thing that sticks out to me most every single time I go is how hard these people work and what they experience every day to get fresh food into grocery stores and into our homes,” Danni said. “It’s very humbling to me when I see how hard people work just to get that maybe not-so-perfect piece of fruit or vegetable here. It really opens my eyes.”
The tour highlighted both tradition and innovation. Attendees saw firsthand how technology like AI is transforming farming, with machines able to identify and remove weeds, helping growers manage labor challenges. Danni called it “incredible to see,” noting that tools like these are vital in supporting field workers and keeping crops healthy.
For Gibbs Bullen, produce manager at Valley Market in Eden, the trip was nothing short of a dream come true. With 57 years in the grocery business, Gibbs has devoted his life to produce. “Produce is my passion,” he said. “When Associated first started these tours, I was working at Ridley’s. Ever since I found out, I always wanted to go. I’ve been waiting 14 years to go on this tour.”
Gibbs recalled highlights ranging from miles of grape fields, to touring Sunkist lemon operations, and watching the processing of truckloads of carrots at Bolthouse. “The thing that amazed me is that they don’t waste one carrot,” he said. He was also struck by the scale, precision, and cleanliness of the facilities. “One of the things I learned was an increased empathy for all the things they go through on their end. You don’t know what they go through until you go on this tour. I had no idea these facilities were as clean as they are.”
For Gibbs, the trip was deeply personal and cathartic. “Leigh (Vaughn) and Kim (Smith) took good care of me,” he said, noting how meaningful it was to be included in an experience he’d long dreamed of. “It was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on.”
From carrot factories to lemon groves, to conversations with food scientists, the Robinson Fresh Produce Tour gave AFS produce leaders a rare opportunity to see the industry at its core. More than just an educational tour, it was also a reminder of the sweat, grit, and innovation behind every carrot, peach, or head of spinach customers take home.
