About Us

Sure-Fresh Produce, Inc. was started by Dale Johnson in 1986 after a discussion with one of the vice presidents of Del Monte in a goose blind in Brawley (Imperial Valley), California.  At that time, Dale was farming various vegetables and strawberries and operating a successful farm production consulting business.  A small plant was built by Dale in Lompoc, California with seed money from a couple of farmer friends who also provided a building and cooling facility.  A new business had begun!

Initially only fresh chopped celery was produced from byproduct of the fresh celery carton business.  Eventually, after traveling all over the United States, Dale convinced many other companies to buy the celery because of the excellent quality and value pricing.  As time went on, Sure-Fresh Produce, Inc. started freezing celery with a co-packer in Fresno, California.  In 1992 Dale obtained a building, with adjacent freezer storage next door, in Santa Maria, California.  All operations were moved from Lompoc and Fresno.  In 1993, Dale incorporated the company and business really started taking off.

Today

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Today Sure-Fresh Produce, Inc. packs many varieties of fresh and frozen vegetable ingredients for industrial and food service use.  The company also produces seed from its processing byproduct.  Raw product is grown directly by Sure-Fresh and many contracted growers from all over the state of California as well as Arizona and Mexico.  Sure-Fresh Produce is also a CCOF certified organic processor.

By being a small and spread out in various districts of California, Sure-Fresh is able to obtain most products year round.  Having a facility with ample area for growth (60,000 square feet), Sure-Fresh has been able to add new product lines at will.  Freezer storage includes a 180,000 square foot store room maintained at 10 degrees below zero.  Rail cars as well as up to 10 trucks can be loaded at one time.

Quality product and a safe environment are Sure-Fresh Produce’s primary objectives.  Quality and safety at Sure-Fresh is every employee’s concern.  From the shop fabricators to the sanitation crew, every employee participates in regular meetings to discuss safety as well as quality and production.  A team approach and open communications benefit all employees.  Microbiological testing is done on-site and is confirmed when necessary by Primus Laboratories of Santa Maria, a third party testing facility. Sure-Fresh has a thorough HAACP program in place.

Growth at Sure-Fresh would not have occurred without the approval of quality control auditors representing the biggest food manufacturers in the world.  Improvements in production and efficiency are a constant process at Sure-Fresh Produce, Inc.  When a customer buys product at Sure-Fresh, it is ready to go directly into a finished product.  Product is delivered with Just In Time (JIT) convenience.