Tom and Steve Church Will Receive Lifetime Honor
The Church Brothers founders will be honored for their agricultural legacy in Salinas on October 9.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Organic Food
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Tom and Steve Church, the co-founders of Church Brothers Farms, will receive the E.E. Gene Harden Lifetime Achievement Award on October 9, 2026. The award recognizes their decades of contributions to Central Coast agriculture.
Why it matters
The honor highlights the significant influence the brothers have had on the regional agricultural economy since they began their work in the local lettuce fields during the 1960s. Their request to have auction proceeds support the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex reflects their ongoing ties to the local community.
The brothers maintain a product portfolio of 600 fresh vegetable items across operations in California, Arizona, and Mexico. They previously earned The Packer's Produce Marketer of the Year award in 2016.
The players
Tom and Steve Church
They are the co-founders of Church Brothers Farms who started their careers in the Salinas lettuce fields.
Grower-Shipper Association of Central California
This organization represents agricultural interests and presents the E.E. Gene Harden Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sidney Church
He was a key figure who wrote the original bylaws for the Grower-Shipper Association.
The details
Tom and Steve Church established Church Brothers in 1999, growing the business from a small office with two desks into an agricultural leader. The company also formed True Leaf Farms through key partnerships with industry figures David Gill and Neil Milburn.
Timeline
The brothers began their careers in the lettuce fields during the 1960s.
Church Brothers was founded in 1999.
The brothers were named Produce Marketers of the Year in 2016.
The awards ceremony takes place on October 9, 2026.
Culture Shift
This recognition reflects a broader trend of honoring multi-generational agricultural leaders who helped modernize the Central Coast farming industry. It highlights the transition from family-run field operations to large-scale, international produce enterprises.
Residents may see increased activity at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex following the auction proceeds donation. The award highlights the continued economic importance of major regional agricultural employers to the local tax base.
The takeaway
The career trajectory of the Church brothers demonstrates how regional agricultural startups can evolve into international operations over several decades. Their transition from field laborers to industry leaders serves as a blueprint for long-term growth in the produce sector.
Further reading
Learn more about local farming developments in our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Perishable News.
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