11/14/2025
In my heart, in my soul, it’s my factory. ​
That’s what I always say when people ask why I’ve been at Escalon for 42 years. This place feels like my second house. My husband works here too, and together we’ve built a life around these tomatoes. ​
I started sorting tomatoes back in 1983, then moved into the kitchen as a cook, and then to the control room as a control room assistant, and now I’m the supervisor overseeing the control room and batch pans. My job is to keep an eye on everything. The evaporators, kitchens, juice tanks, and most of the plant that is running. There’s a lot happening at once, but I like the challenge. ​
Safety always comes first. The juice in our evaporators can reach 200 degrees, so you have to think before you act. And when the tomato juice runs low, I’m the first to call out, More juice!​
​When the season ends, I work wherever they need me—warehouse, QC, custodian. No matter the job, I’m willing to do it. That’s what we all do here. ​
At home, I’m the same way. Always cooking, cleaning, helping my husband in the garden, and taking care of my family. I love using 6 in 1 in my salsas and soups, and Allegro Tuscan Tomato & Herb for pasta. Whether at work or in my kitchen, everything comes back to good tomatoes. ​
I love the people here, especially the people I work with. After all these years, I still feel the same way every time I walk through those doors.
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