Earl's Organic Produce

In 1975, you could find Earl Herrick at the entrance of Golden Gate Park selling fruits and vegetables from a converted beverage truck, one of the founding organic produce distributors in California.

He would eventually open up a single stall in the San Francisco Produce Market in 1988 and Earl’s Organic Produce was born.

Earl Herrick, Earl's Organic Produce

“When I opened up in the original City Market and there were only a few people that were offering organic at the time,” Herrick said. “The Bay Area was hungry for organic, product was tight, but production increased a little every year. My first distinct customer service lesson came when one of my vendors saved three boxes of organic red leaf because he knew I would need them.

“That was the foundation of my early values. At Earl’s we have a list of values and one is anticipation. You anticipate what your customer wants, and you provide it for them.”

From that single stall and a few employees, Earl’s Organic grew rapidly. In 1991 they moved to a larger warehouse in the Produce District and by 1996 their space had tripled. In 2006, they moved to a newer annex adjacent to the original market and today have a modern facility with multiple climate specific coolers.

“We are still the only dedicated organic house on the market, but everyone has something organic. That’s how established the organic trade is today," Herrick said. “Working with growers and exercising our experience and knowledge of growing regions, seasonality and quality allows us to be effective in serving both growers and end users. If you don’t have some organic product you are complete out of step.”

Herrick admits some of his success to being at the right place at the right time. “I love what I do. It’s a passion I’ve been able to keep alive for years and that’s the key to my success. That passion fuels me to do what I am supposed to be doing.”

Today, with over 100 employees, the company is looking to the bright future. Earl’s Organic Produce is proud to be an inaugural member of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SPUC) Clean Power SF “Super Green” Program. The company’s 30,000 square foot warehouse is now powered by 100 percent certified renewable energy. With the initiation of the Clean Power SF Program, Earl’s Organic Produce is focusing on becoming a zero waste and carbon neutral facility.

“We have a grant to install solar in our facility and will hopefully be testing out solar electric vehicles for deliveries in 2020. We are excited to be part of this early technological adaptation,” Herrick said

Herrick believes the organic fresh produce industry is in its infancy. “It will only continue to grow and be global. People will use that opportunity innovate. For instance, five years ago, there was a big gap in domestic blueberries. Now we have a year-round high-quality US crop because of ingenuity and innovation,” he said.

“There has been a transformation in our food culture," he continued. “Farmers markets have offered the opportunity to meet and connect with the grower and taste something that was picked that morning. We try to replicate that at Earl’s. People want to know where their food comes from and they want it to taste good.”

Ever the entrepreneurial optimist, Herrick said, “I am lucky enough to be here in this time and place. There is so much great stuff that’s come out of this industry and I believe it’s the best industry in the world to be in.

“Loving what you’re doing and being rewarded by the riches of other people enjoying it is invaluable. Isn’t it a joy to see the smile on someone’s face when they have organic mango juice dripping down their cheek?”