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Meet Daren Cliff: Colleague of The Morning Star Company since 2024.

Meet Daren Cliff, one of Morning Star’s newest and dynamic team members. Daren joined us in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our enterprise. His mission here is clear and ambitious: to achieve our sales objectives while meeting our enterprise goals.

Daren's journey to Morning Star began about eight years ago when he first came across a Harvard Business Review article about our company. Intrigued by the people and the entrepreneurial spirit of our enterprise, he was drawn to join us. Since starting, he’s described Morning Star as innovative, honorable, and dynamic—qualities that resonate deeply with him.

Prior to joining Morning Star, Daren’s career was predominantly in the wine industry, where he excelled in business development, sales, and strategy. His extensive background includes experience across both distribution and production tiers. Interestingly, his professional journey also took him to URS Corporation as an assistant project manager, where he worked on CEQA and NEPA compliance within the Energy sector—a unique and varied experience that adds to his diverse skill set.

While Daren’s transition into the tomato world is new—particularly in gaining a foundational understanding of our products and processes—his determination and eagerness to learn are evident. Outside of work, Daren is passionate about mountain biking. He relishes the camaraderie with his riding buddies and the opportunity to explore beautiful locations across California and beyond. Next spring, he's looking forward to a biking adventure with his friends in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.

Daren's personal life is equally vibrant. He and his wife, Jennifer, who is involved in marketing for their local Chamber of Commerce, have one amazing and talented daughter, Parker. Parker is a Division 1 athlete at the University of Georgia, studying Agribusiness and Applied Economics. The family enjoys cooking and baking together, with a particular fondness for sourdough. They’ve maintained a sourdough starter for a very long time and bake bread at least a few times a week.

They also love traveling, with Europe being their favorite destination. They have fond memories of a magical Christmas holiday in Italy and are currently planning a trip to Spain for this Christmas season. Additionally, skiing and watching Parker’s competitions are family favorites.

A fun fact about Daren is that he and Jennifer were the founders and original publishers of the food magazine Edible Sacramento. His hobbies extend to playing guitar, reading, and gardening, with favorite pastimes including mountain biking, indulging in Italian cuisine, and enjoying live music.

As for his future aspirations, Daren doesn’t have a specific wish list but strives to make each day the best it can be, both personally and professionally. On his bucket list, he hopes to see the Great Pyramids and the Northern Lights, ideally with his family by his side.

Daren’s blend of experience, passion, and enthusiasm makes him a valuable asset to our team, and we’re excited to have him as part of the Morning Star family.

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Meet Emanuel Garcia: Colleague of The Morning Star Company since 2017.

Meet Emanuel Garcia, an invaluable member of our Morning Star Quality Control team. He began his journey in 2017, working as a seasonal bin assembler at our Liberty Packing facility. Emanuel quickly showcased his skills, dedication, and passion, and by the following season, he started working as a quality control technician in the bulk ingredient laboratory. Over two seasons, he honed his expertise in quality control processes and procedures for tomato products.

In 2020, Emanuel joined the Morning Star family full-time as a Quality Control colleague. He primarily oversees quality control operations in the canning department, as well as the other Morning Star bulk ingredient laboratories. This role allowed him to continuously learn and grow, benefiting from the wealth of knowledge shared by experienced QA/QC colleagues.

Emanuel first heard about Morning Star from family members who worked here. He was drawn to the company by the potential for professional development, the supportive environment, and our unique Mission Focused Self-Management philosophy. When asked to describe Morning Star, he highlights "Teamwork, Freedom, and Respect" as core values that define his experience.

One thing he finds most challenging about working within Morning Star’s Self- Management culture is engaging and gaining agreement among colleagues. In his own words, “We have many brilliant minds working for the company, and everyone thinks differently; sometimes trying to get everyone on the same page is challenging.” However, he sees this not as a deterrent but as an opportunity for innovation and collaboration.

Emanuel’s background in food microbiology research at the Universidad de Guadalajara provided a solid foundation for his current role. There, he balanced academic studies with practical research, conducting fieldwork, performing microbiological analyses, and validating methods. He especially recalls the instance when he performed an antibiotic susceptibility test for bacteria.

Family plays a central role in Emanuel's life. He married his wife in 2021, and they now have a one-year-old daughter. His parents' cultural roots are from Mexico, so he cherishes the time he’s spent traveling through Mexico with his spouse and looks forward to continuing these adventures as a family.

Outside of work, Emanuel is passionate about exploring new places, meeting people, trying different foods, experiencing diverse cultures, and connecting with family through reunions. He enjoys family gatherings, walks in the park, watching Netflix, and playing video games, with a particular fondness for action, science fiction, and adventure movies like the Avengers series.

Looking ahead, Emanuel aspires to be a supportive husband and father while achieving personal and professional goals. He dreams of purchasing a home in California and investing in Mexico. Professionally, he aims to continually enhance his skills and knowledge, striving for excellence in his role at Morning Star.

Emanuel Garcia's journey at Morning Star is a testament to his dedication and commitment to quality control, making him a vital part of our team.

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Meet Skeeter Bethea: Colleague of California Sun Grower Services since February 2023.

Skeeter Bethea joined Cal Sun Grower Services/Morning Star in February of this year and has now completed his first season working with the logistical operations team.

He quickly learned the ins and outs of a self-managed company, getting to know colleagues and their missions. Skeeter soon realized how important building relationships and mutual trust is in this dynamic environment. Additionally, he realized that the processing tomato industry is significantly more fast-paced than the fresh market tomatoes, but Skeeter thrives on that intensity.

Although this may have been Skeeter’s first season working with processing tomatoes, his roots run deep in farming. Skeeter grew up working the land and managing farms. As a 4th generation Florida vegetable grower, farming is in his blood. Despite initially choosing a college course to become a vet, his passion for agriculture prevailed.

After spending 20 years in the fresh market farm industry in Florida, Skeeter recognized that variety development and greenhouse use were the future of growing, and he found a new passion. His career with Ena Zaden marked the beginning of this journey, where he quickly discovered the complexity of greenhouse growing, thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.

Over the years, Skeeter gained experience with several other growing-focused companies, including delving into the medical cannabis production world, which was an experience of its own. Eventually, he landed in central California.

Skeeter met his wife Danielle while working for Ena Zaden, and they recently celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary. She is a Salinas, CA native, and that is where they call home today, along with her three daughters, who live nearby.

They mutually love spending time at the beach, but joke about her preference for the cooler climate of the northern CA coast versus Skeeter’s love of the warm Florida beaches and water. Their weekends are filled with hiking the rolling coastal hills, watching the sunset, attending church, and cooking—especially fresh fish, which was always abundant growing up in Florida.

Right: Wife and CA Family | Left: Florida Family

Most of Skeeter’s side of the family lives in Florida. He has a son and daughter, and between his two sisters, he has 16 nieces and nephews. He greatly enjoys traveling back home for yearly visits, especially their annual 4th of July family vacation to Lake June, in Lake Placid, FL, where they spend most of their time bass fishing.

Skeeter is an MLB baseball and college football fanatic. He also loves to go hunting and play cards, but fishing is something he finds great joy in. He particularly enjoys participating in Billfishing tournaments in Florida, a team sport that requires strategic planning and equal participation by all on board. His fondest memory was managing to catch a 450lb Marlin that earned his team second place.

Left: Marlin | Right: Mahi Mahi

When Skeeter talks about the future, his philosophy is “seize the day.” Having survived catastrophic car wrecks, wild animal attacks, and stage 4 cancer, his perspective on life is to have fun, not to sweat the little things, appreciate every sunrise, and not to put off until tomorrow what can be done today.

Those who know him enjoy his bright and positive personality, mixed with a bit of mischief and a good laugh. Friends are held tight, and new connections are always welcome.

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Meet Kristin Garrido: Colleague of The Morning Star Company since 2018.

Kristin is a force of nature, known for her infectious smile, boundless energy, and a heart that beats for life’s experiences.

Her journey into Morning Star began in December 2018 with a simple goal – to be a full-service tomato ingredient supplier to our unique customers, providing top-notch services and supply chain solutions. She hit the ground running and quickly built lasting relationships and expanded her outreach with unwavering optimism.

She first learned of Morning Star through her husband, Javier Garrido, a current colleague of Morning Star. She also witnessed the dedication of her in-laws, Laura De La Garza and Christian Garrido, who have been with the company for over two decades. This family connection reassured her that she was joining something truly special.

Within Morning Star and at home, Kristin finds constant support from her husband, Javier, as well as her in-laws, Laura and Christian, who are not only family but also her biggest cheerleaders and mentors. She is also mom to one very spoiled dachshund named Watson, who, fun fact, had his debut as a pet model for Morning Star’s hotel, Hotel Mission de Oro.

Before Morning Star, Kristin's career in Sales and Service taught her valuable skills in issue resolution and personalized customer experiences. She quickly learned how to master adapting her communication style and fostering lasting customer relationships.

As the eldest of three siblings, Kristin embraced early on the importance of supporting her younger siblings, Chelsea and Nicholas. With both siblings now having children of their own, being an aunt has brought her immeasurable joy.

Beyond work, Kristin's adventures reflect her vibrant spirit. She's conquered the Pacific Crest Trail, not a feat easily taken on, volunteered teaching English and math in Uganda, and found her true self in the great outdoors. Hiking is a passion of hers. It allows her time to reflect on the past, appreciate the present, and dream of the future. She feels like the best version of herself out on the trail.

As you may have noticed, Kristin is driven by her commitment to health and well-being with a keen interest in longevity and geroprotective activities. She fully expects to live well into her 90s!

Kristin can be described as a multifaceted individual with a passion for reading, board games, and global vegetarian cuisines. Her love for culture and adventure fuels her exploration of new horizons. As she envisions the next decade, Kristin dreams of continued growth at Morning Star, more travel with her husband, and a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, traditions, and beliefs.

Kristin Garrido isn't just a colleague; she's a heartwarming presence in our Morning Star family. We're proud to have her with us and look forward to the remarkable future she'll create.

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Meet Brad Ross - Foodservice Sales Colleague of The Morning Star Company since 2015

Meet Brad Ross, the foodservice sales colleague at Morning Star who brings enthusiasm, creativity, and passion to his work every day. He is always willing to go the extra mile to meet the needs of his customers and colleagues alike, and he truly enjoys his work.

Brad’s role at Morning Star is to sell pouch tomato products on the national and international levels, while gathering market intelligence to support and promote pouch products with the intention to sell.

Before joining Morning Star, Brad spent 25 years in the restaurant business, working for chain accounts as well as owning five restaurants where he was the chef. Brad is a man of many talents and surprises, and it turns out he was a licensed real estate auctioneer across the country. He even went to auctioneer school for two weeks! He enjoyed traveling to different cities and meeting new people, and he says the experience was a nice change from the restaurant industry.

When asked how he first learned about Morning Star, Brad shared that he found the foodservice sales job listing on a recruiting website, but it only said, "foodservice representative," not the company it was for. He was intrigued. During his in-person interview, he was asked, “what would your sales strategy be to sell pouched tomato products to restaurants vs. canned tomato products?” Brad answered, “I would put on my chef coat, walk right back to the kitchen, and talk to the chef directly from a chef-to-chef perspective.” They were impressed by that answer, and the rest is history.

The foodservice pouch program has grown incredibly fast in the eight years since he started, and there are a lot of moving parts and job responsibilities, but Brad enjoys a good challenge, and it keeps him growing as an individual and a colleague.

When Brad's not at work, he loves nothing more than spending time with his family. He and his partner, Jen, have five kids from their previous relationships, ranging in age from 13 to 30. They're a tight-knit group who love watching football together, exploring new restaurants, and taking staycations. Brad is quite the chef, and he loves to cook for his loved ones. They enjoy the Christmas holiday and Jenn absolutely loves decorating the house during that time of year. Brad is also an avid racquetball player, having played in many tournaments in the past.

Looking ahead to the next ten years, Brad’s personal wish list includes doing a lot more traveling. He would like to go to a new country every year, and some cities and countries at the top of his list are Portugal, Spain, Prague, Hungary, Milan, Florence, Naples and so many more.

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Meet Saul Alarcon - Colleague of The Morning Star Packing Company since 2010

Hard-working and value-driven, Saul has been a part of the Morning Star/Cal Sun Growers’ family for 13 years. He often describes himself as the "happiest colleague at Morning Star" because he is passionate about his mission and loves what he does. His enthusiasm for research is contagious, apparent in the team he has created for Agriculture Research and Development here at Morning Star. As the most experienced colleague in the department, his team recognizes and appreciates his mentorship and guidance.

As you have most likely read in recent newsletter articles, Saul has played a major role these past few years in the development and success of Gradient Crop Yield Solutions, a sister company to Cal Sun Grower Services. Saul and the team have been instrumental in advancing what they call “Smart Farm Management” by leveraging and integrating technology to help farmers make informed decisions.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, what is most impressive is that Saul somehow finds the time to continue his education. He is now in the process of finishing his Master's Degree from Iowa State University, while working 80+ hours a week and spending quality time with his family. In looking a little deeper into who he is as a person, it’s clear that education and maintaining solid personal standards are at the core of Saul’s values, with the concept of “happiness” leading the way.

Personal Commercial Mission Statement:

Contribute to the development of a solid agriculture research and development program aimed to generate technological advances to enhance tomato yields, quality and profitability of both tomato growers and Morning Star operations.

Here is a peek into some of the things that have contributed to making Saul the colleague he is today:

How did you first learn about Morning Star?

I learned about Morning Star in 1993 when I was working for Campbell Soup Company in Guasave Sinaloa, Mexico. A US executive who visited us one day characterized the Morning Star brand as synonymous with modernity. Thirteen years after coming to the US in 1997, I started my career at Morning Star.

Before working at Morning Star, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

At one time I was developing agriculture technologies to fight against tomato insects and diseases.

What are 3 words to describe Morning Star?

Leadership. Innovation. Success.

What drew you to Morning Star originally?

I was drawn to Morning Star’s massive size and vast involvement in the tomato industry.

What do you find most challenging at Morning Star?

It has been a challenge adjusting to the Mission-Focused Self-Management culture.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years?

My health, more opportunities to grow professionally, and to continue having fun in my job.

Tell me about your previous work experience.

I have had many challenging jobs before my time with Morning Star, but they allowed me to acquire valuable experience in the ag industry and to develop important business relationships.

Tell me about your family.

My wife Celina and I have a happy, humble family that enjoys life every single day! I have two kids, daughter Celina Elena, age 25 and son Marco, age 21. Celina Elena lives in Madera, CA, where she works at the Madera County library. Marco resides in Davis, CA, where he is pursuing a degree in Neuroscience at UC Davis. We enjoy eating out together, but mostly prefer to relax at home having quality family time.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy riding my road bike, I love playing (and watching) basketball, and listening to music. I recently started a business venture with my family back in Mexico.

What is your favorite book?

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, which is a fascinating ancient Chinese military treatise that remains strategically relevant to business and everyday life today.

What’s on your bucket list?

My mission in life is to do my best to show my kids, every single day, the value of education and the importance of maintaining solid personal values as the backbone for their success in life. As a professional, I would like to believe, at the end of my career, that I contributed to the improvement of worldwide agriculture in a meaningful way.

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Meet Angela Krueger - Colleague of The Morning Star Packing Company since 2019

Angela joined the Morning Star family in the spring of 2019 and didn't waste time settling in as one of our domestic industrial sales colleagues. She brought over 20 years of experience in the food industry and has been instrumental in several internal projects over the past few years. Her driven and persistent nature is a natural fit with our company culture. She hit the ground running and hasn't looked back since.

If you ever have the pleasure of talking with her, listen carefully and you'll catch a hint of her Wisconsin accent. Her bright and cheery demeanor pulls you in instantly, and you soon find yourself in an engaging and joyful conversation. If you play golf, you will immediately find common ground. Angela is an enormous golf enthusiast and a bit competitive, which adds to her charm.

Here is a peak into some of the things that have contributed to making Angela the amazing woman she is today:

Personal Commercial Mission Statement:

Be a trusted adviser for tomato ingredients for current and target customers with a focus on vetting prospects in order to secure new business while minimizing broker utilization.

How did you first learn about Morning Star?

Morning Star was a customer of mine at my previous job. Fortunately, when circumstances changed with my previous company, Morning Star welcomed me with open arms to join their team. I am incredibly grateful.

Before working at Morning Star, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I was part of a non-profit program for Goodwill Industries that provided job training and work history for those that needed assistance in our community through a café environment. Incredibly challenging and equally rewarding.

What are 3 words to describe Morning Star?

Innovative. Transparent. Driven.

What drew you to Morning Star originally?

Morning Star’s self-management culture is something that is in my guts, having had my own business for 18 years. I relied heavily on my employees to help grow and improve our business. I truly valued their feedback and input and know we would not have been as successful without them. Morning Star offers the same opportunity for their colleagues.

What do you find most challenging at Morning Star?

The most challenging thing about working here is navigating through tough industry circumstances with our customers, knowing that I could impact their business success. It is a lot of responsibility, and I have empathy, especially for the smaller customers having been in their position myself.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years?

I am at the point in my life where I just want to have purpose in everything I do and focus on the health and happiness of myself, my family and loved ones. My children are almost grown and out of the house and I am feeling a sense of contentment entering my life.

Tell me about your family.

My husband, Roy, and I celebrated 25 years together earlier this year, an incredible milestone in our relationship. We have two daughters, 16 & 21, both redheads, that challenge and amaze us every day with the women they are becoming. We also have a cat (Tanner) who is 7, and the newest addition is Delilah (Lyla), our cocker spaniel who will be 2 in November.

Tell me about your previous work experience.

I have always been in the food industry since my working career started in high school. I’ve worked in fast food, was a restaurant server, owned my own coffee shop/roastery, a non-profit café, wine bar consultant, and eventually customer service in the food packaging industry, which brought me to California from Wisconsin 6 years ago. Being a part of the ingredient side of the food industry is just another part of the food supply chain that I can contribute to.

People would be surprised if they knew________ about you.

People would be surprised if they knew how I grew up. Living in rural Wisconsin for most of my life has had a major impact on who I am today. From getting my first gun at ten years old to riding dirt bikes and hunting in the woods behind our house. We had very little growing up, and I was taught to be thankful and make the best of what you had.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have always played some sort of sport since I was about 5 years old, including baseball, softball, volleyball, bowling, and most recently golf (which I am completely obsessed with). My husband and I typically try to get out every weekend, which allows us to spend quality time together doing something we both love.

What’s on your bucket list?

I would love to travel outside of the United States. England, New Zealand, South America, and Europe are some of the top places I hope to visit. I am fascinated by other cultures and economies and would like to experience them firsthand as much as possible.

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