FOWLER, Calif., – For the past 12 years, Steve Gullihur has started his work day at Bee Sweet Citrus at 6:00 am sharp. As a member of its sales team, he took advantage of a quiet office space to prepare for the day; but after 36 years of dedicated work in the produce industry, Gullihur has decided to officially hang up his phone and retire.
“Working as a part of the Bee Sweet sales team has truly been a rewarding experience,” stated Gullihur. “There’s so much that goes into building relationships with your customers, and everything that we do is a team effort.”
A Southern California native, Gullihur grew up far removed from the produce industry. It wasn’t until he moved to the Central Valley to study at California State University, Fresno, that he began to consider a career in agriculture.
“While I was a senior at Fresno State, I worked on the campus dairy unit as a relief milker and interned with FMHA (Farmer’s Home Administration), which is a loan agency for farmers,” said Gullihur. “Upon graduation, I applied for a buying position with Grand Union and that’s how I got my foot in the produce industry.”
Gullihur worked for Grand Union for 16 years, and later worked for Priority/Crown Jewels. Eventually, he saw a posting for a sales position at Bee Sweet Citrus and applied for it.
“I remember looking at the job posting on Blue Sky and thinking that it would be a great fit,” said Gullihur. “Shortly after applying, I received a call and was later interviewed by Joe Berberian.”
Over the past 12 years, Gullihur has managed over 20 accounts for Bee Sweet Citrus and has described his time working for a family owned and operated company as memorable and rewarding.
“Steve’s personality and work ethic have been an incredible asset to our sales team,” said Bee Sweet Citrus Sales Representative Joe Berberian. “The relationships he has developed over the years have helped Bee Sweet to grow and we wish him all the best during this next phase of his life.
When asked what he will miss most about work, Gullihur responded with, “the personal, daily relationships” he has built over the years. He noted that after working for 12 years with his colleagues, they have become family.
“Bee Sweet Citrus is grateful for all of the years that Steve has worked as a member of our team,” said Bee Sweet Citrus President Jim Marderosian. “There are not many experienced people like him in the produce industry, and we are fortunate to have Steve close out his career with the Bee Sweet team.”
Gullihur and his wife will be moving to Wisconsin in June, where they plan on fixing up their new home and enjoying the new weather and scenery.
A grower, packer and shipper of California citrus, Bee Sweet Citrus is an emerging leader in today’s agriculture industry. Founded in 1987, Bee Sweet Citrus is a family owned and operated company, and provides over 15 different varieties of citrus to its consumers! Located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, Bee Sweet is focused on innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction.
Source: Bee Sweet Citrus
