The 76th annual Grower-Shipper golf tournament and gala events were highlighted by the presentation of the Association's E.E. "Gene" Harden Award for Lifetime Achievement in Central Coast Agriculture to Bob Antle. A capacity crowd at GSA’s dinner dance on June 21 honored Bob for not only his lasting and significant contributions to agriculture, but also his extensive and longtime generosity to many philanthropic and educational institutions and endeavors in our community.
Robert V. Antle (Bob) was born in Salinas, California November 10, 1935. While a student in 1949, he joined his father, Bud Antle, and grandfather at the family’s lettuce harvest operation. During this time, Bob worked as a loader, met the Tanimura family, and developed the relationships that eventually led to the formation of Tanimura & Antle, Inc.
After graduating from Stanford, Bob’s first job was directing the Company's carrot business “Antle Carrots.” Bob then moved into Sales and Marketing eventually becoming the General Sales Manager. In 1966 he relocated to the East Coast to develop the House of Bud, a wholesaler of fruits and vegetables. Under Bob’s leadership and direction, the House of Bud opened facilities in New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Brussells, Belgium.
In 1972, Bud Antle unexpectedly passed away at age 58 after a most amazing career of industry leadership. Bob, following his father’s leadership and example, then became the CEO of all Antle activities. After six years of further developing and growing these businesses, Bob merged the Bud Antle companies with Castle & Cooke, Inc. (now Dole Food Company, Inc.) and joined their senior management.
Bob served on the Castle & Cooke Board of Directors until 1982 when he formed Tanimura & Antle by joining the Antle’s strong packing and shipping expertise with the Tanimura’s growing expertise. Bob Antle and George Tanimura became the Co-Chairmen of the Board when the partnership formalized and the two families combined over 50 years of mutual friendship, respect and experience to create Tanimura & Antle, Inc. Now after over 30 years in business together, the Company today is managed by the next generation of Antles and Tanimuras.
Through the years, Bob is credited with implementing several major produce industry initiatives, such as wrapping fresh vegetables in the field (1960), developing distribution centers for the introduction of wrapped lettuce and other source packaged fruits and vegetables (1965), and producing crop transplants (1970). Bob is known and respected for his innovation, straightforwardness, and open door policy for all employees. He has always encouraged employees to share their ideas, because he feels that these ideas helped make him the success he is today.
Bob is Co-Chairman of the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute, President of Southern Arizona Ranch Company, LLC, President of Pinnacalitos Chalone, LP, past president of the President’s Council, at California State University Monterey Bay, and Founding President of Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc. Bob also actively supports the University of Arizona. In March 2005, he was appointed to the California State Senate Commission: Agricultural Worker Housing and Health.
Source: Grower-Shipper Association of Central California
