[Home] [Company Profile] [Products] [News & Events] [Recipes] [Contact] Vessey & Company, Inc. was founded by Elton Vessey when he and his wife, Maude, moved to the Imperial Valley, California, in 1910. They became one of the pioneers in agriculture in the Imperial Valley. In 1942, they moved to Hollister, California, with company operations expanding to the Salinas Valley. Then he implemented an idea which, in less than a year, revolutionized the entire system of lettuce handling in the Salinas Valley, and in a short time did the same throughout California and Arizona. His company, The Vessey System, which later became Rapid Harvest Co., was well known by travelers who followed the trucks with double trailers filled with lettuce and carrots, which still can be seen today. At the time of his death in 1949, he had more than 1,000 acres under lease in San Benito County planted in sugar beets, carrots and garlic, and 4,000 of row crops in the Imperial Valley. He also operated a lettuce packing plant and leased the 1,700 acre Brookhollow farm in Hollister. Jackson (Jack) Vessey, like his parents, was a grower and shipper of produce in the Salinas and Imperial Valleys of California. He expanded lettuce operations by the 1960's to include areas such as Blythe, Brentwood, El Centro and Salinas in California, and Marana and Wilcox in Arizona. Jackson sold all northern operations to the United Fruit Corporation in the late 60's, however the company retained ownership of all garlic operations in the Hollister area. Before his retirement, Jack was an active member of the Western Growers Association (WGA), serving on the Board of Directors from 1967 to 1976. Jon Vessey joined the company in 1966 after attending the University of Arizona. By the late 70's, Jon diversified the company's operations in the Imperial Valley. More than lettuce and garlic, the company now grows over 25 different items, with garlic remaining number one. Jon was instrumental in creating partnerships across the border for the company's garlic operations, which now consists of several packing sheds throughout Mexico. The company also has garlic packing facilities in El Centro and Coalinga, California. Sequoia Packing Co., located in Coalinga, is a joint venture packing operation, with this particular shed having the largest garlic packing capacity in the world. Jon is a past president of the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the WGA. Jack Vessey, the 4th generation of the family, joined Vessey & Co. in July of 99 after attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Holtville: (760) 356-0130 | Coalinga: (559) 935-1265