Mark Teixeira

Teixeira Farms, Inc.
Santa Maria, California

Mark Teixeira

Teixeira Farms, Inc.
Santa Maria, California

“We at Teixeira Farms are passionate about what we do, and we eat what we grow.”

Out on the Farm

Driving down a dirt road on the Teixeira Ranch with Mark, he happily points out a house and says, “That’s where I grew up. We used to have the greatest barbeques in the backyard. After a long week, we’d party and make a little noise, never bothered anyone because there are no other houses around here.” We park by a lush celery field and are greeted by the buzz of the harvesting team. “You see that?” He pulls out two celery heads and lines them up. “Check out how consistent they are. They’re cut by hand and they’re exactly the same size. Try some. It’s delicious!” Mark thanks his crew for a job well done and enthusiastically and graciously continues sharing the Teixeira story.

History

The Teixeira offices are behind Mark’s grandparents’ home, nestled in the rolling hills of Santa Maria, California. In 1937, J.C. and Elsie Teixeira began farming in Santa Maria. J.C. was a third generation farmer and passed his knowledge to his five sons – Mark’s dad and four uncles. Times are a little different now than when J.C. farmed. “Heck, times are different than even when I was growing up. Regulations, technology, personnel issues – so much has changed and we have to manage to that.” Today, the Teixeira Farms and its related companies employ close to 300 people, growing cabbage, broccoli, celery, and lettuce. They are leading the way in environmentally friendly forms of energy use, including solar power.

Taking the Helm

Born and raised on the ranch, Mark never thought of doing anything else.“It is who I am.” One of his proudest moments was when his father and four uncles asked him to be the General Manager of Teixeira Farms. “To believe in me enough to give me that responsibility, really meant the world to me. This is what I was born to do.” When asked what advice he would give a young person entering this industry he said, “You have to be willing to put in the long hours it takes to be a good farmer. It is very exciting to put a plant in the ground and three months later, you’re harvesting the fruits of your labor. Know, though, that it is a tough business and there is much to balance.”

Personal Life

Mark and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Marrin and Ashlyne, who keep them quite busy with their sporting events: soccer, cross-country and track. While it would certainly please Mark to have his daughters be the next generation of Teixeiras to farm, he knows it will be his daughters’ choice when the time comes. Mark, his family, and the company are active in their community. In addition to serving on Western Growers’ Board, Mark serves on the board of the Grower Shipper Association, is Chairman of the Board of Colab and is vice-chair of Marian Medical Center Foundation.