Brent Harrison and Shelley Harrison-Valdivia

Al Harrison Co. Distributors, Inc.

Harrison Melon Co. started in 1923 in Long Beach, CA and incorporated Al Harrison Co. Distributors, Inc. in 1955. The company has production in Arizona, California and New Mexico as well as in Mexico: Colima, Jalesco Sinaloa, and Sonora.
Al Harrison Co. has a customer base from Los Angeles to Seattle through Canada to Boston and the east coast. Brent and Shelley, President and Vice-President, respectively, work long hours – often dawn to after midnight. The work is tough, but as they say, “The watermelon is very, very sweet.”

Brent and Shelley are the third generation of Harrisons in Al Harrison Co. Distributors, Inc. When asked why they stayed in the family business instead of say, getting into the tourism industry – something Shelley studied in college, both Brent and Shelley made it clear: “It’s in our blood. Our grandfather, Al, did something special in the 1950s when he moved from wholesaling in Long Beach, California to distributing through Nogales. There wasn’t much produce going through that part of the world then. He had a real vision for the future and we wanted to keep it going.”

When asked about working together, they replied,“We love it! We fight constantly – especially when Brent oversells and I need to take care of the clients, but it’s great working with my brother,” says Shelley. Indeed, as the discussion rolled on, Shelley found out that for the upcoming weekend – her weekend off – Brent was planning to go down to San Carlos, Mexico with his family. “Hey,” Shelley said, surprised, “this is my weekend off!”

The Harrisons also work hard for the community and dedicate time to both the agriculture industry and their Southern Arizona community. Al Harrison Co. provides University of Arizona scholarships to local youth and is involved in the Boys and Girls Club.

The Harrisons know how important it is to support the industry. Thus, Brent is active on several boards including, National Watermelon Promotion Board, National Watermelon Association, the Western Watermelon Association, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Board, and Fresh Produce of the Americas.

Brent, a University of Arizona Wildcat, graduated with a dual degree in International Business and Spanish, something that has come in very handy for him and his company. Brent is married to Susan, the 1994 National Watermelon Queen. Brent and Susan have two children: James, 9 and Eden, 6.

Back in the 1970s when Shelley was a little girl she typed a letter on Harrison Melon Co. stationery to her father, Tom, in essence, applying for a job. It read: “Shelley Harrison is permitted to be a secretary in life … at her father’s watermelon co. She can … work hard and type good. Shelley can do a lot of stuff.” The letter, demonstrating excellent typing skills for a young child, can be seen by clickin gon the image to the right. Shelley, a newlywed, recently married Ralph Valdivia, who came from Florida in 1970s to Nogales and is also in produce.