Floyd Charles Olsen, higher often known as “Chuck” by these within the fruit and vegetable business, died on December 30 in Visalia, CA, after a battle with well being issues associated to again ache. He was 77 years outdated.
Mr. Olsen based his namesake Chuck Olsen Co. in 1987 and spent most of his life within the agricultural commerce.
“It was about integrity,” mentioned his son, Jeff, who immediately serves as president of The Chuck Olsen Co. “He all the time wished to do what was finest for his purchasers, most of whom grew to become his outdated associates all through. the years”.
The agricultural business was in Mr. Olsen’s blood. His grandfather got here from Denmark in 1910 and based Cecelia Orchards, which Chuck would ultimately take over.
Mr. Olsen graduated from Fresno with a viticulture diploma and took his first job within the business as a grower consultant with Ernest and Julio Gallo. In 1971, his uncle requested him to hitch the household ranch in Orange Cove, and Olsen knew this was the profession path he wished to pursue.
Mr. Olsen spent years working to advertise the orchard’s oranges, fruit bushes and grapes, and constructed a loyal buyer base, constructing relationships together with his purchasers each nationally and internationally.
“He prided himself on having a high-quality, constant field of fruit that may demand slightly greater than the overall market may be,” mentioned Jeff Olsen. “They’d relationships with all the key wholesalers, who accepted every little thing they may give them on the Cecelia Satisfaction label, figuring out they’d get one thing particular each time.”
Ultimately, Mr. Olsen determined to do extra. He left the ranch in 1987 to start out The Chuck Olsen Co., which immediately continues his legacy as one of many stellar members of the produce business transport neighborhood.
The corporate is led by Jeff, Marti, Olsen’s daughter and son-in-law Tom Salisbury, and their households are working facet by facet to construct the High Inventory, Stagecoach and Tulare Chief manufacturers of grapes, melons and citrus, amongst different merchandise.
Jeff famous that working together with his youngsters on this business he cherished was a dream come true for his father.
“He taught us that we’re nothing with out our integrity and nothing with out our household and associates,” he mentioned. “That’s what it’s about. His legacy lives on. We all the time work along with folks, we’re trustworthy and type and we do our greatest, simply as he taught us ”.
Mr. Olsen and his spouse, Mary, whom he met at 16, loved 56 years of marriage collectively. In his spare time he loved taking part in golf, snow snowboarding, driving quick vehicles, and spending time on the Central Coast. However most of all, he favored spending time with the household.
He’s survived by his spouse, Mary; son Jeff Olsen and spouse, Alison; daughter Marti Salisbury and husband, Tom; and grandchildren, Cate, Sara and Will Salisbury, and Ella and Buddy Olsen.
