Christopher Ranch raises wages

Garlic shipper Christopher Ranch now offers a corporate minimum wage of $15 an hour.

The increase is the second significant one in the last two years for the Gilroy, Calif., company. It also raised the wage from $11 an hour to $13 an hour in 2017, according to a news release. More than 600 full-time employees at the Christopher Ranch headquarters are affected by the recent increase to $15 an hour.

“We’re at full employment, which is quite the achievement in modern day agribusiness,” executive vice president Ken Christopher said.

The company has raised its wages ahead of the scheduled state-mandated increases; the minimum for large employers hits $13 an hour in 2020 and $15 an hour in 2022.

“Corporate social responsibility is the very foundation of what makes Christopher Ranch a great company,” Christopher said in the release. “Paying our workers a higher hourly rate feels right and has proven to be a smart business decision as well.

“By ensuring a stable workforce with reduced turnover, we can maintain consistently high levels of quality and safety,” Christopher said. “That translates into better products for our customers, tangible bottom-line savings for our company and a better quality of life for our workers and their families.”