Monterey Mushrooms says it is awarding $110,000 in scholarships to 36 children of its teammates for the 2025-26 academic year, part of a 34-year tradition of supporting employees’ families in pursuing higher education.
Since 1992, the scholarship program has provided dependent children of full-time employees with the opportunity to receive up to $5,000 annually for four years, the company says. The initiative has supported families across all company locations, including California, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Mexico. Since its inception, the program has awarded 2,633 grants, totaling $4.1 million, in support of higher learning.
This year, the program was renamed the Shah Kazemi Scholarship Foundation, honoring Monterey Mushrooms’ founder and former CEO and his efforts to invest in the next generation.
“At Monterey, our people are the heart of our company. It’s a privilege to celebrate the accomplishments of our teammates’ children and help open doors to their future success,” says Paul Hardy, CEO of Monterey Mushrooms. “We believe in the ability of education to transform lives — not only for these students, but for the families and communities they serve.”
Scholarships are awarded to students attending accredited colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic record, aspirations, extracurricular involvement, work experience, and personal achievements, the company says.
Sarah Alvarado, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania from Morgan Hill, is a recipient of the Shah Kazemi Scholarship, which is helping ease the financial burden on her family — particularly her father, who has worked over 20 years in agriculture at Monterey Mushrooms.
Raised among the produce fields of her hometown, Sarah was deeply affected by the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival tragedy, fueling her passion for criminology and justice reform. With this scholarship, she is empowered to pursue her goal of graduating debt-free, attending law school, and ultimately serving as an FBI special agent, the company says, adding that Sarah is determined to carry forward a legacy of hard work and service, using her education to uplift both herself and the communities she represents.
