'Produce Goddess' to retire from Alliance Rubber Co.

After 34 years of service, Vickie Linder, agricultural products manager for Alliance Rubber Co., is set to retire in July.

Linder has held her current position since 1988. In this role, she oversaw Alliance’s “most critical operations and management of the Salinas Valley as well as other agricultural regions in California, Washington, Arizona and Oregon,” the company said in a release.

During Linder’s tenure as agriculture market manager, Alliance Rubber said she played a critical role in helping growers, packers and shippers adapt to significant increases in the traceability requirements of the industry.

Known as the “Produce Goddess” at Alliance for over 35 years, Linder sold the world’s first imprinted rubber band in 1986, according to the company. Since that time, she has continued to pioneer new markets for rubber bands for the produce and floral industry. Additionally, in 1995, she introduced ProTape to American growers, a waterproof, resealable tape designed to ensure speed and accuracy at checkout while allowing growers and packers to promote their brand and achieve recognition in the marketplace.

Linder credits her success over the years to her strong personal connection to the Salinas Valley.

“Growing up in the Salinas Valley has given me an advantage because I went to school with my customers or, in some cases, we were neighbors,” she said. “Salinas used to be a small town where everyone knew everyone. It has really grown, but because of my roots, I still have that personal connection with many of our customers.

“Long-established names in the ag industry have become pillars in the community,” she continued. “Alliance Rubber Company’s quality is superior, lead time is short and service is outstanding. Customers know they can depend on Alliance to keep their word and to keep them supplied with a quality product at a fair price.”

Upon Linder’s retirement, Adam Linder — a close relative — will serve as the new agricultural products manager with Morgan Linder, her daughter, continuing to serve as sales support and warehouse operations manager. Both Adam and Morgan Linder are natives of the Salinas Valley with deep roots in the industry, the company said.

“Growing up, my mom would often take me to work with her. She would set me up with a book to read or color in and she would get to work,” said Morgan Linder. “I would get deep into my activity with the sound of my mom talking to customers on the phone about sizing and grades of rubber. Now having worked with her for the last four years, I look back on those times fondly as subconscious job training. I'm often asked if I am Vickie’s daughter, and I am always proud to say that I am.”

Alliance Rubber Co. is a certified woman-owned small business now in its fourth generation of family ownership. The company has provided products for the produce and floral industries since 1923.