Don Christopher, Who Turned Lowly Garlic Into a Staple, Dies at 88
Known as the Garlic King, he used his enthusiasm and a business acumen to build an empire around the once-lowly “stinking rose.”
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Known as the Garlic King, he used his enthusiasm and a business acumen to build an empire around the once-lowly “stinking rose.”
Starting with a 10-acre plot, Don Christopher's ranch became the largest garlic grower in the nation and the offbeat Garlic Festival its signature promoter.
In 1956, Don founded Christopher Ranch which has turned into the nation's largest garlic company and the largest private employer in Gilroy.
Donald Christopher, who started Gilroy, CA-based Christopher Ranch in 1956 at the tender age of 22 and grew it into the leading producer of fresh garlic in the United States, died at the age of 87 on Dec. 12, 2022.
Better California garlic crop expected