Bruce Taylor
CEO of Taylor Fresh Foods 150 Main St., Salinas (831) 754-0471, taylorfarms.com
It’s hard to remember a time that Bruce Taylor was not Lettuce King of Salinas, but if you throw back to, say, the 1980s, that was before Taylor Fresh Foods even existed. It wasn’t until 1995 that Taylor, along with several partners, founded the eponymous company to grow, process and ship the vegetables that make the Salinas Valley known as the Salad Bowl of the World. And it wasn’t until 2015 that the Taylor Building in Oldtown Salinas opened, a pivotal property in the revitalization of a neighborhood that’s now thriving. With Taylor, instead of looking back in time, it’s wiser to look forward; whatever innovations he’s imaging are likely to be the next big thing for everyone growing (and eating) produce.