Tanimura & Antle legend, George Tanimura, dies.

The Salad Bowl of the World lost a legend last Friday.

At the age of 100, George Tanimura, co-creator of ag giant Tanimura & Antle, passed away peacefully at his home in Salinas.

For George, Tanimura & Antle was more than just a business—it was his life.

In the words of his family: “Lettuce prices, transplant technology, new hydroponic varieties, and any other farming-related topic dominated the discussion with George. His continued commitment will live on because he instilled this drive and passion in everyone around him.”

In 2014, George sat with the Weekly to talk about life, birthdays, vegetables and business.

George’s life in the field began in the 1920s, thinning iceberg lettuce on his father’s small farm in Castroville. And his life in the field ended with a success story in Tanimura & Antle: a company that has more than 30,000 acres of rich, fertile farmland and ships a full line of premium fresh produce throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

A descendant of Japanese immigrants, George’s life was also filled with hardship. In 1941, Americans of Japanese ancestry were put in internment camps because of the U.S. conflict with Japan in World War II. That included the Tanimura family.

During his time at the internment camp, George found happiness when he met and married his wife Masaye Yamauchi. They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary last year.

At the end of the war, George and his brothers went back to farming and began to rebuild their lives performing manual labor in the fields in Gilroy, where they farmed small patches of land, saved profits to ultimately purchased their first acre of land.

In 1948, the Tanimura Family began a farming relationship with another agricultural legend: Bud Antle. And in 1982, that relationship culminated into forming Tanimura & Antle.

“All who knew George loved him. His presence and influence will be greatly missed,” his family says.

The Tanimura Family asks that anyone wishing to honor George with a donation, please donate to the Tanimura Family Foundation, P.O. Box 4070, Salinas, CA 93912.