The Pismo Oceano Vegetable Exchange, which planted its roots in the Arroyo Grande Valley farming industry more than 80 years ago, has been named the grand marshal of the 2008 Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival.

“We are very excited,” said exchange manager Dan Sutton. “We’ve had individual family members named (grand marshal) before, but this is the first time for the cooperative business. We are honored to be named.”

The Pismo Oceano Vegetable Exchange, or POVE as it’s commonly called in the South County, was formed by a group of five local Japanese farming families in the 1920s. Today, the shipping business is run by the third generation of three of the original five families.

“I look at the younger generation and can see that they will follow in their family’s footsteps,” Sutton said about the Ikeda, Hayashi, Kobara, Dohi and Saruwatari families who currently run the successful co-operative. “POVE is all about family, and you can see that reflection throughout every aspect of the daily business.”

The vegetable exchange employs 40 people year-round, and each grower has 20 employees. Collectively, they farm approximately 2,500 acres in the Cienaga and Arroyo Grande valleys, growing 20 different crops.

Grower Tom Ikeda believes POVE’s commitment to family and giving back to the community is what has made the business a success when so many other agriculture cooperatives have failed.

Many POVE members participate and sit on local boards throughout San Luis Obispo County, coach youth sports and volunteer at local events like the annual Harvest Festival.

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“My grandfather Juzo stressed that

it was important to give back to the

community,” Ikeda said. “We all live up to that belief today.”

POVE and the growers also give back to their hard-working employees by hosting annual barbecues and Fourth of July celebrations, where everyone in the “extended family” is invited to attend.

“POVE is a family, and they support all their employees’ hobbies and personal and family needs,” Sutton said. “It’s one of the wonderful and unique things about POVE. I feel and am treated like part of the family.”

The vegetable exchange ships 3.5 million cartons of produce annually to destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Pacific Rim. The majority of production at POVE occurs between May and December and includes leaf lettuces, head lettuce, spinach, broccoli, celery, green bell peppers, parsleys, cilantro, green and red cabbage, Napa cabbage and bok choy.

April Charlton can be reached at 489-4206, Ext. 5016, or

acharlton@santamariatimes.com.

September 20, 2008