In the world of food production, Gills Onions is dedicated to catering to the diverse needs of our customers. Our array of cuts – whole, diced, slivered and sliced – serve distinct purposes, each tailored to meet specific culinary requirements. Yet, at the heart of our operation lies the whole peeled onion, the foundation upon which our products are built.
To uncover the inner workings of our whole peeled department, we had the pleasure of chatting with Patricia Avila, a valued member of our team and department lead. Patricia shared insights into her personal journey and shed light on the pivotal role she plays in ensuring our products reach our customers’ tables with excellence.
A Change of Pace
Born into a family of farmers in Mexico, Patricia has always been surrounded by agriculture, even growing corn and garbanzos alongside her relatives. However, at the age of 15, her life took a pivotal turn when she immigrated to the United States with her father. Settling in the town of Lodi, located in California’s Central Valley region, she began working soon after harvesting crops far different from those she was accustomed to, including grapes, cherries, apples, and pears.
She quickly built her life in Lodi and it became the place she called home. But in 2000, Patricia embarked on another new chapter when she married her husband, who lived in Southern California, not far from the Gills Onions headquarters. After making her way to her new home, she stepped away from the agricultural industry for some time to help care for her in-laws. But once she was able to, she began working once again at a local packing house that processed peppers, broccoli and spinach. Unfortunately, the packing facility closed down and she found herself without a job. But when she contacted a local hiring agency, they informed her that Gills Onions had a few openings and believed she would be a good fit. Little did she know how this decision would shape her career path.
Day to Day Operations
Today, Patricia leads a six-person team, overseeing the multi-step process of packaging our whole peeled onions and determining which will go one to be processed further. Our whole onions, which are packaged as 20 and 30-pound cases or 1,200 and 1,400-pound bins, frequently find their way into the production of jarred sauces. Refrigerated every step of the way, these onions are shipped from coast to coast with an 18 day shelf life.
No matter if she and her team are packaging onions in boxes or bins, it’s a multistep process often requiring the coordination of four individuals. For example, when it comes to packaging onions for our 20 or 30-pound cases, we need one to operate the packaging machine, another to weigh and tie the bags, a third to assemble and seal the boxes, and finally, someone to stack the packaged onions before they are transferred onto pallets. From there, they make their way to the loading dock, where they undergo shrink wrapping and preparation for shipment.
But Patricia handles more than just the whole onions shipped out to Gills customers – she stays in constant communication each day with our other departments to ensure they have a steady supply of product to meet their demand.
Looking Forward
As Patricia looks toward the future, she envisions herself venturing into new roles within the company, eager to embrace fresh challenges and continue her quest for personal and professional growth. While she cherishes her roots in farming, Patricia finds fulfillment in her work at Gills Onions, where she not only learns and grows but also makes a tangible difference in the lives of others. “It feels good knowing someone is able to have food on their table and I’m able to provide food for me and my family because of this job.”
But looking back on all that has changed since her very first shift at Gills Onions in 2014, she sees just how far technology and the latest advancements have come and changed the way things are done. While she’s uncertain of what things will look like in the future, she realizes it will look fairly different from the way it does now, saying “It has to be different – time is changing.”
As we reflect on Patricia’s inspiring journey and the dynamic evolution of our industry, one thing remains clear: Gills Onions is ready to continue spearheading innovation and setting industry standards. This determination stems from our unwavering dedication to excellence. Over the years, we’ve cultivated our expertise and commitment to quality, earning us the position of being one of the world’s largest family-owned onion processors. Onions are not just a product for us; they are our passion and our specialty. With this pride driving us forward, we remain steadfast in our mission to be the best, delivering top-notch products and service to our valued customers.