Agriculture is often seen as a high-stakes gamble – between Mother Nature herself, the status of the markets, predicting demand from customers – you learn to expect the unexpected. At Gills Onions, we thrive on navigating these uncertainties by mastering the elements we can control. Helping lead this effort is Ricardo Diaz, our sharp-minded plant manager, whose focus on metrics and operations plays a key role in our success. We recently had the chance to sit down with Ricardo and dive into his insights and experiences, shedding light on what makes our operation tick.
When he joined the Gills Onions team five years ago, Ricardo immediately took a deep dive into the numbers. Initially joining the team as an assistant controller, he, along with two other employees, spent extensive time inside our plant studying every detail of the process. With Ricardo’s keen understanding of the numbers, he was able to identify opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements. This granular understanding of the operation laid the foundation for Ricardo’s current role as plant manager.
“Once we understood the process and how long things take, we started putting numbers together,” Ricardo explains. “We looked at the cost, how much each machine should give us in pounds, how much labor should cost us, and so much more.”
Today, he strategizes with Steve Gill, CEO and Owner of Gills Onions, and leaders with our Rio Farms team to determine how much needs to be planted one year to be harvested the next, how we can become more efficient and utilize our time best, and identify potential areas for innovation and growth.
But how did Ricardo get here? For that, we need to take a step back.
A Community Steeped in Agriculture
Raised in a close-knit agricultural community near our processing facility, Ricardo was immersed in the industry from a young age. His parents harvested lemons, strawberries, and avocados locally and traveled north for seasonal work with tomatoes and grapes. But it wasn’t just his parents that he knew who worked in agriculture; it was also his neighbors and family friends.
But at home, education wasn’t a high priority. “After high school, my parents didn’t push for further education. They believed in hard work to earn a living,” Ricardo explains. What his parents did instill in him was an extraordinary work ethic, one we see and appreciate every day here at Gills.
Following their example, Ricardo joined his father at a local vegetable seed company right out of high school, starting in the seed coating department before moving on to packaging. After five years in that role, he realized it wasn’t his calling. “To my dad, it was a raise, but for me, it wasn’t enough,” Ricardo recalls. “I knew I needed to go back to school.”
A Journey Toward New Opportunities
Ricardo’s path to earning a college degree definitely had its ups and downs. Realizing the importance of education, he initially took classes sporadically at a local community college, but had to put that on hold for some time. Eventually, Ricardo became a full-time student and ultimately graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in accounting at age 35.
With his degree in hand, Ricardo embarked on a career at a large accounting firm, specializing in taxes and audits within the agricultural sector. His expertise eventually led him to Gills Onions, where he initially started as a junior controller.
“It’s only been 10 years since I graduated, and look how far I’ve come,” he says with pride.
Ricardo’s message is simple yet powerful: “It’s never too late.” A turning point in his journey came with the support from his wife and the birth of his first daughter. “When your first child is born, you think about how you’re going to support them and give them the best,” he reflects.
Today, his two pre-teen daughters are already dreaming big about their own futures, inspired by their father’s journey and the possibilities that lie ahead.
As we continue to grow and navigate the challenges of the agricultural industry, we are proud to have leaders like Ricardo driving our success. His commitment to excellence and his passion for making a difference are what help make Gills Onions a leader in the industry. With such dedicated individuals on our team, we are confident in our ability to thrive and innovate, ensuring a bright future for our company and our community.