Jim Crecelius

In 1985, Monte Vista Farming Company entered the almond handling business. At that time Jim Crecelius saw a better, more secure way to handle the almonds that growers were going to deliver to his processing facility. This vision was a way for growers to participate in the marketing of their crop while maintaining ownership of the crop until the sale was complete. This system provided the safety that growers lacked when pooling their crops with others at the handler's site. This system, now known as the GROWER SELECT MARKETING SYSTEM, provides growers with an added degree of safety and confidence for the value of their annual farming effort. This system is the original grower controlled almond marketing system, for which the Monte Vista Farming Company has become well known as an industry leader.



Packaged and marketed under the California Royale Brand®, almonds that are grown by the Monte Vista Farming Company and it's independent growers are proudly sold in more than 20 countries world wide. The success of the brand is a credit to the growers and the management of the company, and the vision of it's founder, Mr. Crecelius, supported by a staff of talented individuals dedicated to the maintenance of the highest quality standards and work ethic.



The continuous growth of the California Royale Brand® is an on-going statement of the acceptance by the world's most particular buyers about the quality of Monte Vista Farming's products. The brand is respected and accepted worldwide, including Asia and the Middle East, where quality demands are especially stringent.



Through continuous investment in the latest technology, both in equipment and systems, the quality of product coming from Monte Vista Farming Company, often exceeds customer expectations.



Monte Vista Farming Company's unique Grower Select Marketing System has, for years, proven to be a most effective Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Identification System (HACCP Certified), in that, the origin and flow of each pound of product is tracked and documented all the way through production and processing, enabling each lot to be tracked back to the individual grower who supplied the product. This provides the Ultimate System of Traceability.



In addition to the special quality assurance programs in place at Monte Vista Farming Company, customers are offered a special degree of flexibility in service and delivery, only available from a well focused packer. Specific product and packaging are routinely offered and delivered, according to customer needs.



Service is personal and prompt. All communications are handled directly with senior managers thereby allowing the Monte Vista Farming Company to be extremely agile in the service of customer needs. All shipping traffic and documentation is handled on-site, allowing the highest degree of accuracy and detail.



Product Management

Monte Vista Farming Company receives product from a small number of large growers, thus controls on incoming product are easier to attain. We are also very attentive to the product we handle from the time it arrives at our facility to the time it leaves. Upon arrival product is immediately checked for moisture and pathogens as well as aflatoxin. When in storage product is continually monitored to control insects and to double check for moisture. Monte Vista Farming Company has invested hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars in the latest electronic sorting equipment to further enhance the quality of the product our buyers receive.



Aflatoxin, Salmonella, Ecoli Management

In an effort to align ourselves with new import requirements Monte Vista Farming Company has allowed FOOD SAFETY AND PROCESS TECHNOLOGY to operate a complete class 2 laboratory on our premises. This laboratory is fully equipped with all of the current state-of-the-art equipment for testing for Aflatoxin using the HPLC method. It is USDA certified and strictly third party owned and operated. This will allow Monte Vista Farming Company to comply with all aflatoxin requirements worldwide. The laboratory is also equipped to test for freshness and pathogens, as well as yeasts and molds. To further enhance the safety shield at the Monte Vista Farming Company facility, Food Safety Consultant, Dr. Rick Falkenberg has established an on site presence at our plant. The services of Food Safety and Process Technology, Inc. provide the company with all necessary laboratory testing of product, including HPLC aflatoxin testing according to European Union and V.A.S.P. protocol.



Due to the popular demand of California Royale Brand® our facilities are constantly expanding across our 52 acre campus in Denair, California. Monte Vista Farming Company is a full service, quality focused Huller/Sheller, Sizer, Packer and Shipper of California almonds. Our ambient and cold storage warehouse, dryers, fumigation trailers and third party laboratory allow us great flexibility in our services.