Gonzales – Agricultural Business Center

Gonzales’ central location in the fertile Salinas Valley and proximity to the surrounding farmlands, contribute to its prominence as an agricultural business center.  Head and leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, strawberries, asparagus, and wine grapes are grown in the fields around the city.  

The city’s Agricultural Business Industrial Park and other related industrial districts are home to businesses such as growers, irrigators, farm labor contractors, farm suppliers, packing sheds, and agricultural equipment design, servicing, and food processing/manufacturing and vegetable cooling.

Located at the base of the Santa Lucia Appellation, Gonzales is a short distance from many world class wineries. Agricultural tourism enables those interested in knowing where and how their food is grown to have a first hand experience.

Agriculture & Services

As an agriculturally-based city, the City of Gonzales is well served with the types of businesses that supply services to the agricultural industry. Some of the City’s most successful small-scale business operations are agricultural service related and include: agricultural service and supply, agricultural equipment sales and service, farm supply and irrigation services, seedlings, warehousing, agricultural equipment servicing and repair.

Agribusiness/Food Processing

The farmlands surrounding the City of Gonzales contribute to its prominence as an agricultural business center.  Head and leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and wine grapes are grown in the fields around the City. Several notable food processing/manufacturing and fresh vegetable processing and cooling businesses.

Technology & Innovation

Many local businesses are directly involved in the Ag-Tech revolution as it is develops to face current challenges and those we will face in the near future. Businesses like Converted Organics™ , HealthySoil, and Taylor Farms all work on the cutting edge of this growing industry.

Wine/Agricultural Tourism

The SLH appellation was established in 1991.  Today there are more than 46 vineyard properties and approximately 5,900 acres in production.

Radiating from the heart of Gonzales River Road, The River road Wine Trail is home to more than 10 vineyards — many with tasting rooms, picnic areas, wine country charm, down-to-earth staff, and visitor amenities.

Find more information about the local wine industry on the Local Wineries and Tours page

Gonzales features an agriculture oriented business industrial park. Partially funded with a grant awarded to the city by the Economic Development Administration, Phase I of a planned two phase development program was completed in 2005. Comprised of 70± acres, Phase I includes fully improved lots, streets and infrastructure.  Current occupants of the industrial park include several notable food processing/manufacturing and fresh vegetable processing and cooling businesses, including:  

Taylor Farms
Growers Express
Pure Pacific Organics – Pacific International Marketing
Silva Farms

Planning for the Phase II expansion of the industrial park is underway. Phase II is expected to be comprised of 35± acres with building sites sized appropriately for agricultural-related and support service businesses. 

Businesses with the Gonzales River Road Industrial District are comprised of light manufacturing, agricultural service and supply, agricultural equipment sales and service and agriculture equipment design and manufacturing businesses.  Several of the businesses within the River Road Industrial District provide their business service to clients both nationally and internationally. Businesses within the district include:

Ramsay Highlander
Green Valley Farm Supply
3 Star Lettuce
Gonzales Machine & Forge
Gonzales Equipment Sales
Skinner Equipment
Cal Coast Irrigation

The North Alta Street Industrial District is primarily comprised of packing sheds, farm supply and irrigation services, warehousing and agricultural equipment servicing and repair. Businesses within the district include:

Gonzales Packing Company
HealtySoil
Lowe Packaging Group
Converted Organics
Jackpot Harvesting
Gonzales Irrigation Systems
Agri-Frame Welding

Businesses with the South Alta Street Industrial District are comprised of grape crushing, wine fermenting and storage, fresh vegetable processing and cooling and agricultural equipment sales and service. Business within the district include:

Constellation Wines-Gonzales
Bryan Equipment Company
Misionero Vegetables
Valley Electric Motor Service

How do I's

Gonales's Leading Employers

Several local businesses have 100+ employees. See the document below to discover the top 10 largest employers in the City of Gonzales. 

Success Story: Healthy Soil

Grapes on the vine and strawberries on the plant

HealthySoil offers customized, organically-based treatment programs that build healthy soil ecology. Its "program" approach to building and maintaining soil health enables HealthySoil customers to substantially reduce their use of water and synthetic inputs, leading to lower operating costs and improved resource management. Further, HealthySoil improves crop quality and yield in agricultural applications. It also improves horticultural plant quality, leading to superior plant / tree health and flower blooms.

Contact: tom Piatkowski
425 Alta Street, Bldg. #16
Gonzales, CA 
831-675-3144

Healthy Soil Logo with tree and leaf from "L"