Who Owns Earthbound Farm?
Earthbound Farm is an organic produce brand owned by Taylor Farms, a private family company in Salinas, California. Founded in 1984 by Drew and Myra Goodman on a small Carmel Valley farm, it became America's largest organic produce brand before being sold to Danone in 2014 and acquired by Taylor Farms in 2019.
Parent Company
Acquired
2019
Status
Private
Headquarters
Earthbound Farm Timeline
Who Owns Earthbound Farm?
- Parent Company: Taylor Farms
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2019
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Earthbound Farm | Taylor Farms | Wholly owned |
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History of Earthbound Farm
- Founded: 1984
- Founders: Drew Goodman, Myra Goodman
- Acquired by Taylor Farms: 2019
Drew and Myra Goodman, recent graduates of UC Santa Cruz, started farming raspberries on a two-and-a-half-acre rented plot in Carmel Valley in 1984. Their roadside stand and farmers-market produce evolved into one of the first washed-and-bagged salad products, pioneered after a Costco order led them to package salad greens at scale.
The company committed to organic farming from the start, at a time when organic produce was a niche category. By the 1990s Earthbound Farm had become the largest organic grower-shipper in the United States, and its bagged salads effectively created the supermarket organic salad category.
Private equity arrived in 2009 with HM Capital's majority investment, which funded the expansion that made Earthbound a billion-dollar brand. Danone's 2014 acquisition placed it inside a global dairy and nutrition giant, where it remained until Taylor Farms brought the brand back under California produce ownership in 2019.
The brand's flagship farm at San Juan Bautista, site of its famous roadside stand and annual events, remains the public face of the operation.
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About Taylor Farms
What does Taylor Farms own?
Taylor Farms owns the Taylor Farms and Earthbound Farm brands, roughly 15 processing plants, and one of North America's largest fresh-cut produce supply networks.
Is Taylor Farms publicly traded?
No. Taylor Farms is privately held by founder Bruce Taylor and family.
Who founded Taylor Farms?
Bruce Taylor founded the company in Salinas, California, in 1995 after building and selling his earlier company, Fresh Express.
Where is Taylor Farms headquartered?
Salinas, California, in the Salinas Valley growing region.
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Who owns Taylor Farms?
The Taylor family, led by founder and chairman Bruce Taylor.
Does Taylor Farms own Earthbound Farm?
Yes. Taylor Farms acquired Earthbound Farm from Danone in April 2019.
- Founded: 1995
- Headquarters: Salinas, California, United States
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: approximately $4 billion (estimated)
- Employees: approximately 18,000
Where Is Earthbound Farm Made / Based?
- Headquarters: San Juan Bautista, California, United States
Earthbound Farm Categories & Tags
Earthbound Farm Recalls & Controversies
The brand's most significant food-safety event was the 2006 Dole spinach E. coli outbreak era, which implicated the broader bagged-salad industry and led Earthbound to tighten its testing protocols; the company was among the first to adopt test-and-hold programs for leafy greens.
The 2014 Danone sale triggered a lawsuit from minority shareholder Klaas Huizing alleging the Goodmans had squeezed out smaller shareholders; the matter was settled. Under Taylor Farms the brand has been included in the parent's occasional fresh-cut recalls, all handled through FDA processes.
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Brands Owned by Taylor Farms
Earthbound Farm Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Largest dedicated organic produce brand in North America
- +Taylor Farms' processing and distribution scale behind it
- +Decades of organic credibility and pioneer status
- +Category it effectively created remains its core strength
Considerations
- -Competes against cheaper private-label organic lines
- -Fresh-cut category recall exposure under shared production
- -Premium pricing narrows the addressable customer base
- -Founder-era identity diluted through three ownership changes
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Frequently Asked Questions About Earthbound Farm
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to Earthbound Farm
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driscolls | United States | 1904 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| Walmart | USA | 2010 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Taylor Farms | United States | 1995 | Mass market | North america | All Genders | |
| Fresh Del Monte Produce | United States | 1886 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Dole Plc | Ireland | 1901 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Seneca Foods | United States | 1903 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Food BeverageDriscoll's
Owned by Driscoll's, Inc.
The world's leading fresh berry brand for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, owned by the family-held Driscoll's, Inc.
berriesfresh-producestrawberries
Food BeverageFreshness Guaranteed
Owned by Walmart Inc.
Walmart's fresh produce and perishable foods private label brand offering quality fruits, vegetables, salads, and fresh prepared items.
fresh-produceprivate-labelwalmart
Food BeverageTaylor Farms
Owned by Taylor Farms
North America's leading fresh salad kit and fresh-cut vegetable brand, owned by the Taylor family company of the same name.
saladsfresh-producesalad-kits
Food BeverageDel Monte
Owned by Fresh Del Monte Produce
American food brand specializing in canned fruits, vegetables, fruit cups, juices, and processed food products. Founded in 1886. Global brand IP acquired by Fresh Del Monte Produce in March 2026 through bankruptcy proceedings.
canned-foodvegetablesfruit
Food BeverageDole
Owned by Dole plc
The world's leading fresh produce brand for bananas, pineapples, and packaged salads, owned by Dublin-based Dole plc (NYSE: DOLE).
fresh-producefruitbananas
Food BeverageGreen Giant
Owned by Seneca Foods Corporation
Iconic American canned and frozen vegetable brand dating to 1903, owned in the United States by Seneca Foods since 2023 and 2026 respectively.
canned-foodfrozen-vegetablesvegetables
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Earthbound Farm competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Earthbound Farm
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Taylor Farms, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageDriscoll's
Owned by Driscoll's, Inc.
The world's leading fresh berry brand for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, owned by the family-held Driscoll's, Inc.
berriesfresh-producestrawberries
Privately Owned
Driscoll's operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food BeverageAG1
Owned by AG1
Daily green powder supplement formerly known as Athletic Greens, sold by subscription by AG1, a private wellness company valued above $1 billion.
supplementsgreens-powderdaily-health
Privately Owned
AG1 operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food BeverageNathan's Famous
Owned by Nathan's Famous, Inc.
American hot dog and restaurant brand founded in 1916 on Coney Island, known for beef franks, the July 4th eating contest, and licensed grocery products.
hot-dogsconey-islandfranks
Publicly Traded
Nathan's Famous operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food BeverageSuja Juice
Owned by Suja Life, Inc.
Organic cold-pressed juice brand founded in San Diego in 2012, now the flagship brand of Nasdaq-listed Suja Life.
juicecold-pressedorganic
Publicly Traded
Suja Juice is owned by Suja Life, Inc., a public company, a different structure than Earthbound Farm's parent.
Food BeverageApplegate
Owned by Hormel Foods
Natural and organic deli meat brand founded in 1987, a pioneer of antibiotic-free and humanely raised meat, owned by Hormel Foods since 2015.
natural-foodsorganicdeli-meat
Publicly Traded
Applegate is owned by Hormel Foods, a public company, a different structure than Earthbound Farm's parent.
Food BeverageAviation American Gin
Owned by Diageo plc
American craft gin founded in Portland, Oregon in 2006 and acquired by Diageo in 2020 for up to $735 million, known for its softer botanical profile and association with actor Ryan Reynolds.
gincraft-spiritsamerican-gin
Publicly Traded
Aviation American Gin is owned by Diageo plc, a public company, a different structure than Earthbound Farm's parent.
Jobs at Taylor Farms
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