Today, as the world celebrates the International Day of Families, we’re thrilled to introduce you to a very special addition to our team: Carolina Crisantes, of the Fourth Generation of the Crisantes family!
Carolina, daughter of Chief Operations Officer and third generation co-owner, Theo Crisantes joined the team in early 2024 as Enterprise Sales Representative. Carolina brings with her a deep-rooted passion for sustainable farming and a wealth of experience passed down through generations. But, instead of telling you about her, we thought we’d shake things up a bit with a quick Q&A session! Let’s meet the newest face of the Wholesum family.
Q: We’d like to know a little about your academic journey, can you tell us about your educational background?
A: I studied at the University of Arizona at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. My major was Nutritional Sciences, with an emphasis on Business and Industry. Even though I didn’t end up in the healthcare industry, my time at the University of Arizona gave me a broad overview of how food systems work and how they affect the different stakeholders. This is especially impactful for my current position, as you cannot see the produce industry in isolation. From farm to table, this industry has such a meaningful influence in all the lives it touches.
Q: Have you been rocking the produce scene since day one, or did you stumble upon it later in life?
A: In a way, produce has always been part of my life. I grew up going to the farm with my dad and fell in love with it ever since! Professionally, before working at Wholesum, I started my produce experience with a domestic melon grower in Arizona around 4 years ago. I started as an intern and worked my way up to sales rep. Prior to that, I had worked as a sales rep for a food service company. Both experiences gave me a well-rounded understanding of the market dynamics, customer service and taught me to work in a fast-paced environment.
Q: What do you do as Enterprise Sales Rep?
This position is dedicated to executing and elevating sales strategies for our retail accounts. It is much more than getting Wholesum product on the shelf. Rather, it is all about delivering top-notch customer service. Among my goals, I’m here to drive growth in our retail accounts and focus on the flawless execution of program plans.
Q: What do you want to bring to Wholesum?
A: It has always been my dream to be part of the Wholesum team. Seeing how the company has grown with and through the amazing people that work here inspires me. When we say we grow produce for good, it’s not just about being organic; it’s about benefiting our communities and the environment. Wholesum isn’t just a leader in organic farming; we are also making waves to be a leader in the social and sustainability sector. My aim at Wholesum is to help uphold this ethos, supporting the team and continuing the family legacy.
Q: When you’re not busy conquering the produce world, what’s your favorite hobby?
A: My favorite activity is skiing! It’s a hobby that we’ve always enjoyed as a family and I love it!
Q: What is your favorite Wholesum product?
A: Oh that’s a tough call! But if I absolutely have to pick, it would be Poppies and Valentinos! To me, they are the most flavorful tomatoes!
From left to right:
Theo Crisantes Jr. (3rd generation, COO), Theojary Crisantes Sr. (2nd generation, Board President), Carolina Crisantes (4th generation, Enterprise Sales Rep), Ricardo Crisantes (3rd generation, CCO)
Read more in our press release.
