Don Christopher (1934–2022), California’s garlic king
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2 min readDon Christopher was the Garlic King, owner of the California ranch that is the largest garlic producer in the country.
- Died: Monday, December 12, 2022. (Who else died on December 12?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 88.
- We invite you to share condolences for Don Christopher in our Guest Book.
The Garlic King
Don Christopher was born into a farming family in San Jose that grew plums and prunes. His father loaned Christopher money to buy land in Gilroy, California where he grew lima beans, sugar beets, and garlic. At the time, garlic was an exotic ingredient, he helped it become a home kitchen staple. By 1993, he had 6,000 acres and a garlic yield of 100 million pounds a year, the largest in the country. Gilroy was a co-creator of the popular annual Garlic Festival which drew big crowds and featured music and interesting items like Garlic ice cream. The festival was permanently cancelled in 2022 due to the economy and the pandemic. Today, Gilroy is called the garlic capital of the world.
Notable Quote
“All you have to do is roll down the window in your car and you know you’re in Gilroy.” - He told the Contra Costa Times
Tributes to Don Christopher
Full Obituary: Los Angeles Times
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