On February 16, 1998, we made our first deliveries of mixed fruit boxes to companies in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center from Chris Mittelstaedt & Pia Hinckle’s one-bedroom apartment in the North Beach neighborhood.
We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs through the decades (can you say Dot Com crash? Financial meltdown? Global pandemic?). We are still here, still family-owned, and now a women-owned and led proud B Corporation. We are so grateful to our present and past employees, clients, farm partners, vendors, and community partners for getting us here. Thank you all!!
How did it all start?
Hear The FruitGuys story straight from the OG Chief Banana, founder Chris Mittelstaedt
(circa 2014)
FruitGuys History Gallery
25 Years of Innovations & Awards
25 Years of Impact
Since 1998, The FruitGuys has been on a mission to support small farms and combat hunger. Purchasing from The FruitGuys helps sustain the small independent farmers we source from, helps feed people and heal the planet.
We support this mission by donating a minimum value of 20% of our annual profits.
- 18 million+ servings of fruit, veggies & snacks donated
- 123 grants to small farms in 30+ states
Our 5Rs Promise
Your happiness and satisfaction is our top priority. If you’re ever not satisfied with what you have received, we will replace or credit you for those items. This goal of pleasing you is more than just a policy, it’s a five-step philosophy of customer care that we’ve built our business on and that guides our actions everyday.
- We’ll be Respectful of you at all times.
- We’ll be Responsive to your needs.
- We’ll be Realistic with you about what we can or cannot do.
- We’ll take personal Responsibility to provide a positive experience.
- We’ll work hard so that you’ll Remember us positively.
The FruitGuys 5Rs © Chris Mittelstaedt, 1999
The FruitGuys Magazine
8 Avocado Varieties To Try (And When to Taste Them!)
The egg shape, pebbly skin, and yellow-green flesh of the Hass avocado is iconic. That’s because 95% of the avocados Americans eat are Hasses! But
When to Send Snack Care Packages to Employees: An HR Guide
If you’re a seasoned HR or office manager, chances are you’ve seen your team through many highs and lows in their personal lives. You know
The FruitGuys Delivers Fresh Groceries to 200 Federal Workers
To me, federal workers aren’t just anonymous people in suits in Washington, DC. They’re the friends and neighbors who make sure my mail gets delivered,
Work Better With KiZE Bars: Clean-Ingredient Office Treats That Give Back
Is there a more perfect pairing than chocolate and peanut butter when you’re looking for a pick-me-up at work? It’s salty, sweet, and oh-so-enticing. How
Farm-Fit Brings Fresh, Locally Sourced Produce to Campus
It’s October in Tempe, Arizona, and I’m hiding from the heat on the shaded patio of Arizona State University’s dining hall. In front of me
APC and The FruitGuys Partner Up to Donate Fruit to Californians in Need
When the Palisades and Eaton fires swept through Southern California in January 2025, thousands of families were already living on the edge. Homelessness across the
