

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

National Fruit at Work Day
The FruitGuys started National Fruit at Work Day, celebrated the first Tuesday of October, to promote the health and productivity benefits of consuming whole fresh fruit during the workday.
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

Incoming Tariffs and Food Prices: What You Should Know
Since January 20, I’ve kept a close eye on the news from Washington, DC, so that I don’t miss policy changes that might impact The

How to Recognize Your Team: Employee Appreciation Questionnaire Templates
There’s oodles of advice online about employee appreciation and how to show your team that you care (we’ve even written some of it). But here’s

Employee Recognition Best Practices for Employee Appreciation Day
Picture your workplace in your mind. Then, fill it up with all of your coworkers. Do you have that mental image? Good. Now think about

Kings River Packing: This Fresh Fruit Farm Made Orange History
Drive through Fresno County, California, and your wheels will kick up dust onto row after row of orange trees bearing bright green leaves and glowing

Pipcorn Launches New Gluten-Free Salty Snacks for the Office
For thirteen years, the snack makers at Pipcorn have been obsessed with heirloom corn. They buy the kernels from family farmers and turn them into

How to Make Fresh-Squeezed Juice with Fruits and Veggies (Kid Approved)
My youngest son isn’t the biggest orange fan, but that all changes if he can turn them into fresh-squeezed juice. “I want to make juice,”