It’s easy to talk the talk when it comes to generating a positive work environment, but one company has been walking the walk since its founding. The Nunes Company, which goes to market under the Foxy® and Foxy® Organic brands, nurtures its people the way it nurtures its crops to ensure decades-long values stay strong.
“I can’t help but reflect on the generations before me,” says Tom Nunes V, President of The Nunes Company, as he ponders the uniqueness of his company’s culture. He also bears the T5 moniker, a nod to the Toms who have come before him. “Both my great uncle, Bob Nunes, who passed away in November of 2019, and my grandfather, Tom (T3), who passed away this past August, talked about trust. They came from humble beginnings and built our business on their word, hard work, and loyalty.”
This resonated in the generations to follow. As Bob and T3’s sons stepped in to lead the company, the principles that stemmed from its beginnings stayed true.
“My father, Tom (T4); my cousin, Bob Jr.; and my uncles, David and Jim, have instilled those lessons into the next generation,” Tom explains. “It also goes far beyond the Nunes family as I look at our generational relationships with other strong Western Produce families; families such as Caraccioli, Costa, Hibino, Peri, Rodriguez, Scattini, and Wilkinson have all been a part of our past and current success.”
Another reason the company’s culture has maintained its integrity is due to its loyal employees, some of whom have worked for The Nunes Company for many years.
“The culture that was instilled decades ago is led by long-term employees who believe in the philosophy my grandfather and great-uncle started. Many of those employees had a hand in raising me as a young boy,” Tom shares. “They were—and still are—mentors of mine and provide a consistent reminder of how we truly are a family organization. I am grateful for their dedication, loyalty, and continued support for our company.”
Employee retention has been a critical focus in the modern workplace as companies face the challenge of either a retiring workforce or employee turnover. For The Nunes Company, employee retention extends beyond creating a positive environment; it’s about a shared dedication to the industry at large.
“There is a strong commitment to the grind of our industry. The beauty is that no day is ever the same, and it takes constant hard work to perform day in and day out,” Tom reflects. “I believe that people in the industry understand our deep and integrated commitment to all of the issues surrounding the produce industry.”
For the company’s retail and foodservice partners, Tom imparts that the effort at the employee-level translates into a mutual respect.
“We are continuously working hard on their behalf, and I hope they take comfort in the hard work we do for them. Due to these partnerships, family farms have endured over the years to bring high-quality products to market, and I hope they know they’re a part of that success,” he says.
Ensuring the values ingrained in the company’s DNA make their way into every layer of the organization, Tom reflects on the importance of leading by example.
“In order to get our values into every part of our operation, you have to make sure you never stop trying to achieve it,” Tom imparts. “You need to be physically there as well as be mentally present. Travel is essential in order to cast our shadows across all areas of our operation.”
The Nunes Company’s dedication to excellence starts from the ground up because it’s emulated at the top. Although it is impossible to quantify a company’s success over generations, what Tom has shared sounds like a winning formula to me. 
