Who We Are

PRODUCE PARTNERS SERVING CLIENT & CUSTOMER NEEDS SINCE 1940

We founded our family business on a passion for providing the fresh fruits and vegetables that can feed our neighbors, near and far.

Since 1940, that shared mission has inspired our attention to meeting each client’s specific needs and the global growth that can deliver produce to the customers they serve. Today, that expansion of our facilities and operations includes integrated supply chains with extensive distribution capabilities that begin with direct-grower sourcing in the US, Mexico, and beyond. This multinational network’s benefits include year-round crop production, expert support for direct retail, foodservice, merchandising businesses, and the flexibility to leverage emerging market trends.

Our Commitment

WE EXTEND THE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP THAT’S INSPIRED OUR MUTUAL SUCCESS WITH OUR CLIENTS TO OTHERS AS WELL.

We join with competitors, suppliers, and other organizations working towards the common solutions and innovations we seek. They share our commitment to advancing the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the entire produce industry for the benefit of all.

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Our Vision

OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE IS TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THOSE LESSONS WE FIRST LEARNED IN THE FIELD.

With one eye on the clients who receive its harvests and the other on the customers fortified by those natural gifts, we continue to look forward to cultivating the healthy growth of the plants and people who share our world.

The Ciruli Family:
An American Dream

  • THE BEGINNINGS

    AMADIO & JULIA

  • 1ST GENERATION

    CHARLES “CHARLIE”

  • 2ND GENERATION

    CHUCK CIRULI JR.

  • 3RD GENERATION

    CHUCK CIRULI III & CHRIS CIRULI

In the early 1900’s, Amadio and Julia Ciruli immigrated to the United States from Schiavi, Abruzzo, Italy, a small town near the Adriatic Sea. They went west, settling in Pueblo, Colorado, where they bought ten acres of farmland on a mesa south of the Arkansas. The Cirulis had four children. When the oldest of the children, Charlie, turned nine, he was given total responsibility for farming five of the ten acres. Times were tough then, so Amadio told his son: “You must make a profit,” And Charlie did.

As a young man, Charlie worked as a produce buyer for Piggly Wiggly, the first full-service supermarket in the U.S., later to become Safeway. Motivated by a strong sense of independence, he opened a grower-shipper business. Safeway was his first client. In 1940, Charlie formed Ciruli Brothers Growers & Shippers in Pueblo, building what was to become the largest Colorado grower-shipper business through the 1950s and 60s. Under Charlie’s leadership, the company expanded into Arizona, and farmed an additional 2,500 acres of mixed vegetables, lettuce, carrots, onions, watermelon and cantaloupe.

Chuck had an early start in the produce business working on his dad’s ranches and packing sheds in Arizona and Colorado. By the time he was in high school, he had already moved up to the sales desk of his father Charlie’s business, Ciruli Brothers. Chuck has dedicated his career to increase fresh mango consumption in the North American market. He was a key participant in the development of hot water baths in the Mexican mango industry, and his efforts alongside the Fresh Produce Association were instrumental in the establishment of the National Mango Board where he was the first ever chairman of the board.

Growing up together besides their father in the fields and offices of Ciruli Brothers and Amex Distributing Company, Chuck & Chris gained a thorough understanding of the business’ operations by the time they officially joined in the early 1990s. As the CEO of Ciruli Brothers, Chuck directs the company alongside his brother. Chuck is mainly responsible for direction, strategy, and finance. As Chief Operations Officer, Chris is now responsible for overseeing the company’s shipping, warehousing, sales, and business development with strategic accounts. Committed and insightful, Chris also dedicates time to serving the industry and the local communities.

THE BEGINNINGS

AMADIO & JULIA

In the early 1900’s, Amadio and Julia Ciruli immigrated to the United States from Schiavi, Abruzzo, Italy, a small town near the Adriatic Sea. They went west, settling in Pueblo, Colorado, where they bought ten acres of farmland on a mesa south of the Arkansas. The Cirulis had four children. When the oldest of the children, Charlie, turned nine, he was given total responsibility for farming five of the ten acres. Times were tough then, so Amadio told his son: “You must make a profit,” And Charlie did.

1ST GENERATION

CHARLES “CHARLIE”

As a young man, Charlie worked as a produce buyer for Piggly Wiggly, the first full-service supermarket in the U.S., later to become Safeway. Motivated by a strong sense of independence, he opened a grower-shipper business. Safeway was his first client. In 1940, Charlie formed Ciruli Brothers Growers & Shippers in Pueblo, building what was to become the largest Colorado grower-shipper business through the 1950s and 60s. Under Charlie’s leadership, the company expanded into Arizona, and farmed an additional 2,500 acres of mixed vegetables, lettuce, carrots, onions, watermelon and cantaloupe.

2ND GENERATION

CHUCK CIRULI JR.

Chuck had an early start in the produce business working on his dad’s ranches and packing sheds in Arizona and Colorado. By the time he was in high school, he had already moved up to the sales desk of his father Charlie’s business, Ciruli Brothers. Chuck has dedicated his career to increase fresh mango consumption in the North American market. He was a key participant in the development of hot water baths in the Mexican mango industry, and his efforts alongside the Fresh Produce Association were instrumental in the establishment of the National Mango Board where he was the first ever chairman of the board.

3RD GENERATION

CHUCK CIRULI III & CHRIS CIRULI

Growing up together besides their father in the fields and offices of Ciruli Brothers and Amex Distributing Company, Chuck & Chris gained a thorough understanding of the business’ operations by the time they officially joined in the early 1990s. As the CEO of Ciruli Brothers, Chuck directs the company alongside his brother. Chuck is mainly responsible for direction, strategy, and finance. As Chief Operations Officer, Chris is now responsible for overseeing the company’s shipping, warehousing, sales, and business development with strategic accounts. Committed and insightful, Chris also dedicates time to serving the industry and the local communities.

“Running our business is very enjoyable. I am particularly grateful for the values that I learned from my family over the years and seeing how those values have been instilled in our team and in the way we operate.”
– CHRIS CIRULI
"I can’t say that what we do is easy; every day presents a new challenge. However, when I think about what we do, and our part in feeding families, I am both humbled and amazed that we are able to come together as a family, as a team, and as an industry."
– CHRIS CIRULI
"My job is to help families everywhere stay fed and healthy by bringing them fresh, wholesome, and delicious options to market. I can’t think of a better way to make a living."
– CHRIS CIRULI
"There is something very unique about Ciruli Brothers. We are above all, a family.”
– CHUCK CIRULI III
“We serve an industry that has been around for millennia. I feel it is our responsibility to collaborate with peers and industry colleagues alike, to ensure we leave it in a better place for the generations to come.”
– CHUCK CIRULI III
“We are extremely excited and honored to have the fourth generation of the Ciruli family join the industry while we continue to diversify and grow.”
– CHRIS CIRULI
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CHAIRMAN

Chuck Ciruli, Jr.

Chuck had an early start in the produce business working on his dad’s ranches and packing sheds in Arizona and Colorado. By the time he was in high school, he had already moved up to the sales desk of his father Charlie’s business, Ciruli Brothers.

Losing his father at the age of nineteen propelled Chuck’s entrepreneurial spirit. By 1967 Chuck formed Ciruli Brokerage Company in Nogales, Arizona. Six years later, in 1973, he established Amex Distributing Co. Inc., where he specialized in produce from western Mexico. The company had a special focus on mangos. Chuck merged the two entities in 1986, forming the multi-faceted Amex Distributing Co. Inc.

Chuck has dedicated his career to increase fresh mango consumption in the North American market. He was a key participant in the development of hot water baths in the Mexican mango industry, and his efforts alongside the Fresh Produce Association were instrumental in the establishment of the National Mango Board where he was the first ever chairman of the board.

Chuck supports the management of the business and the development of the company’s mango programs. He enjoys traveling, visiting loved ones, and fixing up properties. In his free time, he also works alongside his sons to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County.

Education

BS, Agricultural Business
Northern Arizona University

Awards & Recognitions

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas Pillar Award, 2019
The Packer 25: Profiles in Leadership, 2005

Career Milestones

US Department of Agriculture Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
Member, 2007-2009

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas:
Chairman 2000-2004

United Fresh Produce Association
Executive Committee Board Member, 2006-2008

National Mango Board
Chairman, 2005

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Charles “Chuck” Ciruli III

Chuck joined his father’s company, Amex Distributing, in 1993. There, Chuck had the privilege of working in every facet of the business, from spending days in the fields, to long nights in the company’s distribution centers. Since then, Chuck has overseen different areas of the business, and has opened several businesses of his own.

As the CEO of Ciruli Brothers, Chuck directs the company alongside his brother. Chuck is mainly responsible for direction, strategy, and finance. He is also actively engaged in the business’s growing operations and supply chain development. He is a strong promoter of giving back to the community and industry we serve, and often encourages his people to do the same.

Chuck and his family reside in southern Arizona. During his free time, Chuck works with the local community to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County where he has served as a board member for many years.

Education

BA, Political Science and Sociology
Northern Arizona University

Awards & Recognitions

Produce Business Magazine: 40-Under-Forty, 2007

Career Milestones

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas:
Board Member, 2004-2006
Mango Division Board Member Since 2006

United Fresh Produce Association:
Alumni Committee, 2011
United Fresh Leadership Program, Class of 2004

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Christopher “Chris” Ciruli

Growing up beside his brother and father in the fields and offices of Ciruli Brothers and Amex Distributing Company, Chris gained a thorough understanding of the business’ operations by the time he officially joined in 1994. He has served in several roles in the warehouses, packinghouses, sourcing, and sales. 

As Chief Operations Officer, Chris is now responsible for overseeing the company’s shipping, warehousing, sales, and business development with strategic accounts. Committed and insightful, Chris also dedicates time to serving the industry and the local communities.

Active in several trade associations, Chris works alongside other industry leaders to address issues that impact families everywhere, from nutrition to fresh produce consumption, food safety, and supply chain efficiencies. 

He resides in Arizona where he and his wife dedicate their time to community outreach projects with First Things First and the Santa Cruz County Boys & Girls Club where Chris serves as president.

Education

BS, Business Administration
Northern Arizona University

Awards & Recognitions

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Member of the Year Award, 2017
The Packer 25: Profiles in Leadership, 2009
Produce Business Magazine: 40-Under-Forty, 2005

Career Milestones

USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC):
Member, 2022-2024

National Mango Board:
Treasurer, 2015-16, 2018, 2022-2023
Vice Chairman, 2021-2022
Board Member, 2014-21

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas:
Chairman of the Mango Division, 2014-2023
Past Chairman 2010-2012
Chairman from 2008-2010
Chairman elect 2006-2008
Mango Division Board Member, 2006-2022

United Fresh Produce Association:
Board Member at large, 2017-21
Wholesaler-Distributor Board, 2011-13
Leadership Program, 2007

Produce Marketing Association:
Foundation for Industry Talent, 2009
Foodservice Board Member, 2005-07

CHAMPAGNE® • HADEN • Tommy Atkins • KENT • KEITT

BELL PEPPERS • CUCUMBERS • HOT PEPPERS • MANGOS • MELONS • TOMATOES

Eggplant • Green Beans • Hardshell Squash • Squash