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
