Bio of Barbara Bair, President of Alta California Foods, Inc.
Barbara was raised on a small farm in Northern California. Her parents were innovators in farm direct marketing and instilled in their children a strong work ethic and a great love and respect for agriculture.
Barbara developed a fascination for other cultures, and while attending California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo she took the opportunity to study for a year abroad at the University of Madrid, Spain. She was also chosen to be one of the first interns from Cal Poly to complete an internship at E.A.R.T.H. University in Costa Rica. While there she assisted students with their entrepreneurial projects and gained insight into tropical agriculture.
She graduated from Cal Poly cum laude with a B.S. in International Management and a minor in Spanish.
After graduation Barbara worked for a global agribusiness development firm, conducting market research and assisting U.S. agricultural companies in establishing export sales.
In the mid 90’s she married her college sweetheart Lewis, and moved to Fresno. While Lewis used his agricultural engineering degree to pursue a career in the water world, Barbara worked for a produce company. She managed their partnerships with foreign growers and assisted in domestic sales and marketing. She also bought and sold nuts and dried fruits on a seasonal basis.
Relocating to Northern California a few years later, Barbara worked for a nut broker for two years before establishing Alta California Foods, Inc. Lewis manages an agricultural water district near their home in Grimes, California where they live with their two sons and one very spoiled dog.
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