Alex Oikawa, 37
Director of Business Intelligence, Taylor Farms, Salinas, CA
June 12, 2026 | 3 min to read
SHORT BIO
Hometown: Salinas, CA
Hobbies: Golf, Fitness, Coaching son’s baseball
Family/Community: Married, 2 children
Motto in life: Learn as much as you can and have fun doing it.
Oikawa began his career in the produce industry at Colorful Harvest while attending college, where he started in an administrative role and quickly took on additional responsibilities. He later transitioned into a sales role, where he expanded business with key customers, including bringing Costco back as an active account prior to graduation.
His time at Colorful Harvest laid the groundwork for a career defined by curiosity, adaptability, and a customer first mindset. In 2014, he joined Robinson Fresh, where he supported and later managed major accounts. He advanced into an account management role, overseeing citrus purchasing on the West Coast and growing a new customer lead into a top 10 account by profitability within his office.
In 2018, he joined Taylor Farms, beginning as a distribution representative and helping launch a new team, while building processes and operational standards. He later moved into sales and account leadership roles, including customer account champion, where he strengthened and grew key customer partnerships.
In 2025, he moved into his current role for the foodservice segment at Taylor Farms.
Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry and why?
I kind of fell into produce. In college, I was looking for a part-time job and ended up getting connected with a small strawberry grower/shipper. I started at the front desk answering phones, mailing invoices, manually sorting, and filing sales orders for accounting. Over time, I kept asking for more responsibilities and grew into roles touching marketing, operations and accounting.
The more I learned about the business and the industry, the more I knew I wanted to build a career in produce. Going into my senior year, I had an opportunity to move into a full-time sales role, something I couldn’t pass up. I shifted to night classes to finish college while working full time during the day. I’m forever grateful I was given a chance and supported in my growth while I juggled a new role and school. Those early experiences still shape how I approach my career today.
Q: What do you wish you knew when you first started your career?
I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors throughout my produce career, and it’s something I value to this day.
One thing I was told early on that has stuck with me forever: no one is a mind reader. Don’t expect your peers or superiors to understand how you feel or what your goals are. Be intentional and transparent about what you want to achieve in your career. I appreciate those who have taken the time to mentor me, and it’s something I try to pay forward.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
My greatest accomplishment is the range of experiences I’ve had. I’ve touched different aspects of the business, like accounting, transportation, operations, and sales, and every role has given me a different perspective on how this industry works.
Time in front of the customer is where I’ve learned the most, and it’s shaped how I think about the business today. I’m proud of the knowledge I’ve built, and I’m excited to bring those insights to the table.
Right now, I’m involved in several projects aimed at creating significant, scalable efficiencies and driving impactful change within my organization. Likely, the accomplishment I’m most proud of hasn’t happened yet.
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