Abe-El Produce of Orosi is a 2021 Family Owned Business Awards honoree. The Abe girls are pictured here (from left): Eileen Abe-Mesias, Taye Abe, Kelly Abe-Hayashi and Lori Abe-Morita holding a photo of Frank Abe, founder. Photo contributed

The Business Journal is pleased to announce the 10 companies that are honorees for the inaugural Family Owned Business Awards.

This is the first year for the program meant to honor outstanding multi-generational family businesses in the Central Valley. Dozens of nominations were submitted for the awards, and honorees were determined by a panel of judges including Phil Owens, area manager for BBSI; Debra Nalchajian-Cohen, agency principal for Cohen Communications; Debbie Truhett, executive director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Central Valley Chapter; The Business Journal Publisher Gordon M. Webster, Jr. and Business Journal Editor Gabriel Dillard.

The final awards will be given during a virtual FOBA program with a date to be determined. Three top honors will be awarded in the categories of small, medium and large businesses. An additional “Legacy” award will be given to a business with a minimum of three generations of family leadership.

The 10 honorees are likely familiar members of the family business community in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties that distinguish themselves with their stories, success, continuation planning and community contributions. Today’s print edition of “The Business Journal” features brief profiles of each business.

The 2021 FOBA honorees:

 

Small Business

Abe-El Produce, Inc., Orosi

Pappy’s Fine Foods, Fresno

Toca Madera Winery, Madera

 

Medium Business

Chateau du Sureau, Oakhurst

Western Camps, Inc. (Wonder Valley Ranch Resort), Sanger

Valley Air Conditioning & Repair, Fresno

 

Large Business

JTS (Johanson Transportation Serve), Fresno

National Raisin Co., Fowler

Sebastian Corp., Kerman

Valley Wide Beverage, Fresno