Born and raised in Watsonville, California to immigrant farmworking parents, Gerardo's first connection to agriculture was in his mother's womb as she packed strawberries into green baskets. Although his parents eventually transitioned away from farm work, his father made sure Gerardo's first job took him back to the field, this time not out of necessity but a way to instill hard work ethic and humility. That experience led him to develop a strong appreciation and respect for his family's sacrifice, which drove Gerardo to succeed. He was fortunate enough to have supportive parents that enabled him to be the first college graduate from both sides of his family.

Realizing agriculture was not only deeply rooted in his ancestry but a fundamental part of humanity, Gerardo decided to pursue a career in agriculture by acquiring a B.S. in Agricultural Systems Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2011. Since then, he has worked for multinational corporations, local non-profits, start-ups, and government entities, all with the purpose of passionately moving agriculture forward.

Gerardo enjoys the small things in life, a breath of fresh air, a good bite to eat, a sip of a tasty libation, a melodic tune to vibe to, and quality time with a loved one. Everything else is just a plus and a blessing.