FruitGuys School staff, from left to right: Tracy (National School Operations Manager), Spencer (Marketing and Sales Support/Nutrition Ed Coordinator), Taylor (Customer Service Assistant), Tevita (San Francisco Buying Supervisor), Teri (School Account Manager), Krista (School Account Manager), Carol (Director of School Programs), Erik (Vice President, The FruitGuys), Czareanah (School Customer Service Supervisor), Miguel (Receiving Lead) (Not pictured: Omar Benavides, School Buyer)
Carol Stewart
Director of School Programs
I was born in San Francisco. I’m a second-generation San Franciscan. My father was born two years before the Great Earthquake of 1906! Although I no longer live in San Francisco, I live close by on the SF Peninsula. I am the Director of School Programs here at The FruitGuys and am very proud of the work our team performs. I’m also a second-generation produce vendor. My mother was one of the first women to open a produce company, in San Francisco in 1947. So you could say I was born into the business. My job at The FruitGuys brings me tremendous enjoyment in the reward of facilitating the distribution of wholesome food to children and helping educators communicate the benefits of healthy living. I enjoy cooking, usually with a Mediterranean flair, as that is my heritage. I’m a back-to-basics kind of gal and use simple, easy ingredients—organic and homegrown as much as possible. My favorite fruit is papaya, although white nectarines are a close second!
Tracy Reinstein
National School Operations Manager
I was born in Manhattan and spent my early years playing on the green lawns of Westchester County, NY. My family and I moved out West, where we eventually opened one of the Bay Area’s first specialty produce stores. My passion for food has grown as I have, and prior to joining The FruitGuys, I opened and owned several restaurants. I joined The FruitGuys to bring my skills to a new arena but still work with what I love: food! I’ve been with the team since 2013 and have found that every day is either an adventure in learning, eating, or both! When not working to bring fresh fruit to schools, I cook for friends and family, garden, cycle, run, and study martial arts and yoga. My favorite fruit is Hawaiian pineapple.
Spencer Thomas
Marketing and Sales Support/Nutrition Ed Coordinator
I grew up in the South Bay suburb of Saratoga, CA. After high school, I attended UC Santa Cruz, where I studied biology and environmental studies. Upon graduating, I spent eight months backpacking through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, living cheaply, volunteering on organic farms, and honing my Spanish skills. I now reside in Oakland, where I enjoy the vibrant mix of culture and music. I’ve been with The FruitGuys since 2014 and have found it very rewarding! I believe working with schools is a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation. I am proud of our Nutrition Education program and am looking forward to rolling out our new material. I love so many different fruits, but I just can’t say no to a good apple!
Krista Feldhouse
School Account Manager
I was born and raised in Redwood City, CA. I now reside in Belmont, CA, with my husband and new baby! I have been with The FruitGuys since 2012 as an Account Manager for our School team. I absolutely love working closely with our school clients and seeing how we can best provide their students with our services. One of my favorite parts about my job is getting to visit school sites and seeing the children enjoy the fruit and veggies we’ve provided for them! In my free time, I love to travel and root on my favorite sports teams! My favorite fruit is pineapple, so much so that when visiting Hawaii, my sister and I carried a 40lb case of pineapple down a dirt road back to our hotel so we could ship them home!
Czareanah Do
School Customer Service Supervisor
I have lived in the Bay Area for most of my life and currently live with my husband and three boys in South San Francisco, CA—The FruitGuys’ hometown. I joined The FruitGuys in 2014, and it has been a fruit-filled adventure every day since! As an Account Manager on the School team, I love being part of a program that provides children with healthful fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. Some fun facts about me? I married my high school sweetheart; I love eating seafood; I have two karaoke machines; and I own a poodle named Momo, who is the unofficial School team mascot! My favorite fruit is bananas—the world’s most popular fruit and also The FruitGuys’ ambassador fruit.
Teri Inocencio
School Account Manager
I am a 5th-generation San Franciscan. As a child, I spent my summers in Guerneville helping my grandparents pick and tend their vast assortment of fruit and veggies. My grandparents loved to grow anything from pumpkins to strawberries and apples to root and vine veggies. I love cooking and baking for my family. When my three boys were young, I ran their school lunch program. I am passionate about providing schools the same freshness and quality that I serve my kids. I love coaching, watching my boys play sports, taking my dog on walks, and of course rooting for the SF Giants! My favorite fruit is frozen grapes. They so refreshing—like bite-size popsicles!
Executive Team
Chris Mittelstaedt
Founder, CEO, and Chief Banana of The FruitGuys
Chris is responsible for the company’s vision and growth since its founding in his 1-bedroom apartment in San Francisco in 1998. He has a B.S. in business from American University, where he was captain of the rugby team. Chris lives in San Francisco with his wife, three children, two dogs, and one cat. He loves wearing the Banana Suit—anywhere. His favorite fruit is cherries.
Erik Muller
President
Erik is responsible for managing strategic, growth, and financial planning, as well as business development. Erik brings an accomplished track record to The FruitGuys, with more than 20 years of growing businesses—25 years if you count the five he was a newspaper boy in Southern California. Erik earned an economics and business degree from Colorado College. In his free time, Erik enjoys staying active with his wife and their two children. He is an avid cyclist and loves coaching his kids’ sports teams.
Erin Mittelstaedt
Chief Operating Officer
Erin is responsible for all strategic and operational aspects of The FruitGuys operations, as well as creation of new facilities. Previously, Erin worked as a Trader Joe’s manager in Philadelphia and a case worker in New York City. Erin has a BA in Music from the University of Pennsylvania and lives in San Francisco with her wife and their dog Madigan. She sings, tap dances, loves making jams and jellies, and recently fell in love with swimming in the Bay.