The brainchild of founder Rich Collins, California Endive Company was founded in 1983. Collins spent time in Europe learning hands-on growing technique, and brought that expertise to bear on what is now the nation's only major grower of organic and conventional endive. The sweet, crunchy, and slightly bitter leaves of the endive are grown from chicory root - CEF has become an industry leader in improving the complex growing process required for this delicate vegetable.