To meet growing demand for garlic, Gilroy's Christopher Ranch recently invested in an expansion of its garlic production plant, adding more employees as production ramps up.

Critics say that despite threats of big insurance premiums in the wake of a 2019 mass shooting, Gilroy city officials pulled the plug too early on the Gilroy Garlic Festival after more than four decades.

Ken Christopher, executive vice president of Christopher Ranch and the grandson of Gilroy Garlic Festival co-founder Don Christopher, suggested the San Joaquin County group is trying to use the publicity of the demise of the Gilroy festival to its own advantage.