Family Matters
San Antonio is known as a city of families with deep roots that often intertwine. Three generations of the Wolff and Turner families have been business and civic leaders, as well as good friends. Now, they have come together to create a new homegrown natural foods grocery store. Green Fields Market will provide quality natural and healthy foods at great prices.
Where It All Started
Nelson Wolff, Sr. and Tom Turner, Sr. started their friendship in the 1930s when they drove trucks for a company located in south San Antonio. By 1943, Tom, Sr. was able to buy his first filling station. In time, he would build the Sigmor Gas Station chain to over five hundred stores and revolutionize the retail petroleum industry by adding convenience type items and self service lanes, while providing the very best service to his customers. In 1961, Nelson Wolff, Sr. started Alamo Enterprises—a building material business and one of the first to incorporate self service for customers. The company eventually grew to nine locations. When times got tough, Nelson would reach out to his old friend Tom for encouragement and, on occasion, financial support—Tom was always there to help.
Sun Harvest, TETCO and Public Service
In 1979, the second generation of the Wolff family — Nelson W. Wolff and his brothers George and Gary—founded Sun Harvest Farms, a natural foods grocery business. While Nelson was selling groceries, Tom Turner, Jr. was building on the success of his father by expanding the family business to TETCO, Inc.—currently consisting of the TETCO stores, Mission Petroleum Carriers and partnership interest with V.K. Knowlton Paving Contractors. Both Sun Harvest Farms and TETCO would successfully carry the family mantle of great service.
Nelson’s life would take some interesting turns along the way. While continuing the management and expansion of Sun Harvest Farms to nine stores, he also served as a Texas State Representative and State Senator. In the 1980s and ‘90s, he served on the San Antonio City Council and as Mayor of San Antonio. Currently, he serves as the Bexar County Judge. Through the years, the Turner family has remained loyal supporters of Nelson’s political career.
Today and Tomorrow
Representing the third generation, Jon Turner and Kevin Wolff, friends since childhood, continue the family tradition. Jon, now Vice Chairman of TETCO, Inc., supported Wolff when he was elected to the San Antonio City Council and, most recently, as Bexar County Commissioner.
Back in 1999, the Wolff family jointly decided to sell Sun Harvest Farms. Nelson and Tracy would later realize that they missed working with the employees and also their customers — many of whom had become good friends over the years and often encouraged them to “get back in the business.” Always a team, Nelson and Tracy began to think about creating a new natural foods concept based on their past business expertise and knowledge of the community.
Loyal friends and destiny would come together once again. Tom Turner Jr. had become interested in the grocery business. Tom’s concept matched perfectly with the model proposed by Nelson and Tracy - conveniently-sized natural foods stores that provide quality, fresh products and value to the customer. Like their Dads before them, Nelson and Tom have created a market that is locally owned and operated.
Our Family Promise: Green Fields Market is backed by the proven trust and loyalty of our families—three generations that continue to care about the quality of life in our community. Join us.
