From left: Councilmember William Go, Vice Mayor James Mai, Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, Kenny Tanaka, Mayor Larry Agran, Councilmember Betty Martinez-Franco, Councilmember Melinda Liu, and Councilmember Mike Carroll at the Wall of Recognition ceremony.
The City of Irvine celebrated the exceptional contributions of 52 new honorees inducted into the Wall of Recognition on June 9 at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park.
The ceremony included a reception with honorees and their families at Irvine City Hall, followed by a formal recognition at the Irvine City Council meeting.
The Wall of Recognition honors individuals and organizations whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on the Irvine community. From civic and community leaders to local businesses and pioneering individuals, each honoree has played a meaningful role in helping shape the City’s continued growth and character.
With the addition of the 2026 honorees, the Wall of Recognition includes more than 500 individuals and organizations commemorated since the program began in 2006.
“Our community is strengthened by the residents, businesses, and organizations that call Irvine home,” said Mayor Larry Agran. “Through their leadership, kindness, and service, each of the honorees recognized this week has had a lasting impact on our City. We are grateful for their outstanding contributions and proud to ensure their efforts become a permanent part of Irvine’s history.”
In the Roots of Our Community — Families Forward category, honorees included Tanaka Farms. Kenny Tanaka accepted the honor on behalf of his family.
Tanaka Farms began with Takeo, an Issei who immigrated from Hiroshima-ken in the early 1900s. In 1922, his Nisei son, George, was born in Dinuba. His parents worked on a small farm as farm hands.
In 1941, George got his own truck to ship produce in La Habra. But in 1942, he fled to Utah to avoid the camps. While in Utah he met his future wife, Chris.
After the end of World War II, the couple moved to Fountain Valley, where they farmed various properties with tomatoes, vegetables, and strawberries.
Glenn Tanaka, a Sansei, was born in 1957 in Fountain Valley. From 1977 to the 1990s, he grew wholesale tomatoes and strawberries. He also started his own packing and distribution.
Glenn studied agricultural business at Cal Poly Pomona, where he met his future wife, Shirley, a fellow Sansei who grew up in a farming family in Riverside. Their son, Kenny, a Yonsei, was born in 1983.
In 1998, Glenn moved his farming operation from Irvine Center Drive and Bake Parkway in Irvine, after land development forced them to move to Strawberry Farms Road and began the transformation away from wholesale farming to responsible farming techniques and agritourism.
Kenny is married to Christine, a schoolteacher. They have three Gosei children, Landon, Kaylee, and KJ.
In 2003, the popularity of the Strawberry Tours sky-rocketed from a few hundred visitors to thousands, and Tanaka Farms continues to host families and schools from all over Southern California today.
2023 marked Tanaka Farms’ 25th anniversary at the current location on University Drive. Its operations include a Produce Market Stand, CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) Program, Farm Tours, Pumpkin Patch, Hikari Festival of Lights, and a covered Christmas tree lot.
Perpetual Plaque honorees include City Councilmembers William Go, Melinda Liu and James Mai.
Distinguished Citizens include Charlie K. Choi, Ann Hwu, Edward Sang Hyun Kim, M.D., MBA, and Charlie Zhang.
Nominations for the 2026 Wall of Recognition were accepted from Nov. 1 through Dec. 30, 2025, giving community members the opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations that have made a meaningful impact in Irvine. Eligible nominees included individuals who have lived, worked, or attended school in Irvine, as well as businesses, groups, and organizations with ties to the community.
To see a complete list of honorees, go to: https://cityofirvine.gov/news-media/news-article/city-irvine-inducted-52-new-honorees-wall-recognition-ceremony