Meet Stephen Campos | Salsa, hot sauce maker and published author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephen Campos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My father Art Campos was a pioneer in the Mexcian Food Industry. He was one of the first to manufacture tortilla’s in the Central Valley of California starting in 1947. I grewup watching him in business and wanted to be involved in his business. I started to work when I was fourteen years old. In 1964 he also pioneered a Mexican Food franchise called “Senor Campos”. Everyone called him “Senor Campos”, anyway.

In 1967 after high school I joined the Army because my grades were bad attending junior college. I was put on probation and couldn’t attend for six months. I decided to take a look at the Army. When I went down to the recruiter he asked me what I wanted to do and I said, “well, I do not know except I don’t want to be in the infantry. He said, “well, you will have a lot of opportunity to find something you will like. Next, he asked me “so, where do you want to go to your first duty station”? He said you can go to either Germany or Hawaii”. I was excited, “Hawaii first and Germany second”. So, I joined the Army in 1967 and put my trust of the US Army!

After, my Basic Training was finished I found out they had placed me in the infantry. I felt doomed to die but, I had to make up my mind to train hard and know everything I could learn about the infantry to stay alive. My next assignment was with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. We were sent over as a unit to Vietnam April 1968. It was during the most horiffic times to fight in the Vietnam War. After returning home I learned how all my friends and country were all opposed to the war. There were war protesters that called us losers and baby killers. They spit on us as we landed on the air base in California.

I was proud of my service when I returned home but then became silent due to the disrespect and of the hating of our soldeirs. I wanted nothing to do with my military service. I went back to work at my fathers business but could not keep a steady job. I wondered from job to job due to my hypertension, (Agent Orange) exposure I think.

The sixties was a time of “love in the air”, music and the Hippie movement. My mind-set was to party, have fun and forget about the war. I had a drinking and living problem but it didn’t know it, until years later.

In 1982, I got two drink driving arrests and found myself in a situation that I had to attend alcohol counseling C.A.R.E School for one year. It was in those meetings that I saw small window light of hope to stop drinking but. I could not do it on my own. It wasn’t unil a year later that my girlfriend left me and I hit rock bottom.

I was in on the verge of insanity with deep depression one night when I called out in despiritation for help, “help me God” and then fell asleep. In the early morning hours of January 8th 1983, around 1 am. I was awakened out of my sleep. Someone was in my room. I felt a light on my back. I knew God was in my room. I lay on my bed not moving a muscle, thinking I would be struck dead. Next, I heard the words of unconditional love. “I love you”. God spoke to me. Those words pierced my soul and my depression left me. The next day I attended a Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and started going to church where I learned a new way of living without alcohol.

After I got sober I continued working for my father’s business with more passion. My father was my inspiritation and my best friend but, it wasn’t awakened to the duty to my country until 2004. I was reunited with my combat buddy Eric Yingst, who lived in Harrisburg, PA. He invited me to attend an event and it was during that event that he awarded me a certificate of honor for serving my country. I totally melted in humility and I cried. No one had ever thanked me for my service, let alone give me an award. I was humbled.

Eric and talked about us serving together and recalled the events after a fire-fight in 1968. We had only been in combat for two weeks when he experienced a horiffic friedly-fire insodent that killed our own men. Eric and our other buddy, Jim Dyckhoff, were so shook-up that night we agreed protect each other “unto death” and if we made it home alive we would reunite.

It was six months later that three of us would meet for the first time, since 1968. We met at the Vietnam War Memorial Day in Washington D.C, to honor our fallen soldiers in combat. That day was a day I will never forget. We were also met by a Washington Post newspaper reporter and photographer who took our story and photos. It was about” honor on the battlefield and dishonor for serving our country”.

After, that event I was encouraged to write about my experiences to help other veterans feel good about their service. Most Vietnam Veteran had never talked about what happened to them, like me. I wrote my story and titled it “Charlie Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”. It was published in 2009 and I then I started to attend veteran events to honor other veterans and military members. I have written other inspirational books to help people that are available on amazon.com/stephenpaulcampos. and my website Stephen Paul Campos Books.com

However, my passion has always been in the Mexican Food Industry and the love of my fathers Mexican Food. I owned and operated three of his “Senor Campos” restaurants in the 1990’s. and have always loved the fresh salsa that was served but, I couldn’t find that delicious taste anywhere. He passed away in 1995.

I got out of the food industry after he passed away in 1995 and always wanted to start my own business. I decided to start with making and jarring the “Original” salsa that he served in all his restaurants. I knew the exact recipe. Over the years, I had been making it out of my home and giving it away as gift to family and friends. They all loved the taste and they kept asking for more.

Next, we needed the perfect tortilla chip to accomodate our salsa so, I started making them myself in my backyard until, I found a manufacturer. I wanted chips that was crunchy annd home-made Cantina style. Later we added more salsa flavors to enjoy like: Chipotle, Chili Verde Green, Ghost Pepper and Habanero. plus different hot sauce flavors, Scorpion, Carolina Reaper, BBQ sauce and BBQ spice rubs. I found our customers like it hot-hot, some like it spicy, while others want it medium. We appeal to every taste!

We are different with other hot sauce companies because use fresh and healthy ingredients. A lot of store bought salsa use cheap ingredients and taste like watered down, grade three tomatoes. We still attend local events in Arizona and festivals and sell online wesbite on our website Senor Campos Salsa.com. We ship anywhere in the USA only, except Hawaii and Alaska with flat rate shipping for only $9.95.

Our moto: This salsa is NOT your typical store-bought salsa. This salsa is all about using fresh healthy-ingredients with great taste. This salsa is made from my heart to honor my father Art Campos (Senor Campos)!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We use fresh ingredients for taste and health, handed down by my father, who came from humble beginnings to offer delcious Mexican Food products. We pride ourselves in a taste that appeals to you and makes everything taste better.

The magic is in the ingredients and processing. Fresh salsa is alive with flavor. The cilantro is bright and pungent, the lime juice is zesty and sharp, and the onions and garlic provide a crisp, assertive bite. We also have BBQ spice rubs that go great with meats and fish.

Store-bought salsa, on the other hand, must be shelf-stable. To achieve this, it’s pasteurized (cooked at high heat), which dulls the fresh notes of the herbs and vegetables. It’s a trade-off where freshness is sacrificed for longevity. The result is a more one-dimensional, stewed flavor profile.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spot to visit is the Boulders Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona. Wow, what a beautiful place to visit. The grounds are so beautiful. They have a golf course that is amazing to play, tennis, swimming pools, a Spa with salt water and I could go on and on. It makes you feel like you are on another planet. The rooms are Sante Fe style and their food is amazing. I also like visiting the town nearby where the have Indian Jewelry and other unique Artist items.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
DEDICATED TO MY FATHER ART CAMPOS (Senor Campos) dba Campos Foods & Senor Campos restaurants

Arthur Rogelio Campos, was a pioneer in the Mexican Food Industry. In 1947, he established Campos Foods selling corn
and flour tortillas throughout the Central Valley in California. He also pioneered “Senor Campos” Mexican Restaurant chain
in 1964. He came from humble beginnings. In 1918, his family fled from Sinaloa, Mexico, fearing Poncho Villa and his
bandits during the Mexican Revolution. His mother Ana, hid him so he wouldn’t be killed. The family fled and became U.S. citizens. Ana, changed his name to “Art ” so, he wouldn’t be pre-judged. Art served in the Navy as, a Chief Petty Officer,
during World War 11. In 1946, he and his brother Ray, started ” Campos Corn Chip” business. However, Frito Lay moved its
headquarters forcing them out of business. Then pure “fate” entered. Art started making tortillas, when a lady told him
they would be a “big hit”. She was right! In 1951, he also started selling tacos and burritos out of his tortilla factory in
Modesto, California. Art retired in 1992 after being in business for 41 years and passed away in 1995. Stephen
Campos, who worked for Campos Foods, as Senior Vice President is now offering his “Restaurant Style Salsa” for the
very first time.

Website: https://www.senorcampossalsa.com

Instagram: Senor Campos Salsa

Facebook: Stephen Paul Campos

Youtube: Stephen Paul Campos

Other: Stephen Paul Campos Books.com

Image Credits
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