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Bornsen leaves Wash. Potato Commission

Shannen Bornsen, former director of international trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, has left that organization to take a position in international trade with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Ms. Bornsen, who had been with the Washington commission since February 2002, began her new job Monday, Jan. 3, relocating to Minneapolis. Starting as director of marketing for the potato commission, Ms. Bornsen moved into international trade in mid-2003, traveling with a number of trade-commission groups to the Pacific Rim, Mexico and Cuba. Her contributions to the commission were

IN THE TRENCHES: Back in the dunk tank

While walking through a carnival with my wife last summer, I noticed a great number of game booths set up for fun and entertainment. The game that caught my interest the most was the dunk tank. It had the biggest crowd gathered in front of it yelling and screaming for some guy to throw a ball at a little red metal bulls-eye target. You?ve seen this game before. Some goofy looking clown in full regalia sits over a tank of water and makes funny faces at the person who is throwing the balls. If that person hits the bulls-eye with enough force, the seat will fall out from under the clown and dump

John Karrat, founder of Karrat Bros., was 95

John G. Karrat, who founded Karrat Bros. Wholesale Fruit & Produce in the 1930s, died Dec. 18. He was 95. Born in Utica, NY, in 1909, Mr. Karrat began his career in the produce industry with a small truck and a small route, peddling produce at the age of 21. In the mid-1930s, he and his brother, Nayef, started Karrat Bros. As owner and buyer for the company, he spent much time on the old Washington Street Market in New York buying produce for his company in Utica. He was also a fixture in the Buffalo market in the 1950s and 1960s. When a fire destroyed the family?s warehouse in 1966, Mr

John Vena Inc. adds warehouse operations manager

PHILADELPHIA " John Vena Inc. announced the addition of a new warehouse operations manager to oversee its recently purchased facility on Galloway Street. Joseph Aquilino has extensive experience in all aspects of produce operations management. ?Joe will develop this operation from the ground up," said John Vena, president of John Vena Inc. "We are confident that Joe has the expertise to pilot our new enterprise in the right direction." The main operation will provide a range of services centered on short-term storage and forward distribution of greenhouse products. In addition, the facility

Farmer's Best receives top honor

Agricola Tarriba in Culiacan, Sinaloa, the Mexican sister company of Farmers Best International in Nogales, AZ, was recently named Exporter of the Year by Mexican President Vincente Fox. General Director Ivan Tarriba Haza accepted the award on behalf of Agricola Tarriba. In a ceremony held in Mexico City in early December, President Fox presented Agricola Tarriba with the highest honor awarded to Mexican companies that have exhibited strength, ingenuity and strong business practices in reaching key export markets. Companies awarded this honor are seen as an example for the rest of Mexico in

Mexico lifting tariff on Wash. apples

A 46.6 percent tariff imposed by the Mexican government on Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples from Washington will be lifted in late February, ending nearly 18 months of penalization against Northwest exporters for selling at prices below market. According to Jim Archer, manager of Northwest Fruit Exporters in Yakima, WA, negotiators made public the announcement on Monday, Jan. 3 that the tariff, imposed in August 2002, was to be lifted. The Mexican government published the agreement Dec. 29, and Mr. Archer said initially that his group anticipated full duty-free access would be
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For more than half a century, Pete and Brenda S. Garcia have worked to strengthen and support the floral industry. Together, they grew the Pete Garcia Co., the Garcia Group and several other companies while consistently finding ways to give back.

Pete and Brenda have been longtime supporters of the American Floral Endowment, participating in every AFE phone-a-thon and sharing their belief in the Endowment’s mission and its impact on the industry.

Pete joined the AFE board when the organization was still known as the Society of American Florists Endowment. As public relations chairman, he recommended changing the name from SAFE to AFE to avoid confusion for donors. He and Brenda chaired the 1984 AFE Century Dinner during the WFFSA Trade Fair to raise awareness of AFE within the hardgoods sector. Pete also served as AFE secretary from 1989 to 1993 and chairman from 1993 to 1995. In 2020, the Garcia family established the Garcia Family Scholarship Fund, which supports college students pursuing careers in the marketing or distribution of floral products.

The Garcias’ industry involvement extends far beyond AFE. Pete’s leadership began in 1973, when he helped create the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association Trade Fair. That role led to a board seat, followed by service as trade fair chairman in 1976 and WFFSA president from 1979 to 1980.

Their enthusiasm for service runs throughout the family. Pete’s brother, Ramon, was active on the boards of both AFE and SAF. Their sons, Mike and David, continued the tradition through their work with WFFSA, with David eventually serving as president. David is also in the midst of a two-year term as chairman of AFE’s Board of Trustees. Extended family members have also taken on leadership roles, including Darin Dewberry, who has served on several committees and is the immediate past president of WFFSA.

Across the floral sector—growers, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, logistics providers, insurance specialists, transportation professionals, technology partners, importers and academics—there are countless success stories. Imagine the impact if every person, group or company contributed: $100, $1,000 or more. It would create a powerful Tree of Togetherness.

The Garcias encourage you to support AFE and help fund the future of floriculture. All gifts made by Dec. 31 will have triple the impact thanks to a special matching opportunity.

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