FORT WORTH, TX - It is with the heaviest heart that we report on the passing of an industry great. Paul J. DiMare, Chief Executive Officer and President of DiMare Fresh, affectionately known as Mr. Tomato to those in the fresh produce industry, passed away on December 30. He was 81 at the time of his passing and has left a significant mark, both professionally and personally.

The seeds of DiMare’s brilliant career as a successful farmer and businessman were sowed nearly 95 years ago on the streets of Boston, Massachusetts. Back then, his father and two uncles sold fresh vegetables from a pushcart in Haymarket Square, growing their small venture into a lucrative repacking plant for tomatoes, vegetables, and nuts.

That repacking plant was located across from the Boston Terminal Market, and every day after school when DiMare was 10, he would catch a trolley to the facility.

The family would eventually invest in farming, and when DiMare moved to Florida in 1964 at the age of 23, he would expand operations to production and distribution locations in Florida and throughout the United States, all the while supporting several causes. Today, DiMare Fresh is one of the nation’s largest providers of value-added distribution services in the form of repacking, ripening, storage, consolidation, and delivery of refrigerated foods, which specializes in fresh produce and floral, including plants.

An industry leader in the areas of trade, product enhancement, and public awareness, DiMare was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2005.

DiMare has also served on the University of Miami Board of Trustees for 18 years, according to a post by the University of Miami.

“One of our University’s most ardent supporters, Paul lived a life worth emulating, marked by generosity, leadership, and a gregarious spirit that made him unforgettable,” said University of Miami President Julio Frenk. “He poured his heart into his family, his community, and his every endeavor. We have been fortunate to know him personally, and we mourn the loss of this great man.”

DiMare served on the University’s Board of Trustees since 2004, holding various leadership positions and dedicating himself to uplifting the institution. He was one of the University’s most generous philanthropists, supporting key initiatives at the University. From athletics and the arts to business, scientific research, and medical education, his generosity has made an impact across the institution.

DiMare was honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2007, the 2007 Women’s Guild of the Miami Project Ann Bishop Spirit of Excellence Award, and the 2013 Southeast Produce Council Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is survived by his wife, Swanee; sons Anthony, Paul DiMare, Jr., Scott, and Gino; and stepson Jim Husk.

His legacy lives on in the roots he has planted, and we send our thoughts to his loved ones during this difficult time.