Carl Sam Maggio, who had a produce career stretching six decades, died Aug. 19 of natural causes after battling health issues for the previous two years. He was born Jan. 23, 1933, making him 89 at his death.

Over those decades he was involved in many innovative and successful produce ventures from working with the renowned “Carrot King” Joe Maggio (his uncle) to his partnerships in Maggio-Tostado, Sun World Inc., Sun and Sands Enterprises and Prime Time International.

Growing up in El Centro, CA, Mr. Maggio served in the U.S. Army and went on to  graduate from the University of Southern California. He went to work for his uncle, Joe Maggio, at Maggio Inc. in 1957 when he was in his mid-20s. He then ventured out on his own getting involved in several successful deals. Eventually, he partnered with Skip Tostado and launched Maggio-Tostado in the late 1960s.

In 1975, Howard Marguleas and Domenick (Cookie) Bianco launched Sun World International as the two main partners in what would become a highly innovative operation. The company started with citrus and grapes and then brought in Carl Sam Maggio to add a vegetable deal to their program.  For the next 15 years, Sun World was at the forefront of innovation with such produce items as seedless watermelon, yellow and red peppers, vine-ripe tomatoes and Superior Seedless table grapes. Mr. Maggio continued to be involved in outside partnerships at this time, including Maggio-Tostado.

In 1992, Maggio and Mark Nickerson founded Sun and Sands Enterprises, which eventually merged with C.H. Sales, and its owner Chuck Hodges, to form Prime Time International in mid-1970s. Prime Time continues to specialize in red, orange, yellow and green peppers. Mike Way, who is a managing partner of Prime Time today, was working for C.H. Sales when Sun and Sands was formed and began growing vegetable, including peppers. “Carl was the driving force in creating a year-round pepper program,” he said. “The term ‘icon’ fits him well. He was an icon in our industry. Losing him is like losing a family member.”

Making that same claim was Cookie Bianco. “I was as close to him as any of my brothers,” he said, revealing that the two shared a condo together in the desert during the growing season for 20 years. Each would go back to their family homes in separate parts of the state on weekends, but during the week they were roommates. “We were like a husband and wife: I cooked and he cleaned,” Bianco quipped.

Earlier this year, Maggio announced his retirement from Prime Time International, with Managing Partners Way and Jeff Taylor taking over majority ownership. Way said Maggio had quit being involved in day-to-day activities several years ago, but he still had a keen interest in the company and was involved in management meetings. “He had a fire in his belly for produce,” Way said. “He cared about everything — the workers, the produce.”

Mr. Maggio was the 2012 recipient of Western Growers’ Award of Honor, the association's highest award. He served on the Western Growers board of directors in 1978 and again from 1980 to 1994, including a term as chair in 1992.

For Mr. Maggio, it was that dedication to the agriculture community that was one of the highlights of his career. “I’ve met great people; great things have happened,” Maggio said at the time he received the Award of Honor. “Obviously I could retire if I wanted to, but nothing’s as much fun as this.”

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children: daughters Jennifer Maggio and Leanne Ryan, and his son, Sam Maggio.