Tony Bishop, who recently retired as an account manager from Yakima, WA- based Domex Superfresh Growers, said it's not often that people are able to do what they love and love what they do. But Mr. Bishop said that he has been one of the lucky ones, having invested the work of a lifetime in the field of agriculture.

Domex Superfresh Growers threw a retirement bash for Mr. Bishop on Aug. 10, and it was one he will never forget. "They threw an unbelievable party for me," he said. The company even brought in some of Mr. Bishop's clients for a final farewell.

"I just discovered a real love of agriculture," he said of his formative years growing up in the Denver area.

Mr. Bishop came to Domex "in a unique way." He earned a degree in agricultural science at California State University-Chico and then went to graduate school at the University of California-Davis. "I decided the Pacific Northwest was where I wanted to be," he told The Produce News.

He initially worked for Agri-Management, a company specializing in soil testing and moisture testing, in Yakima, WA, and also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for one winter.

During this time, one of his colleagues at Agri-Management recognized Mr. Bishop as a person with sales potential. "I never thought of myself as a salesperson but as part of agriculture," he laughed.

Twenty-six years ago, Mr. Bishop was recruited by Bill Gammie, president of Jack Frost Fruit Co. Inc. "We were a pretty sizable company," Mr. Bishop said. "[After two or three years], he gave me the reins as a sales manager."

Nine years ago, he said a number of companies started combining forces, and Jack Frost began working with Domex Superfresh Growers to market product. A marketing position became available with Domex, and Mr. Bishop became part of the sales team. "I made the choice to stay with them," he said. "It was a good choice."

While working at Jack Frost, Mr. Bishop developed accounts along the Atlantic Seaboard and in the Midwest. When he made the transition to Domex Superfresh Growers, his clients stayed loyal.

Domex Chief Executive Officer Ed Kershaw had nothing but praise for Mr. Bishop. "He was the ultimate team player," said Mr. Kershaw. "He brought experience to this group."

According to Mr. Kershaw, Mr. Bishop set the highest standards for his activities at the company. "[Tony] was the most credible salesperson I've ever met. He came to Domex with special relationships. He was the poster child for customer relations. He was the perfect example for younger members of our sales team. We miss him."

The lifelong attraction to agriculture isn't a mystery to Mr. Bishop. "In a lot of ways, I'm really a fundamental person," he said. "Something grabbed me there big time. I love the idea that I'm involved with nutritious crops."

When asked about his decision to retire, Mr. Bishop responded, "You have to be ready for retirement. You know when it's time. It no longer makes any sense to stay. I was ready, but it's not something I dreamed about. They would have let me stay there. I timed [retirement] right to leave on a high note."

Mr. Bishop said that he sees retirement not as an ending but as a transition. He and his wife, Bernadette, are building a house in La Conner, WA, and they were gearing up for the big move into the house the week of Oct. 1. Mr. Bishop said that the scenic Skagit Valley is just a perfect backdrop for doing things he loves, such as playing guitar, playing golf, reading and exercising. "I don't intend to work," he noted. "I intend to volunteer."

And he has some sage advice to offer those coming up the marketing field. Thirty years ago, Jim Hunt of Grant J. Hunt told him, "Don't ever say, 'Let me tell you the truth,' because it implies this is the first time.

"In our business, a sense of urgency is what it's about," he continued. Even in retirement, Mr. Bishop said that urgency is still there for him. "At the end of the day, it always works out."

And on a fundamental level: "Just love your customers and take care of them."