Jeffrey Nagelberg, founder of Panorama Produce Sales, came into this world in 1945 as a proud member of a multi-generational New York produce family. He left 78 years later having done his part to uphold the tradition and pass the torch to the next generation.

As California avocado growers begin to harvest their crop and packers start to move that product into commerce, they are being met with favorable marketing conditions because of very strong movement over the past couple of months. This is welcome news as the California crop has only been estimated at 208 million pounds, which makes it one of its smaller crops in recent memory.

It is a time-honored tradition for suppliers of product — be it fresh produce, consumer goods, apparel or pretty much anything else sold at retail — to make the trip to Bentonville, AR, to talk to a merchant representing Walmart.

When a kid from Eastern Kansas settles in relatively nearby Northwest Arkansas, it would not appear to be a bridge too far. But when that path winds through California, Arizona, Belgium, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Portugal and Florida, it speaks of a journey of much greater depth.

Laura Himes did grow up in the shadows of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. “I am a Jayhawk,” she boasted, no doubt channeling the schools perennially top tier basketball program. But she added the affiliation is by proximity, not education.

Very early in his employment with Walmart in Argentina, Martin (Mar·teen) Mundo knew he wanted his career path to take him to the United States on a permanent basis.

“Before getting married (in Argentina), I told my wife, Mercedes, of my plan. She was aware of this journey from the very beginning and was absolutely supportive,” Mundo recently told The Produce News from his office in Bentonville, AR., which has been his home base for the last decade of his 29-year career with the world’s largest retailer.

Speaking specifically of the daily task of sourcing produce, Walmart Vice President of Global Sourcing Laura Himes said that the retailer is a “purpose driven company.”  As such, her team is not just buying produce, but providing nutritious items to help their customers live a healthier life.

Walmart has always taken a holistic approach to its purpose of saving people money, so they can live better. Sam Walton’s vision was to give everyone access to basic necessities at a low cost.