February 2023 - 29

INDUSTRY NEWS
The agreement ensures that farmers have the
tools and resources to diagnose, maintain and repair
equipment, according to a statement from David
Gilmore, senior vice president of ag and turf sales and
marketing at Deere & Co.
The agreement formalizes farmers' access to
diagnostic and repair codes, as well as manuals,
including operator, parts and service manuals and
product guides. It also ensures farmers will be able
to purchase diagnostic tools directly from Deere
and receive assistance from the manufacturer when
ordering parts and products, according to the release.
DiMare, voice of Florida
tomato industry, dies
Paul DiMare, a man honored as a Florida agricultural
giant and the voice of Florida's tomato industry, has
died. DiMare, 81, died on Dec. 30.
He was chief executive officer and president of
DiMare Fresh and the DiMare Co., national tomato
growing and fresh produce distribution operations.
Based in Homestead, Florida, the DiMare Co. is the
growing arm. DiMare Fresh, based in Arlington, Texas,
is the repacking operation.
According to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
biography from his 2005 induction, DiMare was
affectionately known as " Mr. Tomato. "
" Paul J. DiMare is the largest grower of fresh-market
tomatoes in the United States and one of the country's
most influential farmers, " the organization stated.
" He has made major contributions to the industry in
the areas of trade, product enhancement and public
awareness. "
After graduating from Georgetown
University, DiMare went to work for
the family business, The DiMare
Cos., which grows, packs and ships
tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and
squash.
As chairman of the Florida Tomato
PAUL DIMARE
Committee, DiMare helped bring
about a number of positive changes
for Florida farmers, according
to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. He helped
implement changes in grade standards, eliminating
small tomatoes, and reducing box size. He was a strong
supporter of research at experiment stations to develop
new breeds of tomatoes that would yield higher profits
for producers.
DiMare was instrumental in pushing the antidumping
suit that led to the 1996 Tomato Suspension
Agreement between the U.S. Department of Commerce
and Mexican tomato growers. He has testified before
Congress on the North American Free Trade Agreement,
the Trade Promotion Authority and trade in the
Americas, according to the Florida Hall of Fame.
In 2013, DiMare received the Southeast Produce
Council's Lifetime Achievement Award.
DiMare contributed his time and expertise to the
agriculture industry and his local community. He was
founder and trustee of the Paul J. DiMare Charitable
Foundation and a strong supporter of the State of
Florida's initiative to build affordable housing for
farm workers.
He was chairman and co-founder of Florida Farmers,
an advocacy group for vegetable growers. He was active
in the Dade County Farm Bureau and the Florida Tomato
Exchange and served on the advisory board of Farm
Share, a non-profit organization that works to alleviate
hunger by recovering and distributing fresh food to
America's needy.
In 1992, he was named Agriculturist of the Year by the
Greater Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce.
In 1998, he was named Agriculturist of the Year by the
Dade County Farm Bureau.
DiMare lived in Coral Gables with his wife, Swannee.
They had four children: Tony, Paul, Jr., Scott and Gino.
Tony and Paul Jr. are involved in the family business.
There is a Berkeley Pump to fit your growing needs:
irrigation, packing shed or green house.
Call us for a FREE product catalog
website: www.springbrooksupply.com
e-mail: sbs@springbrooksupply.com
877-396-1956 toll free
11291 Lakewood Blvd., Holland, MI 49424
VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM | 29
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February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2023
