Anyone who knows Bernie Thiel knows he was born to farm. Anyone who doesn’t found out in August when Thiel and his Sunburst Farms near Lubbock, TX, were honored with the 2013 Texas Vegetable Association Award of Merit at the Texas Produce Convention in San Antonio.

Thiel typically attends the Texas Produce Convention alone. This year his entire family was on hand for the festivities. It was fortuitous timing.

“I could not ask for more,” Thiel said. “To have my whole family here is reward enough, but to be recognized by my peers is just really special.”

J Allen Carnes, proprietor of Winter Garden Produce in Uvalde, TX, has always walked the walk, not just talked the talk. Carnes grew up in a farming family and he has continued the tradition. But now he is stepping up his commitment to the industry, announcing Sept. 5 that he hopes to serve the state of Texas as its next commissioner of agriculture.

Editor’s note: As The Produce News went to press it was announced that the United Family had been acquired by Albertsons LLC, which operates 76 stores in Texas and has plans to grow the United brand.

Entering its seventh season, Lone Star Citrus Growers of Mission, TX, continues to grow and innovate. Recent additions in the packinghouse and improvements in procedure will make the company even stronger and more efficient, said partner and Vice President of Sales Trent Bishop.

Almost three decades ago, Frank J. Schuster founded Val Verde Vegetable Co., Inc. to sell the crops grown on his family farms in Alamo, TX. The company has since become a major grower, packer and shipper in the Rio Grande Valley and importer of fruits and vegetables from Mexican partners. Now, Val Verde is setting the stage for the next generation of vision and leadership with a new management team comprised of industry veteran Jed Murray as well as Frank’s sons, Kurt and Max Schuster.

Several years ago when the East and West Coast partners in the family of companies tied to Vision Produce Co. launched Vision Produce Partners of Texas LLC, the goal was clearly defined: the Texas company would help source Mexican product and expand their reach south of the border.

Ben Brittain, executive vice president and managing partner of the Pharr, TX, operation, recently told The Produce News that the goal has remained in focus and on target.