Glady Bellamy, president of major US fruit trader Columbia Marketing International (CMI), passed away unexpectedly on Friday 1 October aged 58.
Mr Bellamy was a well-known figure in the US fresh produce sector, nicknamed ‘the prince of the industry’ for his people skills.
He died of natural causes at his home in East Wenatchee, Washington on Friday morning, having just returned home earlier in the week from a trip to visit the Italian apple industry.
“It’s a huge shock. It was very, very unexpected,” Bob Mast, CMI’s marketing director, told Capital Press.
“He was known throughout the industry as being a straight-up guy. He had passion for the industry and a love and zest for life.”
Mr Bellamy was born in 1952 in Goldendale, Washington, and was raised in California. After earning a business degree, he moved back to Washington in 1974 as a sales associate for gas company Tenneco West.
In 1980, Mr Bellamy moved into the fruit industry as a sales manager for Beebe Orchards, where he spent nine years. In 1989 he started CMI with partners Nick Buak, McDougall and Sons Inc and Columbia Fruit Packers.
Under Mr Bellamy’s guiding hand, CMI has become one of the top seven Washington fruit marketers, selling about 7 per cent of the state’s apples, 8 per cent of its pears and 10 per cent of its cherries, reported Capital Press, as well as selling fruit out of California and importing from South America.
In keeping with his passion for the industry’s future, Mr Bellamy’s family and associates have established a scholarship fund in his name to support college education for the fruit industry in the US Northwest.
“Glady believed in the future of our industry, and leaves a legacy that will last for many generations to come,” said Mr Mast. “He will be dearly missed by all.”
A memorial will be held for Mr Bellamy on 2pm Friday 8 October at the Wenatchee Free Methodist Church in Washington.
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