Robert (Bob) Shipley, founder of Shipley Sales and Viva label melons, passed away on Monday 22 May at the age of 83, surrounded by family.
Shipley was a 60-year veteran of the produce industry, having founded Shipley Sales in 1957 in Nogales, Arizona.
He was a pioneer during the early days of the Mexican fresh produce export industry, being the first to commercially produce the seedless watermelon and among the first to sell vegetables with individual labels in branded boxes.
Today, Shipley Sales is a leading grower, marketer and worldwide shipper of melons, grapes and asparagus from Mexico.
'Bob was a visionary with a dream and he kept his nose to the grindstone and never stopped,” said longtime friend and business associate, Chuck Ciruli Sr. “He developed the melon deal in Mexico and saw the globalisation of the Mexican industry before many people did. I have many fond memories of Bob over the last 50 years and his contributions to the industry will be remembered for years to come.'
Shipley was predeceased by his wife Kay and is survived by his five children, Karen Sykes (Bill), Lee (Mina), Reed, Vicki Wadman (Darrin), and Mary Ley (Martin), twelve grandchildren and great grandson.
Having worked alongside their father for over 30 years, his three children, Reed, Lee, and Mary said that they will continue his legacy at Shipley Sales.
“According to my dad, his greatest accomplishments were raising a large, tight-knit family and succeeding in business,” said his daughter, Mary. “He truly believed in the power of education, determination, and never taking no for an answer.”
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