Paul J. DiMare Honored with Street Renaming Ceremony

If anyone was looking for major members of the agriculture community on Thursday, February 1st, 2024, there was a good chance they were in Florida City at the Street Renaming Ceremony for Paul J. DiMare.

The crowd of dignitaries and friends gathered with his wife, Suwanee DiMare, and sons, Tony, Scott, Paul, Jr. and Gino Dimare, and stepson Jim Husk, to pay tribute to a man often described as “an agricultural icon.” Born on April 14th, 1941, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, DiMare passed away on December 30th, 2022, and left a legacy spanning decades and benefitting thousands both through his own personal support as well as through the Paul J. DiMare Charitable Foundation.

Memories were shared and admiration was expressed by multiple speakers before uncovering the new signs. The recurring theme led with the presentation of a proclamation from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava. Her representative, Mia DeVane, was joined by County Commissioner Khionne McGhee and Charles LePradd, Agricultural Manager for Miami-Dade County. DeVane recounted how her first meeting was in 2011 when she was newly hired by Farm Share.

Patricia Robbins, Founder of Farm Share, explained they were going to meet “the most important man in town.” Among his numerous roles, he served for years on the advisory board of Farm Share. Commissioner McGhee added his praise to include remarks of “Paul DiMare and his family brought value to the community. More than money, they brought pride and dignity as well.”

He concluded with “When we declare today as Paul DiMare Day, we really mean it.” In hosting the day’s event, Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace opened with a thank-you to everyone and had the crowd give a “Happy Birthday!” to Mrs.DiMare and the traditional song did break out. He continued, “If you’re lucky in life, someone comes along who touches the soul of a community in a way that must be remembered. Paul DiMare did that.”

He spoke of being the new mayor of Florida City at age thirty-two. He had no way of knowing that he would become the longest-serving mayor in the state of Florida. He did know that Florida City was in severe financial distress. Mayor Wallace went to meet DiMare, the city’s largest employer.

The Mayor came away later with the advice, “You can’t solve all the problems at one time. Every day, pick one thing you can make better. If you do that each day, it will work out.” He embraced those words and said that philosophy has served him well.

Homestead Mayor Steven Losner spoke of DiMare as a “Titan of Agriculture,” not only in Florida but on the national level, as well. “Some people you just know by first name. Paul was that person in the agriculture community. When you said, ‘Paul,’ everyone knew who you meant.” He added while the DiMare name is noted for substantial and generous financial contributions, “in leaving a legacy, it lives on among those he mentored in the community. We celebrate his giving and his impact today.”

Jon Ward, Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency for Florida City and Master of Ceremony, introductions. Jorge Abreau, Regional Director, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Jocelyn Guilfoyle, Executive Director, Miami-Dade County Farm Bureau, Maria Garza, Co-founder Mexican American Council, Colonel (Ret) Carricarte, Laurie Jennings, family friend, mentor, Emmy Award-winning TV news reporter and anchor, and Roger Fabelo, the individual who began the process for the renaming, spoke in turn. Mrs. DiMare also requested Bruce Greer from Fairchild Gardens to speak.

As the time for the official unveiling approached, Ward thanked Mayor Losner for furnishing one of the Homestead trolleys for those who needed to ride rather than walk the block to the network signs. The renamed street will bring smiles to all who understand DiMare’s impact through his business and the Paul J. DiMare Charitable Foundation.

As a new generation comes along, they will be able to learn of the man whose name it bears. Awards and accolades were referred to in the University of Miami News when they wrote of his passing.

Originally from Boston, “The family would eventually invest in farming, and when DiMare moved to Florida in 1964 at the age of 23, he would expand operations to production and distribution locations in Florida and throughout the United States, all the while supporting several causes. DiMare, chief executive officer and president of DiMare Fresh and a longtime University of Miami trustee and benefactor, who not only became the largest grower of fresh-market tomatoes in the U.S., but developed into one of the nation’s most influential farmers.” (https://news.miami.edu/stories/2022/12/university-trustee-paul-j.dimare-passesaway.html).

When he was inducted into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2005, part of the entry reads, “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. He has made major contributions to the industry in the areas of trade, product enhancement, and public awareness.” (https:// floridaaghalloffame.org/2 005/11/paul-j-dimare/).

Another acknowledgment was in June 2016 when he was named “Florida’s Farmer of the Year.” Officially titled the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo Florida Farmer of the Year, the award recognizes him for his innovative practices as a tomato grower and packer, as a community leader, and as a responsible employer.