Herbie Yamamura - General Manager Herbie was born in Hawaii, 70 years ago to Sui and Munetsugu Yamamura.  The oldest son in a family of five children. His grandparents lived with them and when his grandmother died his aged grandfather expressed a desire to die in Japan.  In 1939 the family went to Japan and when World War II broke out they were sent to China. The Chinese communists after the war, sent them back to Japan with 1000 yen, roughly $3 per person, and a sack of clothes. The father, a machinist, was kept in China to work.  Herbie's mother, with five small children and his grandfather to support  got a job in construction.  Herbie recalls that they never had enough to eat.  Food was rationed and they had to sell part of their already small ration to exist.  Everything his mother cooked was diluted in water.   Herbie knows what it is like to starve. His father returned and speaking English well, was hired to work for the American Occupied Forces in Japan.  There his father met an American Army Sergeant who shared his love for fishing.  A friendship developed and a year later Sgt. Robert Walton sent for the Yamamura sons to join him in Ft. Benning, GA. Herbie was 18 and his brother Robert, 17.  They both enrolled in school and when the sergeant received orders to Homestead, Robert went with him.  Herbie was left behind to complete his high school studies.  Sgt. Walton did not want to uproot Herbie in the middle of his education for a few months so he moved in with an Army chaplain until he received his diploma. In Homestead, his brother Robert attended South Dade High School.  Herbie went to work in the packing houses.  His brother joined him during school vacations.  Robert graduated from high school as a straight "A" student and later from the University of Florida where he earned a degree in Engineering.   In 1965, Herbie and his brother enlisted in military service and they served together under the buddy system.  Asking for duty in Japan, they were sent to Germany where they saved much of their pay and sent it home to their parents.  Herbie met & married German born Anna.   Out of service the brothers decided there was no future for them in the packing houses.  They had 90 days to return to the military and one week before the time limit was up Robert announced that he wanted to attend college.   Herman Lucerne ( Herbie worked for him at Calavo Groves ) talked Herbie out of going back to the Army.  Someone had to stay and help Robert get an education.  So Herbie stayed on at the packing house but his brother never did ask him for help.  He worked in the school cafeteria for his meals and after two years, 'Uncle Sam' helped.   Herbie continued to work in the produce industry and the man who once started with nothing, learned the English language by listening to others speak, worked as a floor cleaner, picked and packed avocados and limes, today is a very successful business man.   Herbie has now been in the produce industry 42 years, 4 years as General Manager at Calavo of Florida, 35 years as President & Owner of Limeco, Inc and 3 years as General Manager of the New Limeco, LLC.   Herbie and his wife Anna have a son Kenneth, a Doctor who lives with his wife in Central Florida.  He enjoys bowling and golfing and we must not forget playing with his dog Prissy.