Dr. Bhimu Patil (second from right) received the 2017 Viva Fresh Healthy Living Award, presented by Produce Retailer editor Pamela Riemenschneider at the Viva Fresh Expo in Austin, Texas on April 21. Also pictured are: Bret Erickson (from left), Texas International Produce Association president, and Jimmy Bassetti, president of J&D Produce.

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas International Produce Association honored a professor who has as much or more passion for fresh produce than many in the industry.

It gave the third annual Healthy Living Award to Dr. Bhimu Patil, professor and director of the College Station, based-Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center at Texas A&M University, April 21 at Viva Fresh 2017.

The award is sponsored by The Packer.
“If we’re going to move the needle on fresh produce consumption, we need more people like Dr. Bhimu Patil,” said Pamela Riemenschneider, Editor of Produce Retailer magazine and Retail Editor of The Packer.

She said his research spans all aspects of fruit and vegetable production, from understanding health-promoting compounds, to plant breeding aimed at improved varieties, and post-harvest practices to prevent soil-borne contamination, and his catalog of publications includes 170 peer-reviewed journal articles.

“Dr. Patil’s passion for promoting fruits and vegetables as ‘Foods for Health’ and his stakeholder-driven mission to improve agriculture for growers, processors, retailers and consumers has helped to improve agriculture economy and human health in Texas and around the world,” Riemenschneider said.

Patil has been well known for years in Texas agriculture, said Jimmy Bassetti of J&D Produce and chairman of the Viva Fresh expo committee.

Patil said it was an honor, and he looks forward to more work on improving fresh produce consumption for consumers.