Fruit importing company William H. Kopke Jr., Great Neck, N.Y., is mourning the loss of Paul Wigand, the director of operations who was with the company for more than 40 years.

Canadian produce industry leader Garry Wagner, 84, died Oct. 3 in Calgary, Alberta.

Margaret Ann Comito, whose husband and children have overseen the growth of the family company, Norwalk, Iowa-based Capital City Fruit Co., has died.

Mario Basciani, a mushroom grower known for his tireless work ethic and founder of Basciani Foods, has died.

Steve Shadle, who instrumental in the formation of DatePac LLC, which consolidates and packs for the Bard Valley Date Growers Association members, has died.

Albert Garnica, the vice president of agricultural operations at Taylor Farms who helped the industry define reliability and quality that made the value-added salad category possible, has died.

Amy Lowe, executive vice president for PSSI, Keller, Wis., died in a plane crash with her husband.

John J. Jerue, who founded a logistics company that bears his name, died July 25, at his home in Auburndale, Fla., just days before his 95th birthday.

Kay Hiatt, who sold Florida citrus for years in a male-dominated industry, died July 11 at Treasure Coast Hospice — Harper House, in Stuart, Fla.

Richard “Dick” Allen Symms, who led and grew the family business, Symms Fruit Ranch, Caldwell, Idaho, died July 13. He was 84.