Karen Hearn, vice president of marketing for the California Table Grape Commission, is being remembered as a determined champion of the industry and its growers.
Hearn died Nov. 24 after battling cancer, according to a news release. The commission said she dedicated nearly 26 years of service to the California table grape industry, playing a pivotal role in the growth of retail programs in the U.S. and Canada, helping to move the state’s grape volume season after season.
Her dedication to the industry stemmed from a lifelong desire to help farmers succeed, the release said.
“Karen was a special person,” said Kathleen Nave, commission president. “She loved her work, loved representing growers and knowing that actions she took helped move the crop, loved partnering with retailers to figure out new ways to motivate more sales, loved working as part of a team and helping lead that team.
“Her work ethic, which even illness could not conquer, was based on her unwavering belief in the value of the work and was matched only by her exceptional grace and kindness,” Nave added.
Raised on a family farm in South Texas, Hearn developed a deep appreciation for agriculture from an early age. After earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism from Texas A&M University, she devoted her career to supporting farmers and promoting agricultural products.
Before joining the California Table Grape Commission, Hearn served as marketing director for TexaSweet Citrus Advertising, implementing retail programs across the U.S. and Canada.
Hearn’s table grape legacy lives on through her daughter, Kathryn Hearn, who joined the commission as a marketing manager earlier this year.
“It’s a testament to Karen’s passion for this industry and the work she did that her daughter followed in her footsteps,” Nave said. “We all learned so much from Karen. Her grace, determination, generosity, and warmth made a lasting impact on those whose lives she touched.”
The commission said it offered condolences to Hearn’s husband, Michael; stepson, Sam; daughter, Kathryn; and her extended family.
