Viva Fresh charity golf tournament honors Ken Martin

The 2020 Viva Fresh Open charity golf tournament will be named in the posthumous honor of Ken Martin, founder of Rio Queen Citrus.

The tournament is set for April 30 at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort’s TPC San Antonio (Oaks & Canyons) golf courses, according to a news release.

The Viva Fresh Open is presented by BEBO Distributing, Inc. and Wonderful Citrus, and will raise funds for a scholarship program open to employees and their respective family of Texas International Produce Association-member and Viva Fresh-contributor companies, according to the release.

“We’re proud to honor Ken Martin who was such a well-respected industry leader,” Ed Bertaud, director of retail sales for IFCO and golf tournament chair, said in the release. “Each year we remember and celebrate those individuals who have had a major impact in our region. It’s also fitting that we’re raising funds for the next generation of students with this scholarship program who will become leaders themselves.” 

The goal of the charity tournament is to provide funding for students pursuing educational opportunities related to the fresh produce supply chain, according to the release. A total of 13 scholarships have been awarded to date, according to the release.

The release said Ken Martin, who passed away on Aug. 7 last year, spent most of his career farming in Texas and founded one of the largest citrus and onion grower-shippers in the Rio Grande Valley. He was an early proponent of the Rio Star Grapefruit and was a high-profile industry leader in the region.

“Participants will enjoy the iconic Texas hill country views and weather, while supporting a worthy cause,” Bertaud said in the release. “The par-72 courses have played host to the PGA tour’s Valero Texas Open since 2010 and have prestigious roots: The Canyons course was designed by Pete Dye, while the Oaks course was designed by Greg Norman with player consultant Sergio Garcia.”

The golf tournament will wind down at 6 p.m., and all Viva Fresh attendees are invited to enjoy food, beverages, and live music at the 19th Hole Celebration, hosted onsite at the JW Marriott’s River Bend Pavillion.

For more information or to register for the Sixth Annual Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament, please contact the Texas International Produce Association at info@texipa.org or call (956) 581-8632.
 

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