Jim Hunt, former PMA president, dies

Grant J. Hunt Company, an Oakland, California-based produce distribution firm, has announced that Grant J. “Jim” Hunt, Jr. has died at the age of 94.

Hunt graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1943.

Hunt joined Grant J. Hunt Company in 1946 after his rehabilitation from wounds received in battle during World War II in France during the Battle of the Bulge.  He took the helm of the company in 1949 after the sudden death of the company founder, Grant J. Hunt, Sr. where he served as company president until his retirement in 1992.

Hunt served on many board positions of the Produce Marketing Association including leading the association as president in 1981. His model of service to PMA carried through to his son Grant M. Hunt, who served as PMA Chair in 1999. To date, they are the only father-son duo to ever serve in the board president/chair capacity. Under Jim Hunt’s leadership, PMA’s three divisions (retail, foodservice and floral) developed policies to enhance the growth of the industry; particularly meant to attract youth to the produce industry which was his passion.

A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for April 5 at St. Helena Catholic Church in St. Helena, California.