Pat Tucker, co-founder of Legend Produce, has retired from day-to-day operations after nearly three decades leading the commercial melon company.
Tucker established Legend Produce in 1999 with partners Barry Zwillinger and Jack Cancellieri. Over the last 27 years, the firm expanded from a local startup into a year-round operation with production sites across Arizona, California, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
A lifelong member of the agricultural community, Tucker began working on his family’s farm in Litchfield Park, Ariz., at age 9. He spent his early career in retail and farming before launching the Legend brand. Under his tenure, the company shifted its primary focus toward melon production and large-scale regional distribution…