Al Bernardi, a longtime veteran of the tomato industry, died April 25 at his home in Green Valley, AZ. He was 92. Mr. Bernardi was born Jan. 8, 1927, in Firebaugh, CA, to Joe and Yolanda Bernardi, and spent his early years in Merced, Le Grand, and Madera, CA.
At age 17, Mr. Bernardi lost his father and he was responsible for raising the family tomato crop in Madera. After moving with his mother and sister, Nettie, back to Merced, he did a variety of jobs over the years including selling cars, driving delivery trucks, meat butcher, and working with local farmers.
