YOSHIMI SHIBATA

Nearly a century ago a Japanese immigrant named Zenjuro Shibata started the Mt. Eden Nursery Co. in Hayward, California. The company's first crops were vegetables and field flowers. The first greenhouse was built in 1918 to grow carnations, but by the mid 1930s Mt. Eden chose roses as its main crop. During the interment of Japanese-Americans during the war, friends and neighbors ran the business. The Zapatini Family took care of the Mt. Eden Nursery, and returned it to the Shibatas as prosperous as ever, a shining example of generosity during a dark time. After the war's end, Mt. Eden came under the leadership of the oldest son, Yoshimi, supported by his three younger brothers. In 1957, Mr. Shibaa founded the California Florida Plant Company and under his leadership the company grew to become the premier supplier of carnations in the world. The California Florida Plant Company now grows a wide variety of flowers for international distribution, and provides custom lab, propagation and R&D services to companies and institutions worldwide.

Mr. Shibata has been a floral industry leader for nearly 70 years and his legacy is legendary. He is the former president of the Wholesale Florist and Florist Supply Association, "When Mr. Shibata is in the nursery and he sees the flowers, he's not even thinking about the market price yet. His response is, 'Oh, people will really enjoy this; this will be nice for someone's wedding.' Shimi Shibata made me see the heart in the floral industry, not just the outside of it, because there's so much involved in developing beauty. You have to have passion and vision."which represents approximately $1 billion of annual sales in floral products. He served on the boards of directors of the Sumitomo Bank of California and the California State Chamber of Commerce, as well as Roses, Inc., the national trade association of rose growers.

His shining characteristic, however, is his love for flowers and his love for the nursery. According to Margaret Hasegawa, Director of Marketing and Product Development:"When Mr. Shibata is in the nursery and he sees the flowers, he's not even thinking about the market price yet. His response is, 'Oh, people will really enjoy this; this will be nice for someone's wedding.' Shimi Shibata made me see the heart in the floral industry, not just the outside of it, because there's so much involved in developing beauty. You have to have passion and vision."