Delbert Wisdom, “Father of the Baby Carrot” and owner, CEO of Judel Marketing International
Seattle, WA – Basin City resident Delbert Wisdom, owner and CEO of Judel Marketing International Inc., was honored as Seattle Pacific University’s 2010 Alumnus of the Year during homecoming celebrations on campus, January 28-30.
Wisdom graduate from SPU in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. While pursing a graduate degree in philosophy at the University of California-Santa Barbara, he decided to leave school and begin a career in agricultural.
Working on the family farm for many years, Wisdom became an expert in growing a wide variety of produce, from carrots and catnip to spinach and sugar beets. He and his wife, Judy, founded Judel Foods Inc. in 1982. Today, Judel Marketing International supplies onions, potatoes, asparagus, and a variety of other vegetables and fruits to markets around the world. The company ships juicing vegetables Japan and supplies organic vegetables to baby-food manufacturers. Wisdom introduced baby carrots to the North American market, and for years was the sole supplier of pearl onions and baby carrots to Birds Eye Foods.
Del and Judy have made numerous mission trips abroad. Del accepted the invitation of fellow SPU alumnus Chi-Dooh “Skip” Li to help develop Agros International, a Seattle-based, nonprofit organization that works with poor, landless farmers in Central America and Mexico. In addition to extending loans to purchase farmland, Agros partners with farmers to apply sustainable agricultural practices with the goal of enabling families to create, develop, and eventually own their own sustainable village.
Wisdom is an active member of Abundant Life Church in Basin City. He has served on numerous boards, including the SPU Alumni Board (1993-98) and Board of Trustees (1998-2005). He was the founding chairman of the Washington State Vegetable Association (1987-92) and served on the board of the North Franklin County School District for eight years, two as chair. Founded in 1891, Seattle Pacific University is a premier Christian university that equips people to engage the culture and change the world. Its comprehensive academic program serves 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Known for both their competence and character, SPU graduates are bringing about positive change in communities around the globe.
Posted: Friday, February 5, 2010