<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cheriton, VA-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">2.19.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Former President of Cheriton, Virginia-based C&E Farms Phil Colson passed away at the age of 76 on Feb. 14, in the wake of a battle with emphysema.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Colson has had a long history as both a grower and shipper in the fresh and processed vegetable industry. Even though he raised a wide variety of vegetables to include tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers to name a few, his main crop was green beans- and he leaves behind a legacy. His passion for the bean began in the mid-1960s when the Colson bought his first mechanical bean harvesters.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Along with business partner Lester Erlemeier, Colson started C&E Farms in 1986. His wife of 56 years, Dot, was a continuous source of help and support for Phil and the company. Together, they guided C&E Farms into becoming a premier U.S. grower, packer, and shipper of green beans.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Phil was an innovator in the industry and helped pioneer the hydro-cooling of green beans and set new standards for green beans. He also introduced new varieties such as the “Bronco,” a dark green bean now a staple in the field.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">At the time of his retirement in 2005, C&E Farms had established processing plants in Virginia and Florida. The company was processing more than 750,000 bushels of green beans off of 5,000 acres with growers from Florida to Pennsylvania.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Colson is survived by his wife, sons Bob and Mark, daughters Donna and Denise, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Contributions in his memory can be made to Cape Charles Christian School, 237 Tazewell Ave., Suite 3, Cape Charles, VA, 23310, or Hospice Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore, 165 Market Street, Onancock, VA 23417.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Our condolences go out to Phil’s family and friends. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
