Edgar Cullman Sr. Passes at Age 93

The cigar industry recently lost a talented individual, as Edgar Cullman Sr. passed away at his home in Stamford, Connecticut at the age of 93. Cullman’s family history was deeply entrenched in the cigar industry, and he continued the tradition by serving as CEO of General Cigar from 1962 to 2005 and its president from 1962 to 1981. He had been described as a visionary and was credited with being responsible for Macanudo’s immense popularity. Cullman’s achievements during his lengthy career also include the purchase of Villazon & Co. and the successful negotiation for United States rights to Partagas. Cullman will not only be missed by his close friends and family, but also the many people whose lives he touched across the cigar industry.

Hurricane Irene Produces Minimal Damage to Connecticut Tobacco Farms

A hurricane doesn’t exactly provide ideal conditions for tobacco growing, so when Hurricane Irene made its way up the coast recently, many Connecticut tobacco farm owners worried about the potential damage it would bring. Luckily, most of the farms and their Connecticut Shade tobacco crops were spared of any serious damage, offering good news to the owners, cigar companies, and cigar fans alike.

Steve Jarmoc is one of Connecticut’s lucky farmers, as his 200 acres of farmland received minimal damage from Hurricane Irene. Unfortunately, others did were not recipients of such good fortune. "Throughout the valley, the hurricane affected the crops. The leaves get big and hard, so they can't take too much wind. Where there was lots of direct wind, it got shattered, beat up," Jarmoc told the Enfield Patch.

Kelly Kasheta is another Connecticut tobacco farm owner who was spared of any disastrous results from the hurricane. She told the Patch: “We grew and harvested only 10 acres of tobacco this year. There was no damage, as all of the crop was harvested and hanging in the shed.”

The hurricane’s path plus Jarmoc and Kasheta’s preparation played a major part in saving the precious tobacco. Both owners secured their barns prior to Hurricane Irene to prevent any significant damage.