Volume 4 - Issue 3 23 | February | 2015 ’s West Coast

Emerging Times . . . growing toward the future

Class 4 tours ag operations to learn about specialty crops

Class 4 spent time with Kevin Taylor (center) at Wm. P Hearne Produce to learn about cabbage production.

Class 4 of FFVA’s Emerging Leader Develop- ral Growers, Wm. P. Hearne Produce, Lipman ment Program hit the road in January for a tour Produce and the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research of farming and packing operations in Hillsbor- and Education Center. ough, Polk and Manatee counties. It was the A highlight of the trip was the delivery of group’s third seminar in the yearlong program food to the RCMA center in Dover. The group and the first time class members had visited in had conducted a food drive in the weeks before the field with other FFVA members. the tour that netted large quantities of non-per- The group benefited from seeing a variety of ishable food, children’s books and clothing. operations up close as well as the opportunity “We appreciate the generosity of both FSGA to have frank discussions with FFVA producer and Farm Credit of Central Florida for provid- members about the challenges they face. ing lunches, and to Florida’s Natural Growers SUSTAINING SPONSOR Tour stops and hosts included the Florida Foundation for sponsoring the bus,” said Sonia Growers Association, Florida Pacific Tighe, director of the program and the Florida Farm, DiMare Fresh, Wish Farms, Fancy Farms, Specialty Crop Foundation. Farm Credit, Wm. G. Roe & Sons, Florida’s Natu- 2 23 | February | 2015

Production trip starts at FSGA

by Shine Taylor DuPont Crop Protection

Our Florida production trip kicked off with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association in Dover. Our hosts were Executive Director Ken- neth Parker; Sue Harrell, director of marketing; and Alicia Whidden, extension faculty with the University of Florida. We were introduced to some of the re- search that is conducted in the field. Parker, a sixth-generation Floridian and a certified crop advisor with extensive knowledge of strawberry production, walked the plots with us and dis- cussed the breeding research while we watched Dr. Craig Chandler evaluate new cultivars. We learned how the UF breeding program works in coordination with the FSGA and were able FSGA Executive Director Kenneth Parker shows class members in the test plots located to see in the field some of the most popular on FSGA property. cultivars that are grown commercially in the Plant City area. We also discussed current issues, ers, aquatic producers, timber harvesters, including problems associated Botrytis fruit rot. Farm Credit borrowers agribusinesses, and agricultural and rural Unfortunately, with cooler, wetter conditions share in the profits utility cooperatives. The organization has perfect for Botrytis development, we were able a 10-member board of directors -- nine of to see the damage from this fungus firsthand. whom are borrowers, which gives great Harrell, also known as “Strawberry Sue,” insight on the agriculture industry. Agricul- discussed Sue’s Corner, a blog created to market ture loans are the bread and butter of this and promote Florida’s strawberries. Harrell organization; however, it does finance home discussed the challenges of marketing to a by Dustin Grooms loans as well. Farm Credit is a cooperative, so growing audience on the internet and how the Fancy Farms, Inc. borrowers are considered stockholders and FSGA is catering to that demographic, including share in the profits. interacting with food bloggers and chefs from During our production trip we were able Thomas discussed Farm Credit’s lending around the country to use Florida strawberries to see where many agricultural companies operation. They have a loan analysts located in their recipes. Harrell also has used traditional receive the loans for their new or thriving on the third and fourth floors of their Lake- media including some recent work in a national businesses: Farm Credit of Central Florida in land location along with other administrative magazine to promote Florida strawberries. Lakeland. We were met by Ron O’ Connor, di- jobs. Farm Credit of Central Florida has four We also discussed how to market in local and rector of marketing and governmental affairs, branches: Apopka, Brooksville, Lake Wales regional grocery chains and the challenges and and Regina Thomas, senior vice president/ and Plant City. Agricultural operating loans complexity of those decisions on our custom- chief business development officer. and real estate loans are the mainstay of the ers. Harrell’s discussion about her role with Farm Credit also sponsored lunch from business. They also work with the USDA to FSGA and marketing our unique product from Olive Garden, which we were able to enjoy help farmers get loans with multiple differ- Florida would be a theme we would hear on during the presentations. We all had our FFVA ent avenues of approach. Loans are priced other stops. white shirts on, and a few of us left with pasta on cost of funds with the sale of bonds in the Whidden talked about her role as an exten- sauce on them. At the end of lunch we met GSE bond market. sion agent to the growers and community. She Chief Executive Officer Reggie Holt and a few Farm Credit borrowers have long enjoyed has responsibilities for vegetables and small board members for a question-and-answer the benefits of doing business with local fruit, which in Hillsborough County vary widely. session. offices, where people know their business, Her information was very insightful and gave O’Connor gave an overview of the his- their community and their market, Thomas the class a good understanding of the impor- tory of Farm Credit, which provides more said. Farm Credit’s mission is to be the tance of what she does in the community and than $191 billion in loans and $260 billion in “Lender of Choice” for agriculture. the role of UF extension in Florida. assets to farmers, ranchers, rural homeown- 3 23 | February | 2015

A firsthand look at greenhouse production

by Dan Bott Premier Citrus Management

Skeeter Bethea was our host during our stop at DiMare Fresh Farms in Ruskin. The Di- Mare companies began with a pushcart filled with produce on the streets of Boston more than 80 years ago. Today, the DiMare family is in its third generation of farming on the east and west coasts. Their companies are leaders in developing new and improved practices. DiMare Fresh was created in 2003 through the integration of other DiMare companies to better leverage the companies’ vertical Skeeter Bethea (right) of DiMare Fresh talks about the challenges of greenhouse production of roma integration, supply chain, and expertise. The tomatoes. company operates in eight facilities in Califor- nia, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Florida. DiMare is focused on enhancing the com- pany’s core commodities and specializes in a full line of tomatoes including rounds, romas, grapes, and vine-ripe tomatoes. They also produce a wide assortment of other items, including bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, onions, potatoes, avocados, lettuce, broccoli, celery, bananas, berries and citrus. DiMare is continually upgrading its facili- ties, systems, and equipment as new technol- ogy emerges. Bethea gave the class a tour of DiMare’s new greenhouse facility in Ruskin where the company is growing roma toma- toes. He also provided in-depth production insight into their current fertilizer and pest management practices and what could be the future of protected agriculture practices. A primary goal of DiMare has been to provide high-quality produce to customers from an environment that supports social responsibil- ity and sustainability initiatives. 4 23 | February | 2015

Upon arrival at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center class members were asked to put their taste buds to work on several different strawberry varieties (left). They then toured the strawberry tissue culture lab where several cultivars are in various stages of propagation.

Center tour gives on nitrogen runoff sources from urban A very inventive areas into Tampa Bay. close look at research Our group then toured the research family operation facility, starting with the diagnostic clinic. The types of samples being submitted to the clinic clue faculty to disease outbreaks and current problems. Catalina Moyer gave us a tour of the strawberry tissue culture lab. The cultures are from filed by Paul Miller by Teddy McAvoy selections that will become new cultivars Pioneer Growers Co-op for propagation. Tissue culture produces plants that are clean of insects and dis- As we were finishing up our presenta- Upon our arrival at the UF/IFAS Gulf eases for nursery material. tion and lunch at Farm Credit, I pulled Coast Research and Education Center, We also had a field tour. The first stop out the agenda to see where we were Director Dr. Jack Rechcigl gave us an was a demonstration of protected agri- headed next. Wm. G. Roe & Sons in Winter overview of the research being conducted culture presented by Dr. Gary Vallad. The Haven was scheduled as the next stop, there. Several faculty members then main benefit of growing strawberries in a and we were set up to tour the citrus and introduced themselves and gave a descrip- protected structure is the ability to modify packing facilities. As we pulled tion their research programs. Dr. Samuel the environment to prevent disease and up to Wm. G. Roe & Sons, I noticed it was Hutton discussed his tomato breeding protect from frost. Tomas Hasing showed an older looking building that was rather program, designed to provide resistance to us the strawberry variety trials. Strawberry large, and not some state-of-the-art facility tomato yellow leaf curl virus, bacterial spot characteristics being selected are growth I had imagined. and whitefly. He’s also working on breed- habit, fruit production, fruit size, fruit We were greeted for our tour of Wm. G. ing a tomato that has compact growth shape, disease resistance and taste prefer- Roe & Sons by Bill Roe, his son Geoff Roe and jointless fruit stems (calyx) so it can be ence. Dr. Nathan Boyd then displayed his (Class 3) and daughter April Roe Porter mechanically harvested. Dr. Natalia Peres’ weed science research. He is working on (Class 1). April discussed some of the new research focuses on strawberry fungal dis- management of nutsedge, black medic juices being launched under the Noble eases. She has developed a disease model and Carolina geranium in strawberries. brand and their partnership with the Semi- that monitors for a suitable environment Another interest of Boyd’s is using selec- nole tribe to help promote the juices. to predict fungal development. The web- tive herbicides and directed sprays to kill Bill and Geoff’s tour of the packinghouse based system alerts growers when condi- strawberries without harming the second gave us a good picture of the process tions are conducive for disease outbreak. crop in a double cropping system. Dr. Gurpal Toor focuses on environmental from beginning to end. Bins of citrus were and water quality effects. His research is dumped onto a conveyor belt that runs (Next page) 5 23 | February | 2015

up and over a sorting belt, which drops all the smaller fruit through to be thrown out Tour broadens our or shipped as No. 2s. The fruit ran across a produce industry network sanitation wash and through a few grading tables. An expensive and intelligent piece of machinery then kicked out any fruit that was ties year-round, and we were able to stop off-color or blemished. It was very impres- by one of their cabbage farms, which was sive to see this piece of machinery work in in full production. Our host, Kevin Taylor, real time speed with the fruit flying by. At was more than willing to answer any ques- the end employees packaged the fruit. by Matt Griffin tions we had. He gave a good overview of Bill pointed out a spot in the packaging Lipman Produce the company’s cabbage production and line where a machine had been. It would fre- what it takes to make a crop. This included quently be down because of repairs. So he One of many great things this program pest management, the growing process designed a station manned by four employ- provides is the opportunity to network on slope-irrigated fields, harvesting and ees who eventually could run faster than the with a wide array of people in the produce packaging. machine. Just because something is new industry. Additionally, we gain exposure to Florida production of cabbage by and supposed to be better doesn’t always different sectors, giving us a wider percep- Hearne runs December through mid- make it true for one’s operation, he said. tion of everything that this business en- May to late June, along with the help of A huge painted mural by a local artist compasses. The program accomplishes this production in . In the middle of adorns the side of the blueberry facility. We with the sessions, conferences and tours that growing season there is the big push got a look in the cold box at some blueber- that we are able to participate in both lo- to provide for the St. Patrick’s Day demand. ries packed the previous day. After touring cally and out of state. The January session Needless to say, this is a busy time of the both facilities, I concluded that farmers are allowed us to visit different operations and year, and we appreciated Taylor for the inventive problem-solvers who work with agencies in the Hillsborough, Manatee and time he spent hosting and answering our whatever they have to get things done. It Polk County areas. questions on the tour. makes you appreciate their resilience when On the last day we toured some of the it comes to bringing their crops from the fields of Wm. P. Hearne Produce. Hearne field to the table. grows and markets a range of commodi-

Bill and Geoff Roe have class members gather around as they explain the process of packing citrus in their Winter Haven packinghouse. 6 23 | February | 2015

The group spent time with Wish Farms owner and head pixie, Gary Wishnatzki (fourth from left), and director of marketing , Amber Kosinsky (far left), at the Wish Farms offices in Plant City.

Wish Farms: start with the company in 1974. tion. Their son, Dustin, is a member of Class Wishnatzki attributes the company’s 4. It was a unique opportunity to learn about Dedicated to quality success to development of processes and a leader in the strawberry industry, have for generations systems that give Wish Farms a competitive a firsthand look at a classmate’s operation advantage, including FreshQC™, a patented and to hear directly from Dustin. On this traceability system. It allows the company to particular day Carl, Dee Dee and the entire track strawberries down to each clam shell Fancy Farms team were on site and harvest- and each clam shell to each picker. ing strawberries. Fancy Farms’ berries are Wishnatzki and Clinard praised Kosinksy’s sold and marketed through Wish Farms, also work on Wish Farms’ marketing. She handles of Plant City. The challenge of this particular by Nathan Decker everything from responding to consumers’ day was working through berries that were Monsanto comments to developing marketing pieces showing signs of a Botrytis rot. The finished that generate brand recognition with retail- pack was a fantastic berry in both taste and Our second day started off right on sched- ers and consumers. Quality customer service appearance. ule. We loaded the bus on time AGAIN, and and a favorable customer experience are On the subject of varieties being bred to we were off to our first stop at Wish Farms, most important at Wish Farms. resist Phytophthora and other diseases, Carl one of the largest strawberry producers in We toured the coolers where the berries Grooms said, “There is not a berry plant that Florida. We were met by ELDP Class 2 gradu- are stored, staged and prepared to ship. It is not prone to get something. That’s why we ate Amber Kosinsky. We were joined by Wish was nice to see that the coolers weren’t too farm and challenge all elements of nature.” Farms Executive Vice President J.C. Clinard full, which means strawberries were moving Berry production and acreage are down this and third- generation Wishnatzki , owner, and well and hopefully bringing better prices for year because of price and disease pres- head pixie Gary Wishnatzki. Florida’s farmers. sure, he said. Mexico’s season is the same as “Quality produce since 1922” is the com- Florida’s, creating marketing challenges given pany motto and a great customer experience Mexico’s lower labor and production costs. was an ongoing theme. Throughout his Farming: Life’s most Fancy Farms has been in production since discussion, we could tell his love and pride rewarding profession 1974, but it has continued to evolve and be for the company runs deep. a leader in new growing techniques. Carl Harris Wishnatzki, Gary’s grandfather, was Grooms said the university system has been a Russian immigrant who started selling fruit instrumental in improvements to growing and vegetables from a push cart in lower and BMPs. Pride was evident in every aspect Manhattan. One cart turned into two, and of this multi-generational family farm. “We before long he joined another push cart are agriculture. Agriculture should be the merchant, Daniel Nathel, in the early 1920s. by John Alderman most appreciated and highest paid business They began buying train cars of produce, Duda Farm Fresh Foods there is,” he said. The class finished its visit which eventually turned into their wholesale with some awesome home-baked goodies business. Harris Wishnatzki traveled to the On day two of ELDP’s January produc- from Dee Dee Grooms, including this straw- Plant City area in the winter of 1929. He liked tion trip, we visited with Carl and Dee Dee berry bread - https://www.youtube.com/ the area so much he decided to set up a ship- Grooms of Fancy Farms. Fancy Farms is a watch?v=02Kv7fFppwI ping operation here. His sons took over the strawberry grower in Plant City consisting business in 1955, and Gary Wishnatzki got his of around 250 acres of strawberry produc- 7 23 | February | 2015

RCMA: Addressing Berry business the needs of families is booming

by John Beuttenmuller by Teddy McAvoy Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. The Florida Pacific Farms tour started off Migrant farmworkers are critical to produc- with a much appreciated strawberry taste test ing fresh fruits and vegetables for the world conducted by Driscoll’s own plant breeder. to enjoy. As these workers move from state The taste test included 15 varieties featuring to state each year, it’s challenging for these standard, newly developed and competitors’ families to have continuity in the educational cultivars. Driscoll’s only sells exclusive straw- development of their children. The Redlands berry cultivars that are developed and marketed Christian Migrant Association is able to assist by the company. Its berries are produced by these families through child development partners such as Florida Pacific Farms who grow centers such as the one in Dover, which we exclusively Driscoll berries. Driscoll’s also part- visited. Class members filed in to the RCMA center, ners with growers in , Oregon, Mexico, Class 4 conducted a food drive during the each making several trips with armloads of South America and Europe. weeks leading up to our visit to the center. donations. Working with FFVA, Florida Pacific Farms Our bus’s storage compartments were filled began with 50 workers hired through the H-2A with non-perishable food, toys and other guest worker program. Now the farms in Dover items. We were greeted at the RCMA center and the Plant City area have grown to produce by staff members Liana Lauro and Elda Cruz, 350 acres of strawberries and 50 acres of blue- and Bill Coats, RCMA’s communications berries employing 420 H-2A workers. As part of director. After we unloaded countless boxes the H-2A program requirements, Florida Pacific and bags of donated goods, the RCMA staff Farms provides housing for the workers. In 2013, provided us with an overview of the history the company had six mobile homes for housing and mission of RCMA. and added six more in 2014. Each mobile home Founded in 1965 by the Mennonite Church houses eight workers, with a capacity to house in Homestead, RCMA started with three child 96 workers on site in trailers and the capability care centers. By 2005, it operated more than of housing 10 additional workers in a house on 75 centers and two charter schools in 21 site. Transportation to the bank, grocery store, Florida counties, working with over 6,200 to and from the work site is provided. children. Today, RCMA is the largest non- We were given a tour of the strawberry profit child care provider in Florida with more and blueberry farms by Florida Pacific Farms than 8,000 children, and it is also among the grower Bradley Ferguson. Strawberry plants largest in the . The organization are shipped in from California and planted has found it particularly important to involve Oct. 1-20. During harvest, fruit is hand-picked. parents in the learning process and to hire Florida Pacific Farms is testing out a mule train- staff and teachers from the migrant com- type harvest aid that can improve efficiency by munities it serves. RCMA also helps families 20 percent. access support services and other resources are grown deciduously in open- such as health care. field production or evergreen in hoop houses. As we toured the classrooms and visited The high-tunnel hoop houses allow the grower with the children, we were impressed by to keep the plants from going dormant, there- the diversity of ages and the breadth of the fore flowering and producing berries earlier services RCMA provides. I encourage anyone than field-grown plants. The plants are grown in unfamiliar with RCMA to learn more and pine bark incorporated into the soil and covered explore how you can contribute to such a with a weed mat. Blueberries are harvested four noble organization that impacts thousands The class toured Florida Pacific Farms’ to five times a week during peak season. of underprivileged youth each day. blueberries grown under high-tunnel hoop houses as well as strawberries. 8 23 | February | 2015

Larry Moss entertained the class at one of Lipman’s recently planted and staked tomato fields.

Learning tomatoes farm managers, crew leaders and field management, which then led to a quick from Boss Moss crews is important to Lipman. A map is topography lesson. We discussed plastic generated daily detailing where and when culture and the use of different colored work crews can be in fields. We pored over mulches, production techniques such as maps of the farms and discussed how crop upright tomato production (staking) and rotation between farms and fields affects general pest management. By the end we production and management of people had come full circle and heard some of the and resources. Then we hopped back on same themes we’ve talked about through- by Shine Taylor the bus for a field tour. out our seminars, such as labor issues, DuPont Crop Protection Moss gave us a quick history lesson water management and related topics. about tomato production in the area and Larry Moss, grower for Lipman Pro- discussed where Farm 15 was in the crop duce at its Farm 15 and a lifelong tomato cycle, leading us to a field of recently grower, gave us a crash course on Florida planted spring tomatoes. tomato production during one of the last Lipman’s goal is to pick tomatoes every stops on our tour. In the “war room,” we calendar week throughout the year, but sat around the table and re-created what in Duette the farm was between fall and happens every day around sunrise to pre- spring seasons. Fortunately, there is some- pare the Duette farm for daily operation. thing always happening at Farm 15. Beds Moss discussed worker safety, coordina- were being prepared for spring produc- tion of crews, spray schedules and other tion, and a few early blocks of tomatoes processes required to run a successful had been planted. farm safely and efficiently. We were also Moss answered our questions about fortunate to have Class 4 member Matt production and the similarities and differ- Griffin of Lipman Produce to add to the ences between the central Florida region A juvenile tomato plant soaks up some sun discussion on worker safety and manage- and other tomato-growing areas. Other at Lipman’s Duette farm. ment. This detailed coordination between questions led to a discussion of water 9 23 | February | 2015

Florida’s Natural markets OJ around the globe

by Meghan Pasken Glades Crop Care

The final stop on our second day was a visit to the Florida’s Natural Grove House, a visitor’s center on U.S. Highway 27 directly across from the Florida’s Natural juice plant in Lake Wales. The Grove House hosts 30,000 visitors a year and is a popular stop for tours, church groups, and field trips. It offers several exhibits for guests to enjoy as well as a gift shop and juice samples. We enjoyed an informational movie from the comfort of the Grove House’s very own theater on the history of the business and the process of how orange juice is produced. Established in 1933, Florida’s Natural Growers cooperative has 1,000 grower-owners and more than 60,000 acres in production. Their motto as a coopera- tive is, “We own the land, we own the trees, we Special thanks to the Florida’s Natural own the company.” We learned that Florida’s Natural juice plant can process 13 million Growers Foundation for providing a grant pounds of oranges every 24 hours and that its products are exported to 60 countries around to the ELDP that was used to provide the the globe. After the video we were welcomed by Nikki transportation for this production tour. Hayde, a marketing manager for international business who also has public relations respon- sibilities with Florida’s Natural. She explained that Florida’s Natural Growers is essentially a co-op of co-ops with 14 members. We found it very interesting that Florida’s Natural has licens- ing and packaging agreements with retailers in Korea and the Middle East and that TV com- Class 4 will travel to mercials are being aired there. Florida’s Natural orange juice is the No. 1 orange juice brand in Singapore, Hayde said. Florida’s Natural prides Tallahassee for its fourth itself on its flexibility and believes that to be one of its major competitive advantages. That willingness to pursue new ideas and possibili- session in March. Look for ties has allowed Florida’s Natural to tap into many foreign markets. Hayde explained that Florida’s Natural has a great reputation abroad those stories in the next issue. and that it is considered a safe and reliable product because it is produced in the United States. In some corners of the world it is sought after by the upper class as a status symbol, she added. Volume 4 - Issue 3 23 | February | 2015

ELDP NEWS

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1: Congratulations to Geoff Roe (Class 3) and Ian Bessell (Class 2) joined Covance his wife, Nicole, on the birth of their son Charlie in Laboratories as part of the Nutritional Chemistry February. and Food Safety – North America Regional Account Team on Jan. 24. Ian will have responsibility for all (Class 2 and event 2: Amber Kosinsky Nutritional Chemistry and Food Safety clientele organizer), (Class 4 and picking Dustin Grooms in the Southeast United States. Covance is an ISO coach) and his wife Alison Grooms pose during 17025 accredited food testing laboratory with Wish Farms’ second annual strawberry picking facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia that challenge at which $75,000 was raised to benefit has been in the industry for over 80 years. the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. Amber is also excited to announce her engagement to Matt Maloney and is looking forward to a summer 4: Matt Stacey (Class 3) and his wife, Julie, are wedding. expecting a baby boy in May who will make Kylee (pictured) a big sister. 3: Elton Baldy (Class 3) and his wife, Tabithia, recently welcomed a son, Henry, to their family. Elton was also recognized in January as the 2015 Grand Champion Auctioneer.