Emerging Times
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Volume 4 - Issue 2 19 | December | 2014 FFVA Headquarters Emerging Times . growing toward the future Emerging leaders get a firsthand look at FFVA during second session Class 4 toured Taylor Farms’ processing facility and deli operations in Orlando on the final day of their session. Members of FFVA’s Emerging to help class members get to know Leader Development Program met at themselves and each other better. FFVA’s Maitland office for their second Class members wrapped up the session in November, which focused session by touring Taylor Farms’ on major issues facing the industry Florida processing facility and deli and the work of FFVA. Activities in- operations in Orlando. cluded an overview of how the asso- SUSTAINING SPONSOR ciation operates, presentations from staff members and activities designed 2 19 | December | 2014 A comprehensive introduction to FFVA by Meghan Pasken Glades Crop Care The first presentation of our Maitland trip was a comprehensive introduction to FFVA presented by President Mike Stuart and Alan Hair, CFO of FFVA. It felt as though we were a group of savvy investors in the board room of a corporate giant as we reclined in our leather chairs and were very respectfully welcomed into the FFVA inner circle. We were presented with detailed business specifics as we viewed flow charts of the different committee structures and pie charts reflecting revenue and expense summaries for the last year. We came to know the responsibilities of the board members and the roles of the 30 FFVA staff members, as well as many other organiza- tional particulars. It was a lot of information to take in all at once, but some of the most The first presentation was from FFVA President Mike Stuart and CFO Alan Hair who welcomed the enlightening discoveries were how much group and gave them a complete overview of how the association operates. work FFVA is doing to plan for its future and the future of Florida agriculture. The business- like structure and partnerships that FFVA has subsidiaries afford the organization the flex- have a critical need. established over the years have made and will ibility of a diversified revenue stream that I believe I can speak for my peers when I keep making more resources available to its ultimately benefits its members by reducing say that we were blown away by the degree members. dependence on member dues and fees. Stuart of transparency that Stuart and Hair shared Class 4 was surprised to discover that there explained that FFVA is a non-profit organiza- with us. We were flattered that they were were both a travel service and insurance tion but is not tax exempt, therefore expenses willing to share so many details of the inner company that largely contribute to the assets have to be managed as within any other workings of the association with us. The com- FFVA is able to make available to its members. business - another reason why it is important plexity of the organization was very intrigu- FFVA Mutual specializes in providing workers to spread risk and have partners in other ing but at the center it was all about being compensation insurance and has experienced industries. able to pursue the opportunities that provide noteworthy growth and expansion into 10 Stuart also spoke about Third Party Regis- the depth of knowledge and action-ready states since its inception in 1956. Florida East trations, which is a not-for-profit service FFVA solutions that its members depend on. Coast Travel Services (FLECTS), another FFVA provides that helps its producer members subsidiary, has been providing seasonal work- secure registrations for chemicals that could ers for American companies for over 42 years. be used in specialty crops. FFVA facilitates FLECTS processes temporary workers from communications between the grower and Mexico, Jamaica, the greater Caribbean and chemical manufacturer once a grower demon- South America. FLECTS served 305 agricultur- strates the need for a particular product. The al employers in 17 states during the past year process provides protection to the pesticide and processed over 8,000 H-2A farm workers manufacturer and distributor for any crop in 2012. damage and non-performance liability in The symbiotic relationships that FFVA return for the right to register products for has with FFVA Mutual, FLECTS, and its other which Florida fruit and vegetable growers 3 19 | December | 2014 Gen-Next Growers True colors hones in NVDMC helps targets up-and-coming on personality traits citrus industry farmers survive and compete by John Beuttenmuller Florida Foundation by Dan Bott Seed Producers, Inc. by John Alderman Premier Citrus Management Duda Farm Fresh Foods We were fortunate to spend an excellent afternoon with Dr. Hannah Carter, director During our meeting with Florida Grower of the University of Florida’s Wedgworth On Day 2 of our introduction to FFVA editor Frank Giles, he introduced the group Leadership Institute. Quite frankly, Dr. in Maitland, we met Peter Chaires. He is to GenNext Growers, a social media site Carter proved to be the best post-lunch the executive director of New Varieties founded by the American Fruit Grower, speaker! She led an interactive session that Development and Management Corp. and American Vegetable Grower and Florida centered on personality discovery through executive vice president of the Florida Grower magazines. use of the “True Colors” method. This Citrus Packers Association. His presentation The GenNext Growers Initiative was method categorizes personalities based on “Restore and Maintain Competitive Position founded in 2013 to help identify, inform four colors – orange, blue, green and gold. of Florida Citrus: Issues and Challenges of and inspire the next generation of specialty Although everyone possesses a little bit of the Fresh Citrus Segment,” was an over- crop growers who were born after 1970, each color in his or her personality, it was view of the new varieties that the NVDMC have or are assuming farm leadership roles, interesting to see that each class member is researching and implementing. The are passionate about producing high-quali- had characteristics that put them into one organization researches and identifies new ty specialty crops and seek to be advocates of the color categories. Dr. Carter discussed Florida citrus varieties on behalf of growers. for their industry. the importance of understanding our own It can also acquire varieties from a variety of The initiative aims to identify, develop personality and those of others because outlets. The group analyzes, evaluates and and promote the best practices of the they affect our decisions and interactions licenses the varieties. Some of the varieties nation’s most promising up-and-coming with each other. that really resonated with the group were specialty crop growers, to help pull to- Once we separated into our respec- the seedless, or mostly seedless, varieties gether and bring a national voice to the tive colors, we engaged in an exercise to of mandarin/tangerine types that can be many national, state, and regional young develop a theoretical marketing campaign grown in Florida to compete with the Cali- grower programs currently under way, and targeting new members for FFVA. After we fornia and imported mandarin/clementine. to ensure a smooth generational transition developed our campaigns, we presented Variety development is not limited to and the long-term viability of America’s them to the rest of the class. This exercise fresh fruit varieties. There were a number fruit, vegetable and citrus industries. was interesting, because each group’s cam- of varieties in the presentation targeted GenNext Growers Initiative is a national paign had components that were directly for the processed side of the business as resource to recognize and foster the best related to the strengths of their personali- well. The presentation also detailed how practices of up-and-coming fruit, veg- ties. Dr. Carter then walked us through a the association helps growers implement etable, and citrus growers. The goal of comparison of perceived strengths and trials through its FAST TRACK program. GenNext is to create a network of emerging weaknesses of each color or personality FAST TRACK is a way of moving experi- leaders in the agriculture industry that will group. This process was very impactful, mental fresh fruit selection to the Florida help young farmers open a dialogue across because it will allow each of us to consider grower for non-commercial evaluation. The the nation within their emerging leader each person’s personality to leverage their program involves nursery participation and peer group to share ideas and become strengths to build productive relationships the royalty rates are fixed. It’s a way for the more engaged with issues facing the indus- and teams. grower to reduce future royalty rates and try today and in the future. Dr. Carter concluded the session with a get a head start on a possible variety of the discussion that allowed our class to think future. Chaires and the NVDMC provide critically about characteristics of leadership an invaluable resource to the Florida citrus and the skills that are important for leaders grower to compete and survive in an ever- to possess. This afternoon session was very evolving business. informative and gave us all an excellent chance to better understand ourselves and each other as we continue to develop as leaders. 4 19 | December | 2014 Florida tomatoes: Present and future outlook by Matt Griffin Lipman Produce Over the course of the few days the class spent at FFVA’s office in Maitland, we were able to get a deeper understanding of the or- ganization as whole. Along with that, we also got to hear about challenges and opportuni- ties facing the industry. Dr. Hannah Carter got the class up and moving during their True Colors personality tests.