MAITLAND — On Sept. 20, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) announced the selection of 14 up-and-coming agriculture industry leaders for Class 13 of its Emerging Leader Development Program.

Administered by the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, the creation of the Emerging Leader Development Program back in 2011 has provided 142 young leaders with an immersive experience on the many issues facing the industry and how to be leaders within FFVA. Eight graduates have now gone on to serve at the highest level within FFVA, as members of the board of directors.

Class 13 members are:

• Bo Meador, Everglades Agricultural Services, LaBelle
• Heriberto Monroy, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Belle Glade
• Robert Ortez, Florida Crystals, Belle Glade
• Carter Lambert, Lipman Family Farms, Naples

• Cameron Allison, Wild Goose Farms, Eustis
• Ben Collins, H&A Farms, Eustis
• Colton Davis, Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Fort Myers
• Michael Goudreau, PGIM Real Estate, Orlando
• Daniel Miller, Pebbledale Farms, Ona
• Cameron Moat, TKI-Crop Vitality, St. Augustine
• Mikayla Rogers, Highland Ag Solutions, Wauchula
• Kaylyn Sizemore, Sizemore Farms, Inc., Plant City
• Erin Smith, AgAmerica Lending, Lakeland
• Clayton Waterhouse, Plant Food Systems, Inc., Zolfo Springs

Over the coming year, participants will visit FFVA’s headquarters to learn about all facets of the association; tour farming and packing operations in Florida; meet in Tallahassee with elected officials and state leaders during the legislative session; and travel to the heart of California’s agricultural region to get an even broader perspective. Class 13 will graduate at FFVA’s annual convention in September 2024. More about FFVA’s Emerging Leader Development Program can be found at https://fscf.org/.

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association is an agricultural organization whose membership represents the majority of fruit and vegetable production in the state. Follow FFVA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.