Southeast fruit and vegetable industry awards recognize leaders
Southeast fruit & vegetable industry awards honor Extension agents, growers and leaders for advancing George and South Carolina agriculture.
Growers continue to depend on county and state Extension agents and personnel to help solve agronomic challenges. At the Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference, the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Association (GFVGA) and the South Carolina Peach Council honored contributions through the southeast fruit and vegetable industry awards.
At a January 11 breakfast in Savannah, Georgia, industry leaders recognized individuals who help growers better produce and market crops. They also celebrated emerging leaders recognized throughout the year.
Extension excellence honored
Ty Torrance is a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable agent serving Culpeper, Tiff, and Worth counties. He received the Donnie Morris Extension Award of Excellence.
“As a dedicated county agent, Ty has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting local growers, providing them with timely and accurate information, ensuring their best interests are always prioritized,” said Sam Watson, GFVGA immediate past president and managing partner of Chill C Farms in Moultrie, Georgia.
Watson noted that Torrance’s work “improved the productivity and sustainability of the region’s vegetable production” while strengthening the agricultural framework of the counties.
Austin Hamilton, GFVGA president and director of agriculture at Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable in Norman Park, praised Torrance’s “exceptional qualities” and quick responses.
“Ty is extremely respectable, very thorough and quick to get an answer for the growers,” Hamilton wrote in his nomination.
In 2007, Torrance’s father, Reid Torrance, a national leader in the Vidalia onion industry and Tattnall County Extension coordinator, also received the award.
Service to Georgia agriculture
Andy Harrison, manager of Georgia’s commodity commissions, including the Georgia Vegetable Commission, was honored for his service.
“This year marks the retirement of a special friend of GFVGA and countless others in Georgia agriculture,” Watson said. “Andy is a constant presence at ag events across the state and a true ambassador for ag interests. We appreciate your passion and your work on behalf of all of Georgia agriculture.”
Recognizing farm leaders
Georgia Trend’s 2024 Georgia 500 list honored Jared and Justin Corbett, owners of Corbett Bros. Farms in Lake Park, as influential state leaders.
“The Corbett family is no stranger to GFVGA,” Watson said. “Justin and Jared are third-generation farmers at the top of the vegetable growing operations in the southeast.” Justin also completed a term as a GFVGA board member.
South Carolina Peach Council also honored Kemp McLeod as 2025’s Mr. Peach. Kemp is a fourth-generation peach grower and owner of McLeod Farms in McBee, South Carolina.
“Mr. Kemp is an extraordinary individual who is a successful, great family man, farmer and business man,” said Chris Yonce, council president and co-owner of JW Yonce & Sons Farms in Johnston, South Carolina. “Being a fourth-generation farmer myself, I understand that being part of a family farm is not just a livelihood. It’s a way of life. And Kemp exemplifies this.”
Honoring advocacy and emerging leaders
Ann Margaret Pointer, partner at Atlanta’s Fisher Phillips law firm, received the Dan Bremer Service Award for advocating on behalf of employers and agricultural workers. Recognized nationwide for H-2A program knowledge, Pointer has represented management, labor, and employment matters for more than 30 years.
Georgia Farm Bureau’s Raynor Churchwell and Shuman Farms’ Mason Goolsby were honored for national 40 Under 40 recognition from produce publications.
Additionally, GFVGA recognized three members of Great American Media Services’ Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 Class of 2024: Churchwell, Joshua Grant of Crisp County Extension, and Anthony Cannon of Sapal Seed.
Goolsby and Johnny Lunsford of L&M Cos. also earned Produce Business magazine 40 Under 40 recognition.
Celebrate the southeast fruit and vegetable industry
The southeast fruit and vegetable industry awards highlighted the wide range of individuals driving agriculture forward. From Extension agents to peach growers, commodity leaders to legal advocates, honorees demonstrated the dedication and innovation shaping George and South Carolina agriculture.
— Doug Ohlemeier, Assistant Editor