Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association names new board leaders, members

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association has named Aaron Troyer, president of Troyer Brothers in Fort Myers, as its chair for 2020-22. David Hill, president of Southern Hill Farms in Clermont, was named vice chair.

In addition, FFVA members voted to appoint three new directors to the board: Jon Esformes of Pacific Tomato Growers, Chris Moore of Alico Inc., and Ron Mahan of Tamiami Citrus. The appointments were made at the association’s board of directors and annual membership meetings on Sept. 29.

Troyer, who served as the board vice chair for the past two years, said his mission will be to “protect and defend Florida specialty crop agriculture” and to continue work on pandemic-related issues as well as trade relief measures to remedy harm suffered by producers from unfair Mexican trade policies and practices. He praised outgoing Chair Paul Allen of R.C. Hatton in Belle Glade for his service and for presiding during the extreme challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

FFVA President Mike Joyner said, “Aaron Troyer is an outstanding leader and will do an excellent job guiding FFVA over the next two years as we continue our very important work on trade, workforce, legislation and other issues.”

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association is a full-service organization serving Florida’s grower-shipper community since 1943. FFVA represents a broad range of crops: vegetables, citrus, tropical fruit, berries, sod, sugarcane, tree crops and more. Its mission is to enhance the business and competitive environment for producing and marketing fruits, vegetables and other crops.