January 21, 2008

ISSUE 1202

FFVA BOARD HEARS CENTURY COMMISSION REPORT, HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY UPDATE

FFVA’s Board of Directors heard two presentations at its Jan. 11 meeting in Celebration that focused on the future of Florida and how it affects those in the agriculture industry.

Steve Seibert, executive director of the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, told the board that its annual report outlined a number of recommendations for 2008. Those included ensuring an adequate and reliable water supply, pursuing new conservation methods, designing sustainable communities and buildings, and monitoring progress on energy security and greenhouse gas emission reduction.

In the second presentation, Ryan Houck, political director for Floridians for Smarter Growth, called the efforts of Hometown Democracy a case of the right problem and the wrong solution. He explained his organization’s strategy to battle the initiative and called on those present to do their part in the fight.

Also meeting in Celebration were FFVA’s committees and the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, in its first meeting since adding three new board members in November. Those board members are: Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Diocese of Orlando; Dan Richey, CEO of Riverfront Packing Co. and president of Gulfstream Harvesting; and Bill Mang of SunTrust Bank’s commercial dealer services division.