Drew Duda

       - FFVA's vice-chairman will soon be named as its next chairman

Drew Duda knows his way around the agriculture business. Beginning as a young teenager, he spent time in the fields, learning from the bottom up. “At the time, my father was in the midst of establishing our turf business.  I spent several summers working in our sod operations in Oviedo, on our farm in Zellwood and at our ranch in Cocoa.  Those experiences taught me to appreciate all the hard work of the individuals who make us successful as a company.”  After graduating from college, he officially joined his family's company in 1982 and has steadily taken on greater responsibilities.

A little over a year ago, he moved into the position of senior vice president in charge of agricultural operations for the corporation – cattle ranching in Florida and sod, sugarcane and citrus groves production in Florida and Texas. "I've always been very production-oriented, so this was a natural fit," Drew said.

Most of Drew’s nearly 30 years with the company have been spent in agricultural operations, primarily vegetable and sugarcane production.  He spent two years as chief operating officer of the company’s processed food and beverage operations which continue to operate under new ownership.
 

Drew says the company recently emerged from survival mode and is resuming a growth posture. "Obviously the economic downturn has affected everyone. We’ve been struggling with that too. Survival has been the first and foremost thing," he said. The company took measures to address the downturn in each of its operating businesses. "The sod industry, in particular, is so closely tied to the housing market, which experienced a steep decline in 2007. It was difficult to deal with all the invested capital tied up in growing inventories when sales went south. So we spent the last two-plus years trying to get that house in order. I think we’ve been very successful in reducing our footprint to where it’s workable in this current business environment and we probably followed everyone in the industry here in Florida by reducing our volumes and production acres. So I think the worst is over."

All four business units he oversees have a common theme, Drew says. “Whether it’s the ranch, the groves, the sod or the sugarcane, our goal is to produce quality commodities in an efficient, low-cost way – producing the most we can with the least amount of inputs. And along the way we have forged lasting relationships with our customers, employees and suppliers. I think the company has done a pretty good job of that over the last 80-some years.”

Looking at issues that affect the company, Drew says regulatory pressures are at the top of the list. “The first thing that comes to mind is the impending EPA numeric nutrient criteria in Florida waterways, which is going to cause significant compliance difficulty.” He also names food safety issues, sun setting of the tax codes, water availability for producers and immigration reform as areas of concern. “Immigration reform is important for Florida agriculture because we have to have a viable, legal work force. A lot of the crops DUDA grows require hand labor both to harvest and for caretaking.”

Drew Duda graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor of science degree in food and resource economics. He graduated from the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Produce Association Leadership Program and served for four years on the association’s board of directors. In addition to his service on the board of directors and executive committee of FFVA, he serves on the board of the Sugarcane Growers Cooperative of Florida. Drew is a member of the regional advisory council of the Florida Agricultural Council, which provides counsel to research and education to the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Drew Duda (right) with FFVA President Mike Stuart and Chairman Jim Mercer (left) at a recent FFVA board of directors meeting.

Drew has an optimistic outlook for the company and the agriculture industry. “We’re trying to realign and re-evaluate our business units as we move into the fourth generation of the company’s leadership to redeploy our assets to the right business model that fits the needs of our owners and employees.” Plans include outreach efforts to family stakeholders in collaboration with the Duda Family Council, established in 2004. “The family members who work in the business represent a minority of the family at large, which is different from earlier generations,” Drew said. “We’re trying to be responsive to the needs of a growing and changing ownership and of course to the community, our customers and the industry.”

“We’ve come through the last couple of years and survived due to the positive steps that we’ve taken,” Drew said. “I’m excited about new opportunities that we as an industry have. Agriculture during that period was a cornerstone in the state’s economy. That gives us all a lot of faith in ag long term, that it’s a viable business and it’s extremely important to the economy of the state. All of us in this industry have made changes and we’re coming back stronger and more resolved.”