MAURICE AND LESLIE TURGEAU - BERRY BAY FARMS

“You can’t just be a farmer anymore.”

Maurice Turgeau knows his way around a strawberry field. At 15, he was planting, picking and learning, all of which helped him become the businessman he is today, running Wimauma-based Berry Bay Farms. Turgeau is one of FFVA’s latest additions to its board of directors.

“I started farming with brother-in-law and sister back at age 15. This season marks 23 years. So I worked for them for 15 years, then I worked for Grimes Produce for two years, then I had the opportunity to come down here and start this operation in 2003,” said Turgeau. He formed a partnership with growers Marvin and Linda Brown and has been farming about 94 acres of strawberries, plus cantaloupes and squash, ever since.

Times have been challenging. The world of strawberry growing was different those short six years ago. “Look what’s happened in the last 5 years, said Turgeau. “Between fuel prices, fertilizer prices, minimum wage increases and immigration challenges, it’s just been one nightmare after another.”

Turgeau not only has the talent and the work ethic to succeed in the strawberry growing business, he has the genes. Besides his sister, Michelle, and her husband, Marcus Williamson for whom he worked in his teens, Turgeau’s grandfather farmed in the North Florida community of Jay and served the industry well as farm manager for the University of Florida Institute for Agricultural Sciences’ research station in the town of Springhead (now located in Balm). So did Turgeau’s mother, Anne. “My mother grew up on a farm and she became secretary at IFAS and lab assistant when they needed one,” said Turgeau.

INVOLVEMENT IS KEY

Turgeaus’ wife, Leslie, works side by side with her husband in the business and agrees that the challenges of the business force a grower to go the extra mile. “You have to get involved to just survive. You can’t just sit back and farm anymore, she said.

Becoming a board member of FFVA is only the latest leadership role the couple has played. Maurice and Leslie have been involved with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau over the years. They’ve both won awards for their leadership and achievements including being named the 2008 Young Agriculturalists of the Year by the Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

If it were up to Turgeau, he’d be satisfied to do what he likes best – farm the land and produce a wholesome product. Sadly, he has other responsibilities. “I know you have to have regulations and laws, but it seems anymore that we have to spend most of our time on that instead of being out in the field actually tending to the crop. It takes you away from things, but if you don’t do it, who will?

Turgeau names new fumigant restrictions proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (add link to info) and the lack of comprehensive immigration reform as high priorities for those in the strawberry growing business.

“It would make me happier if I could just come in in the morning and go out and walk that field, spend time looking at the plants, looking at the soil, but no, instead, I’m answering emails and returning phone call, trying to stay up on those issues,” Turgeau said.

In spite of the challenges, Turgeau believes in the future of the industry and encourages others, especially younger producers such as himself, to make their voices heard. “You can only fight one battle at a time, so all you can do is live to fight another day. It’s a fight from day to day anymore in this industry, but you can’t just give up. You’ve got to get in there and join forces with others and give it all you’ve got.”

In addition to their industry involvement, Maurice and Leslie are also good citizens of their community. They’re supporters of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Group, which is filling boxes with items our troops overseas cannot get where they’re stationed. “It’s something we do to make them feel more comfortable and to show them our support and appreciation,” said Leslie. The group is also working on a food drive call "Harvest for All" in conjunction with America’s Second Harvest. (add link)

To learn more about Berry Bay Farms, go to www.berrybayfarms.com. The site features eductional information about strawberries – a great resource for students researching Florida agriculture. You’ll also find recipes, information on picking your own berries, and more.