By Lisa Lochridge, FFVA Director of Public Affairs

Paul Orsenigo is talking about the challenges of production agriculture while he navigates his truck through the fields. It’s tough for him to complete a sentence, though. If one of his two cell phones isn’t ringing, he’s stopping for a roadside conversation with one of his employees or business partner David Basore. In other words, it’s a typical day.

But he wouldn’t have it any other way. “This is what I always wanted to do – since I was 9 years old,” he said. Both of his parents – now retired – were involved in agriculture-related fields. His mother was a nutritionist and his father was a plant physiologist for UF/IFAS and served as research director for the Florida Sugar Cane League. Orsenigo formed his first company, Orsenigo Farms, in 1985 with 80 acres, and the journey began. As he puts it: “I jumped out of the airplane.”

Through the years, Orsenigo Farms has grown to encompass 500 acres of sugar cane. Growers Management Inc., which Orsenigo and Basore founded in 2000, manages 1,500 acres of diversified vegetable crops in several locations and employs 70 workers at peak season times.

A LIFESTYLE, NOT A JOB

FFVA Member Paul Orsenigo grows a variety of vegetable and sugar cane crops in several locations.

Just like other veteran growers in the EAA, Orsenigo deals on a daily basis with a laundry list of challenges, some immediate and others long-term. He characterizes agriculture as a way of life rather than a profession: “It’s as much about living it as it is doing it.”

One of the biggest hurdles today, he said, is “surviving and thriving in a world of consolidation. It will continue to get tougher to find productive land availability for what we grow.” Labor availability and costs also pose a challenge, he added, along with the rising costs of inputs such as fertilizer and fuel.

“The common thread throughout the ag community is the pure desire and the drive to continue to fight the battle,” he said. “There’s still the enjoyment of planting crops and seeing them grow. But when you consider the virtually impossible regulations we have to comply with now and add in the forces over which we have no influence, it can get pretty tough sometimes.”

Yet there are plenty of positives to point to, Orsenigo says. The number of crop-protection tools is growing, for example. “Companies are doing a really good job of developing new products with new chemistry. We have more products to choose from and broader labeling than we’ve ever had – that’s a very positive thing from the crop-protection side,” he said.

As an employer, Orsenigo appreciates seeing his employees do well. “It’s great to be in a position where you can have long-term employees be successful and see their families benefit,” he said.

Most satisfying of all, however, is having an idea and seeing it through to fruition. “When a plan comes together and we work together, and positive forces merge – the market, the weather, the crops – that’s very rewarding.”

Orsenigo adds that he and Basore are thankful for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association and its staff. FFVA has helped them be successful over the years, he said, adding that it continues to provide strong support for challenging issues that are faced daily. Orsenigo has served on the FFVA board of directors since 1994 and chairs the Natural Resources Committee.

SERVING COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT

Orsenigo never seems to be far from the fields. Even his spare time takes him there. A talented amateur photographer, Orsenigo has won several honors for his photos.

Paul Orsenigo's son Derek (right) plans to carry on the family tradition of South Florida agriculture. Derek is shown here receiving a scholarship award from Syngenta Corporation's Sean Knapp at FFVA's 2007 convention.

Giving back to the community also keeps him busy. He is on the advisory board of the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center. For 19 years, he’s been a member of the Belle Glade Housing Authority. He also serves on the Glades Day School board of trustees and the board of directors of the Bank of Belle Glade.

Looking to the future, Orsenigo is pleased that his son, Derek, wants to follow in his footsteps. “It’s great … I’m very proud of him,” he said. Although he hasn’t tried to dissuade Derek, “I’ve tried to be honest with him. Young people with an interest in hands-on farming and marketing are rare. We need to attract and employ the next generation in order to maintain our ag strength and internal food production systems.”