LAKELAND, Fla. (December 9, 2013) – The Selection Committee for The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced three distinguished leaders will be inducted into the Hall during the 52nd Citrus Celebration Luncheon on Friday, March 7, 2014 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Stephen M. Caruso, of Orlando, Fla., Robert G. Pittman, Jr. (deceased) formerly of Apopka, Fla. and Dr. Rubert W. Prevatt, of Lakeland, Fla. will be honored at the luncheon, scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Hollis Wellness Center.
Stephen M. Caruso, of Orlando, started in the industry through his family business, Southern Fruit Distributors, developer of the BlueBird brand, and went on to become the CEO of Citrus World, Inc., Florida’s oldest citrus processing company and maker of Florida’s Natural brand. He helped turn the company into one of the top three not-from-concentrate (NFC) processors in Florida, with company revenues last year 100% higher than his first year as CEO. He led company efforts to manage an increased quality fruit supply from grower members, which successfully transformed Citrus World from a production to a marketing cooperative and created consistent above market fruit returns for members. His restructuring efforts after hurricanes and canker decimated over 100,000 acres of Florida citrus helped sustain Citrus World’s future during a time of major transformation in the industry, and his cooperative efforts extended to a business relationship with Texas Citrus Exchange, a citrus processing cooperative, 15 years ago that was a tremendous success for both parties.
He is a past president of Juice Products Association (formerly the National Juice Products Association – NJPA) and the Florida Citrus Processors’ Association, as well as past director for the National Bank for Cooperatives/CoBank, one of the largest lending institutions for U.S. agriculture and cooperative interests. He is a past Chairman and current board member of the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership (GICL) and has served on numerous industry committees. Under his leadership, the Florida’s Natural Foundation was created and to date, over $500,000 has been donated to various programs throughout Central Florida.
Robert G. (Bob) Pitman, Jr., (deceased), formerly of Apopka, is known for his role in lobbying for the establishment of the Florida Agricultural Tax Law, known as the “Greenbelt Law,” which has saved growers millions of dollars in property taxes; his work with citrus varieties, including developing and patenting a new mandarin-type orange known as the Ponkan; and lastly, his role with the establishment of the Budwood Certification Program. He and his father developed the Florida Ponkan Corporation, one of the largest and most influential citrus nurseries in the state, to satisfy the demand for standard citrus varieties stimulated by the advent of concentrate.
He was one of the organizers and charter members of the Florida Citrus Nurseryman’s Association and pushed for the nurserymen to develop a Budwood Registration Program to develop virus free budwood. He helped manage the budwood registration program for over 16 years, and helped found the Hughes Memorial Budwood Foundation, which he served as director for many years. He was a forerunner in experimenting with using irrigation as freeze protection, and worked closely with the scientists at the University of Florida to develop what has become an important method of frost protection for the entire citrus industry.
A member of numerous industry committees, he was also President of the Orange County Farm Bureau and the Florida Citrus Research Foundation (Whitmore Foundation), a Director of the Florida Tax Council, and was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1982.
Dr. Rubert W. Prevatt, of Lakeland, was the Professor of Horticulture and Citrus at Florida Southern College for almost 30 years, and his students now account for the management of more than 60% of the state’s citrus acreage. His hands-on approach to teaching taught his students how to research, how to think, and to follow their instincts as growers, which gave them the ability to approach future challenges. He made sure his students spent time in the field to experience real time situations and he always said “the best fertilizer for a grove is footprints.” His passion for teaching inspired, challenged and motivated hundreds of students to invest their time and efforts in the Florida citrus industry. A true mentor, he followed his students’ progress to make sure they were on track, which created bonds that continue to this day.
He was the first manager of the State Soils Lab, in Gainesville and was the agronomist and head of research for International Minerals Corporation (IMC) for over ten years, before joining Florida Southern College in 1970. Dr. Prevatt retired as Director of The Citrus Institute at FSC in 1999.
The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame honors distinguished leaders who have made significant contributions to the Florida citrus industry. The Citrus Hall of Fame display and Archive Center is located within the McKay Archive Building at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For more information on members of the Citrus Hall of Fame, visit the web site at www.FloridaCitrusHallofFame.com which includes access to biographies and photos on all members, noting their accomplishments and including various industry links.
Tickets to the luncheon, which is sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual and The Florida Department of Citrus, are $100 for Patron Seating or $1,500 for a Sponsor Table, which includes preferred seating for 8, table signage and a listing in the program. The event will be followed by the Florida Citrus Processors’ Association’s OJ “Meet & Greet” with the inductees as they unveil their names on the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Tree, located in the McKay Archives Center. An educational citrus exhibit will be featured during the month of March and tours of the Citrus Archives will be provided by the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellowship students on the day of the event. Shuttles will provide transportation between the Hollis Wellness Center and the McKay Archives Center, where the main parking lot is located. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will go to fund an Educational Outreach program to promote the history of the Florida citrus industry.
To purchase tickets, please call Florida Citrus Mutual at (863) 682-1111 or visit the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame website at www.FloridaCitrusHallofFame.com. For more information, please contact Brenda Eubanks Burnette at (561) 351-4314.