2008 Citrus Achievement
Award Winner Named

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (June 16, 2008) – Jim Snively, vice president of grove operations at Southern Gardens in Trenton, was honored by Florida Grower magazine as the Citrus Achievement Award winner for 2008. The Award was presented to Snively at Florida Citrus Mutual's Citrus Industry Conference June 6-8 in Bonita Springs.

              Florida Grower Magazine’s Citrus Achievement Award — sponsored by Chemtura — is designed to recognize the most influential and innovative citrus growers in the industry. Now in its eighth year, the award has become synonymous with honor, service, and dedication.

              Snively won the prestigious award based on his leadership and dedication to the marketing and advancement of the state’s largest commodity.

              Snively takes a proactive approach to the future and believes that, despite being plagued with problems like canker and greening, the future of Florida citrus looks bright.  He and his team were ready in 2005 when they were confirmed to be the second grove attacked by greening in Florida.  He was immediately on the phone with friends in Brazil who had dealt with greening before, and Snively was planning a counter attack.  Since the outbreak Snively has worked tirelessly and unselfishly, doing more than his part to protect the Southern Gardens grove and the entire Florida Citrus industry.

              “Even if I had zero greening in my groves today, I would be doing what I am doing right now,” Snively says, “because at the very least the infection source would be less.”

              Look for more information on the Citrus Achievement Award and Jim Snively in the June issue of Florida Grower magazine.

Click here to watch a video of the 2008 Citrus Achievement Award ceremony.