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| A participant in the Spring Regulatory Tour gets a close-up look at the results of tomato field trials on methyl bromide alternatives. |
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Scholarship Program
The Foundation recognizes that employees -- and by extension their families -- are the foundation of any agricultural enterprise. In 2007, it established the George F. Sorn Scholarship to help children of farm workers realize their dreams of a college education. The scholarship benefits deserving high school graduates who are children of employees in the state’s specialty crop industry.
With each subsequent year it has been offered, the scholarship has drawn more outstanding candidates.
A leading authority on farm labor, George F. Sorn led Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Labor Division for 17 years. He then served as FFVA’s vice president and general manager from 1984 until his retirement in 1992.
Access scholarship information and the application here:
Letter from Foundation Executive Director Sonia Tighe
George Sorn Scholarship application
2010 Projects
In partnership with the University of Florida, the Foundation received two Specialty Crop Research Initative grants for creation of a Farm Labor Contractor Training Program and for research into tomato and potato late blight.
Florida Agricultural Seminar
The annual Florida Agricultural Seminar educates agricultural employers and workers on compliance with agricultural labor laws and sound labor relations practices. The Seminar hosts as many as 225 participants each year. Proceeds from the program are donated to the Redlands Christian Migrant Association.
Spring Regulatory Tour
Each year, the Foundation makes possible an environmental and pest management regulatory tour, which provides on-site educational opportunities for officials who enforce federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to agriculture and the environment.
University of Florida Doctor of Plant Medicine Program
The Foundation provided major support for the University of Florida's Doctor of Plant Medicine Program. The program trains practitioners at the doctoral level in all aspects of prevention, diagnosis and management of plant health problems.
Other Seminars
The Foundation sponsors other educational seminars as needed to keep Florida’s agricultural producers informed on a variety of issues. The Florida Post Harvest Seminar, offered in cooperation with the University of Florida, provides information on post-harvest technology for students and other interested individuals. The Agricultural Environmental Seminar educates producers on compliance with existing and proposed environmental regulations.
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