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The Plant City Courier & Tribune

Plant City > News

Berry Growers Association Picks New Executive Director

By JAN HOLLINGSWORTH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 1, 2008

PLANT CITY As area berry farmers begin to prepare the fields for a new season, their state trade group has completed its nationwide search for a new leader.
The board of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association on Tuesday unanimously approved the selection of a past chairman of the Produce Marketing Association as the berry group's executive director, association president Allen Williford said. Ted Campbell starts the job today.
Campbell replaces Shawn Crocker, who resigned his position April 18 after being on paid leave since February.
"It's something both sides felt needed to happen," said Williford, who declined further comment on Crocker's departure.
Crocker, who has served multiple terms as president of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, worked for the growers association barely a year after stepping into the position vacated by Chip Hinton, the association's first executive director. The association's board abruptly dismissed Hinton with little explanation in November 2006 after a quarter century on the job.
The association's search committee received resumes from more than 25 applicants from around the nation, Williford said. The field was narrowed to five who were interviewed.
"Campbell stood out among all of them," he said. "We feel like his qualifications meet the criteria to help meet the challenges ahead."
The association's new executive director has experience in retail and wholesale produce, from both a procurement and sales prospective. He is the former director of produce for SUPERVALU, Inc. in Minneapolis, and was previously vice president of sales and marketing for Kerry's Nursery headquartered in Homestead.
Campbell lives in Naples and will commute home on weekends until he is able to relocate to Plant City, Williford said.
Most of the nation's winter strawberries are grown in the Plant City area.