Florida Citrus Pioneer Passes Away
June 3, 2013 Indian River citrus pioneer, Barnette Ellis “Barney” Greene, Jr., passed away on May 30 after a brief illness. He was 90. A fifth generation Floridian, Greene was born in Orlando on Sept. 30, 1922. He graduated from the University of Florida in Horticulture, but his education was interrupted by World War II, serving as a B-29 bombadier in the Pacific.
Second Lieutenant Barnette Greene was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned to the University of Florida to finish his degree. Greene graduated from the University of Florida in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and accepted an assistant production manager position at American Fruit Growers in Vero Beach, FL. In 1949, Greene left American Fruit Growers to work as vice president for Edsall Grove Services. Greene bought his first 20-acre grapefruit grove in 1952 and started his first citrus tree nursery in 1955. Greene officially left Edsall Grove Services in 1960 to expand his own grove and nursery business. Before Greene retired, the business controlled more than 3,000 acres of citrus groves and several packinghouses that produced more than 3.1 million cartons of citrus annually. At that time, Greene’s nursery produced more than 250,000 trees per year.
His achievements in the citrus industry mark a lifetime of involvement and advocacy for the state’s signature crop. He received many honors, including Florida’s Ag Hall of Fame, Citrus Hall of Fame, and the Indian River Citrus League’s Legend of the River award.
“Barney Greene was a true friend of Florida,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. “More than 30 years ago, he was working with farmers to keep our land and environment healthy for generations to come. He has long supported agricultural education, research, and youth organizations. He will be greatly missed in his community and by the agricultural community of this entire state.”
Greene is survived by his wife, Hariot, his children Janie Elizabeth Greene, Ellis Sutherland Greene, Griffin Aubrey Greene and Kelly Foster Greene as well as all the grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to support the First United Methodist Church, 1750 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or the University of Florida’s Center for Movement Disorders indicating a gift in memory of Barney Greene, payable to the UF Foundation, PO Box 100243, Gainesville, FL 32610-0243. Services: Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m., Friday, June 7, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, Vero Beach. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2013 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Charles C. Lever officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach.
To read about Greene’s life in the citrus industry, visit his Citrus Hall of Fame biography.
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