Citrus Stalwart Buddy Johnson Honored

By Growing Produce Staff|December 23, 2008

Johnson earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agriculture from UF in 1966 and 1968. He and his wife Patricia own and operate Sherwood Johnson & Son Grove Management Inc., Buck Hammock Groves Inc., and Hilliard Groves Inc. His son and daughter are involved in the family business as well.

As a UF student Johnson specialized in fruit crops and was a member of Alpha Zeta and Phi Kappa Phi. He is a charter member of the UF National Alumni Association, chaired the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences SHARE Council, has been on the board of directors of the St. Lucie County and Florida Farm Bureau, and is a former chairman of the board for Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.

Johnson serves on the board of directors of Farm Credit of South Florida. He also serves as president of the Treasure Coast Agriculture Research Foundation and is a longtime supporter of the Indian River Research and Education Center. In 2005, he was inducted into the St. Lucie County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

In April of this year, Johnson was awarded the Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Service Award to Agriculture in recognition of his exceptional public service and dedication to agriculture as well as his continuing relationship with the “Gator Nation.”