Veronique Sallin has accomplished a lot over four decades with IMG Citrus and Cherrylake Inc. She has just been announced Florida’s 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture.
Photo courtesy of IMG Citrus
For nearly four decades, the state of Florida has shined a bright spotlight on women who have made exceptional contributions to the state’s farming community. This year continues the tradition with Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announcing Veronique Sallin as the 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture.
Sallin is the co-founder of IMG Enterprises, Inc., a family-owned company specializing in agriculture and land management established in 1979. Operating two subsidiaries, Cherrylake, Inc. and IMG Citrus, she took on and succeeded in leadership roles for more than 40 years.
Responsible for defining and shaping IMG’s company culture, she’s brought a fresh perspective to the citrus industry. Throughout her career, Sallin has been involved with community organizations to help make an impact locally and has established herself as a leader in the field in both the U.S. and France. In 2012, French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the National Order of Merit for her personal and professional work in Florida to highlight French culture and heritage.
As an avid believer and proponent of Florida grapefruit’s taste and superiority, she has helped elevate Florida grapefruit globally, helping the industry achieve record exports in Europe, approaching 10 million boxes annually at its peak. Sallin continues to help push Florida citrus into foreign markets and has successfully shortened and streamlines its supply chain. In doing so, she has been able to break ground in creating new sales channels and selling directly to retailers in Europe and Japan, introducing fresher, higher-quality Florida citrus for consumers, and enhancing food traceability.
“I’m proud to announce Veronique Sallin as Florida’s 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture for her exceptional leadership and dedicated years of service to our state’s agriculture community,” stated Fried. “Ms. Sallin’s unique leadership, passion, and commitment continue to influence and broaden markets for Florida’s signature citrus industry while breaking barriers for generations of female agricultural leaders — I am honored to recognize her accomplishments and service to our state’s agriculture industry.”
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority and the Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program, will honor Sallin as the 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture during the Florida State Fair in Tampa in 2021.