Peter S. Harllee, a native of Palmetto, was instrumental in development of improved tomato varieties by allocating land for use by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. He has been a leader in improving marketing efforts through the Florida Tomato Committee, Florida Tomato Exchange and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, having served as president or chairman of all three organizations. He also has been chairman of the Manatee County ASC Committee and is a member of the Manatee County Farm Bureau and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. In 1935, he organized Harllee Farms with his father J.P. Harllee Sr. and his brother J.P. Harllee Jr. In 1969, he formed Harllee-Gargiulo Inc. and has been president and chief executive officer of the tomato-growing and seed development business to the present. The company now has agriculture interests in Manatee, Collier and Gadsden Counties.