Dan McClure was one of Florida’s most successful tomato growers, with multiple large farms scattered across the state.  He was a strong supporter of agricultural research and helped advance the industry through the use of cutting-edge automation and other technology.  He was an outspoken advocate for agriculture and lent his leadership skills to many of...

Affectionately known as “Mr. Tomato,” Paul J. DiMare is the largest grower of fresh-market tomatoes in the United States and one of the country’s most influential farmers. He has made major contributions to the industry in the areas of trade, product enhancement and public awareness. DiMare was born on April 14, 1941, in Cambridge, Massachusetts....

Vance V. Vogel has been a tireless supporter of agriculture since 1949. He has served as president of both V.V. Vogel & Sons, Inc., and K-V Farm, Inc., and vice president of Ruskin Tomato Growers, Inc. He has been a member of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association since 1952, serving in virtually every capacity...

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,...

Paul Beary Dickman founded the first tomato packinghouse in Ruskin. Starting with one acre of tomatoes, he became one of the state’s largest growers, with over 3,000 acres of vegetables. He expanded his interests to include citrus, cattle and a pre-cooling service for fresh produce.  Dickman developed many items of specialized equipment for growing staked...