Manager and Executive Vice President

The selected candidate will fill three roles:

• Manager of the Florida Tomato Committee
• Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange
• Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange

A cover letter and resume should be sent to Diana@floridatomatoes.org.  

OVERVIEW

Florida produces more fresh-market tomatoes than any other state in the U.S., accounting for about 35 percent of national production. The harvest stretches over nine months from October to June, moving up and down the state’s peninsula with the change of seasons. The biggest production areas are in Central and South Florida where warm year-round temperatures allow growers to produce through the fall, winter, and spring. Florida’s crop of round, plum, grape, and cherry tomatoes are shipped to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The Florida tomato industry has three separate trade associations that work closely together to support the state’s growers, packers, and shippers:

• Florida Tomato Committee (FTC) - The FTC is a Federal Marketing Order (No. 966) formed under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended. It is made up of 10 members and 10 alternates who are all growers in Central and South Florida, and who are appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture every two years. The FTC enforces quality and packing standards on Florida tomatoes that are shipped in interstate commerce. The FTC also supports research and education efforts and conducts promotional activities to spur consumption of fresh tomatoes. www.floridatomatoes.org

• Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) - The FTE was formed in 1974 under the provisions of Chapter 619, Florida Statutes. Its members are packers of tomatoes in Central and South Florida. The FTE was established to complement the activities of the Florida Tomato Committee by managing government relations and legal matters on behalf of the industry. The FTE also orchestrates many of the industry’s food safety related initiatives. www.floridatomatoexchange.com 

• Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) - The FTGE was formed in 1989 under Chapter 618, Florida Statutes. The FTGE provides Capper-Volstead exemption from anti-trust liability, allowing its member companies to legally discuss pricing, handling charges, back-billing, adjustment policy, shipping holidays, etc.

These three organizations are managed by the same staff, but they each have separate financial structures, membership, and boards of directors. The Florida Tomato Committee is the hiring organization. The two exchanges have a memorandum of agreement with the FTC to share office space, overhead, and staff.  As such, the FTC’s Manager also acts as the Executive Vice President for both exchanges.

DESCRIPTION

Florida Tomato Committee

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the FTC and the Florida tomato industry.
• Act as the FTC’s primary spokesperson and representative on matters related to the marketing order’s mandate and in accordance with the rules of the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS).
• Serve as a liaison between the FTC and the broader tomato industry.
• Represent the FTC on industry boards, committees, etc., as appropriate.
• Act as liaison between the FTC and the USDA-AMS.
• Ensure that all activities undertaken are authorized under the marketing order and that such activities comply with USDA-AMS rules.
• Manage the FTC’s research efforts, working with contracted research scientists to ensure objectives are met in accordance with USDA-AMS rules.
• Oversee the FTC’s Canadian promotional efforts, including management of an in-market contractor based in Canada. 
• Foster a positive relationship with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, which provides grant funding to the FTC through the Market Access Program (MAP). 

Personnel Management

• Oversee office procedures and personnel policies as required by the FTC and the USDA-AMS.
• Establish and maintain a positive working relationship with members of the FTC staff.
• Contribute to the training and development of coworkers, identifying weaknesses and needs and recommending appropriate training.
• Provide equal opportunity in all employment and delivery of services, and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap.

Financial Management

• Ensure that all FTC funds are used for purposes authorized under the marketing order.
• Monitor income and expenses, anticipating variances in spending and revenue patterns and advising the FTC of any need for budget or assessment rate revisions.
• Monitor all FTC accounts to ensure conformance with insurance and collateral requirements are maintained consistent with USDA guidelines.
• Prepare preliminary annual budgets of expenses and accompanying supporting materials and plan meetings to consider recommendations for the budget and assessment rate to allow for timely USDA rulemaking procedures.
• Oversee budgets for all FTC vendors, events and contracts.

Marketing Order Compliance and Record Keeping

• Conduct “handler visits” with companies that are subject to the marketing order to ensure awareness of the FTC’s regulations and mission.
• Ensure that the FTC and staff maintain knowledge and understanding of the requirements set forth in the Marketing Order.
• Promote industry awareness and understanding of program requirement and advise regulated parties of changes in such requirements.
• Maintain a working relationship with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Inspection and Ag Law Enforcement.

Rulemaking

• Advise the FTC of changes needed to the marketing order’s administrative rules.
• Prepare and distribute rulemaking meeting notices and publicize USDA action on such recommendations, including the time period for filing comments.
• In consultation with the FTC members, assist in the preparation of draft amendatory language for needed changes in the marketing order. 
• Assist the FTC in preparing testimony to be given at amendatory hearings and work with USDA during the amendatory process.

Florida Tomato Exchange

Under a memorandum of agreement between the Florida Tomato Committee and the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Manager of the FTC serves as the Executive Vice President of the FTE. The EVP is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the FTE under the direction of the FTE’s Board of Directors. Primary responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership to the FTE Board and FTE member companies.
• Acting as the FTE’s primary spokesperson and representative in the area of public relations, government relations, and industry outreach.
• Managing the financial operations of the FTE, including budgets and contracts.
• Developing and implementing operational policies and legislative action plans, as approved by the Board.
• Management of FTE staff and contractors, including oversite of legal and lobbying efforts, in coordination with the Board.
• Serving as the liaison between the FTE and other organizations that have common agendas on legislative and regulatory issues; actively work with other groups and coalitions in achieving the goals set forth by the Board.
• Serving as a primary contact on food safety issues that impact Florida tomatoes.
• Travel to Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee, FL, as needed, to meet with government officials, policymakers, and legislators. 

Florida Tomato Growers Exchange

Under a memorandum of agreement between the Florida Tomato Committee and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, the Manager of the FTC serves as the Executive Vice President of the FTGE. The EVP is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the FTGE under the direction of the FTGE’s Board of Directors. Primary responsibilities include:

• Coordination of marketing discussions as required by the organization.
• Development of annual operational policies and budget with collaboration of the Board.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

The FTC office is located in Maitland, FL. A hybrid work schedule (office/home or dual location) may be possible for the right candidate. Desired qualifications include:

• Exemplary integrity and reliability.
• Undergraduate degree or higher with demonstrated management, initiative, and leadership skills.
• Experience leading teams, managing budgets, developing policy recommendations, and analyzing markets. 
• Experience working in agriculture.
• Experience working with government agencies and/or elected government officials.
• Ability to travel throughout the state of Florida, as well as to Washington, DC, or other out-of-state destinations, as needed.

The FTC will offer a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, plus vehicle allowance, four weeks of vacation, an individual health care plan, and 401(k) match of five percent.

A cover letter and resume should be sent to Diana@floridatomatoes.org.  

Applications will be accepted through July 15, 2024, or until a qualified group of candidates is identified. The desired starting month is August 2024.