On August 19, 2015 Lassen Canyon Nursery was pleased to host Kenneth Parker, Executive Director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. Mr. Parker was appointed to the FSGA about a year ago in August 2014. He came to the Strawberry Growers after working for more than 20 years as a crop advisor at Chemical Dynamics Inc., a Plant City fertilizer company. Erika Montanez and Annelle Reed from EMCO introduced Mr. Parker to the California Nurseries that produce the Florida bred varieties. Mr. Parker replaced Ted Campbell who retired from the FSGA after six years of service. Mr. Parker is a resident of Hillsborough County Florida. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and citrus from Florida Southern College. He is an associate director of the Florida Strawberry Festival and serves as superintendent of the steer committee. He also serves on the board of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, is an associate board member of the Florida FFA Foundation, and on the Hillsborough County strawberry and vegetable advisory committee.
Kenneth also enjoys ranching and is a member of the Florida Cattleman’s Association. He is a partner at the South Prong Ranch, a commercial cow, calf and hay operation, near the Welcome community in Lithia, Fla. After working nearly 30 years in the private sector, Parker, 49, took the very public job of executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association based in Dover. The association has more than 200 members representing growers, shippers and handlers and related businesses.
