PAUL J. DiMARE, Chair, Homestead, Florida
Phone (305) 245-4211  Fax: (305) 246-9740

Paul J. DiMare was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 14, 1941. He graduated from New Prep in Cambridge, Massachusetts and attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Mr. DiMare is President of The DiMare Companies, a 70 year old family business with operations in Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts and California. The DiMare Companies are growers, packers and shippers of tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. Mr. DiMare's sons are involved in the family business.

In addition, Mr. DiMare is Chairman (1997 to present) of the Florida Farmers Inc. (FFI), a non-profit association of Florida winter vegetable farmers and suppliers. He is a past Chairman of the Florida Tomato Committee and the Florida Tomato Exchange. He has been a dominant factor in supporting research for both, production and marketing practices for tomatoes in Florida. Mr. DiMare serves on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Homestead.  Mr. DiMare resides in Coral Gables, Florida with his wife Swanee.

GARY SMIGIEL, Vice-Chair, Lake Worth, Florida
Phone: (561) 968-3605  Fax: (561) 968-3601

Gary Smigiel is General Counsel of Mecca Farms, Inc. in Lake Worth, Florida. Mecca Farms is a 100 year old family owned agribusiness farming over 7000 acres of winter vegetables in Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach and Broward County.

Mr. Smigiel is a Director and co-founder of the Florida Farmers Inc. and served as its first Chairman during 1996. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Tomato Committee and the Florida Tomato Exchange.

He is a graduate of Palm Beach Community College, Florida Atlantic University and Florida State University School of Law.

MARSHALL HAGAN,  Perrine, Florida
Phone: (305) 281-6247  Fax: (305)235-9370

Marshall Hagan is a partner in Circle M Farms, and Gulfstream Tomato in Perrine, Florida. The Company grows, packs and ships tomatoes from several South Florida Counties.

Gadsden Tomato Company

David Neill has been farming in South Florida since 1972. He is managing partner of Diamond Tomato, Triangle Farms and Big Red Tomato Packers, Inc. David is a life time resident of St. Lucie County, is married to Betty Neill and they have 6 children and three grandchildren.

Mr. Neill has been active as a member of the IFAS Research & Education Advisory Committee. David Neill has served as president of the Florida Tomato Exchange and the Gold Coast Cutting Horse Association. He is presently serving on the Board of Directors of the Florida Farmers Inc., and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.

David Neill is a member of St. Anastasia Catholic Church and participates on many other community activities.

L. J. NOBLES III,  Immokalee, Florida
Phone: (941) 657-4401  Fax: (941) 657-9614

L. J. Nobles III is a partner in Nobles-Immokalee Tomatoes, Ltd. Nobles grows, packs and ships tomatoes and other vegetables in Southwest Florida.

BOB SPENCER, Palmetto, Florida
Phone: (941) 722-4545  Fax: (941) 729-6778

Bob Spencer is sales manager at West Coast Tomato, a family owned business with operations in Florida and California.  West Coast Tomato is primarily involved in the growing, packing and shipping of tomatoes as well as cattle and hay operations and land development in Manatee County as they covert older farming operations to subdivisions.

Spencer has been involved in numerous community organizations. He served for ten years on the Manasota Basin Board which establishes water policy in a bi-county area. He has served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA, Kiwanis Club, Farm Bureau, Manatee Symphony Guild, Florida West Coast Symphony, First Baptist Church, Manatee County Extension Service and Agape Flights.

Spencer graduated from Georgia State University of Law and is licensed to practice law in Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia. He is married with two children.

Robert Jay (R.J.) Taylor, has lived in Manatee County, Florida all of his life. His family arrived in Florida in 1826. He is President of Taylor & Fulton, Inc. in Palmetto, Florida. Taylor & Fulton is a family business engaged in the production and marketing of tomatoes and vegetables. The company has locations in Florida, Georgia and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Taylor is currently on the Board of Directors of American Bancshares, American Bank of Bradenton, the Rubonia Day Care Center (a migrant day care facility), The Florida Farmers Inc., the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, the Florida Tomato Committee, the Florida Tomato Exchange (President 1998 to present), and the Strategic Planning Council of Manatee County. Mr. Taylor was named by Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and the Bradenton Yacht Club.

Taylor is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Mr. Taylor, graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing. He is married to Virginia Taylor with three children and enjoy water sports.