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LAKE WORTH — J. Luis Rodriguez, an international agricultural adviser and advocate for Florida farmers who worked tirelessly on their behalf, died Wednesday at Gold Coast Hospice in Fort Lauderdale after a three-month battle with brain cancer. He was 62.

Mr. Rodriguez was trade adviser to Florida Farmers Inc. in Lake Worth, which supported legislation to let growers compete while at the same time informing U.S. consumers about where products are made.In recent years, he was an Angus cattle rancher in Monticello, where he lived, said his wife, Daina.

"He advocated successfully on behalf of Florida farmers," said Gary Smigiel, general counsel of Lantana-based Mecca Farms Inc.

Mr. Rodriguez was a primary author of Florida's Country-of-Origin Labeling legislation, which took effect in 1979 and required retailers to label fresh fruits and vegetables by country. Then he led the movement for the passage of a similar law at the national level.

Mr. Rodriguez also worked for improved housing for migrant farmworkers, which became a reality under former Gov. Jeb Bush.

"He was one of the most caring people I know," Bush said. "I am going to miss him."

From 1967 to 1989, Mr. Rodriguez and his father farmed several thousand acres in Palm Beach County. As M&R Farms, they became the world's largest growers of eggplant.

Mr. Rodriguez held senior executive positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was also chairman and CEO of Trans Tech Ag Corp.

He served as board chairman of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association and was on the boards of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, WXEL TV, the North Broward Hospital District and Florida State Fair Authority.
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