J. Luis Rodriguez, 62, Florida farmer advocate

Reminder for those in the Tallahassee area, a memorial mass is scheduled for Jose Luis Rodriguez for this Saturday, June 27th at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Tallahassee. The church is located at 4665 Thomasville Road, 2 miles north of 1-10 exit 203. Father Michael and Deacon Marcus Hepburn will conduct the service for family and friends. We lost Luis this past April at age 62, a deep loss to his family, friends, community and state. He died as he had lived with courage and grace. Luis was instrumental in the establishment and work of Florida Farmers, Inc.(FFI), a leadership advocacy organization of growers, for growers and by growers established in 1996 to fight for change in America’s broken foreign trade system. Issues addressed by FFI include: legal remedies for dumping, public awareness of food safety, passage and implementation of federal country of origin labeling (COOL) legislation, progressive action for affordable housing for farm workers, immigration reform that protects national security and provides for a legal and stable farm workforce, environmental, energy and growth management policy for sustaining vegetable farming in Florida.

Luis was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January 2009. At that time he was working on issues of concern to farmers and farm workers. The agenda for Luis’ last business meeting with key staff and advocates at the Catholic Conference offices in Tallahassee was:

• legal status as a first concern for farm workers and their families/ AgJobs
• pesticide safety/ worker training
• consumer safety/ worker training
• housing/ non-profit, land donation
• strict compliance in the new federal administration
• serious review of new and traditional roles of farmer and farm worker organizations.

We honor Luis by continuing aggressive work for good public policy and fairness for Florida farmers.

OBITUARY

By SUSAN SALISBURY

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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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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