Dec 29, 2016
Florida vegetable leader Billy Long Sr. dies

Billy Long Sr., a longtime Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) volunteer leader, has died. He was 87.

Long grew up on the eastern shore of Virginia. After graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, he returned home and farmed with his father and brother for one year before setting out for Florida. He settled in the Apopka area in 1952.

For decades, Long and his family grew sweet corn, carrots, cabbage, potatoes and cucumbers on the north shore of Lake Apopka. Long’s farm grew to be one of the largest, most diverse and well-managed farms in Central Florida and an integral part of a thriving vegetable industry, according to FFVA.

Long’s entrepreneurial talents also led him to found Natural Carotene Company, serving as president from 1988 to 1998. He created the company to solve the problem of disposing of tons of culled carrots that had been used as cattle feed. He tracked down a processor that would turn them into juice and eventually began selling carrot juice to Japan and to Campbell Soup Co., where he helped develop the V-8 Splash drink.

Long became a member of FFVA in 1965 and served for many years on its board of directors. He and his wife, Bobbie, began attending FFVA conventions in the 1950s. Long (pictured above) was present at the 2016 convention, where Bobbie’s 81st birthday was celebrated with children and grandchildren.

“We’re saddened at the loss of Billy Long,” said FFVA President Mike Stuart. “He was a dedicated volunteer leader for FFVA. His entrepreneurial spirit and his love of agriculture have inspired us all and helped Florida agriculture to thrive.”

Long was honored various times, including being named an Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year. He was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2005. He also accepted the Ford Foundation’s Award in Vegetable Crop Management and received special honors from the Florida House of Representatives for his achievements.

Long was involved in his community. He served on the Orange County Air and Water Pollution Control Board and the Orange County Agricultural Advisory Board. He was a member of the board of directors of eight banks in Central Florida. In addition, he has served as president of the Zellwood Sweet Corn Exchange, president of the Zellwood Carrot Exchange, and founder/president of Ag Care Inc. of Zellwood.

He was active in the Farm Foundation and the Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District. He served as an officer, director and past president of the Orange County Farm Bureau. He was appointed to the Governor’s Migratory Labor Committee and the University of Florida SHARE Council.

He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for 50 years and attended St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Apopka.

In addition to Bobbie, Long is survived by three children: daughter Lisa Hill and her husband, David; son Bill Jr. and his wife, Holly; and son Bo and his wife, Laura; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.




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