Fruit, vegetable growers hold 33rd annual banquet

By CAROL KINSLEY
Staff Writer

HARRINGTON, Del. — The Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware held its annual banquet on Jan. 17 at the fire hall in Harrington.
This was the 33rd banquet, according to Delaware Ag Secretary Ed Kee, who said he has attended every single one.
Kee introduced the recipient of two Distinguished Service Awards— this one for a member of the industry, Kenny Gauen of PictSweet Frozen Foods. Gauen graduated from North Dorchester High School and went on to the University of Maryland. Gauen has worked for a number of vegetable processing companies, including Jenkins Foods in Milton, Hanover Foods, Draper King Cole and PictSweet.
He has been a field man on Delmarva since the 1970s, Kee said. “Kenny is a field man’s field man. He works for the processor but for the farmer, too. He is a master at identifying the best time for harvest.”
As Gauen approached the podium, Kee added, “You are an example of the great tradition of the relationship between processors and farmers.”
Stanley West got up to present the next award but was first applauded himself, at the suggestion of FVGAD President Dave Marvel Jr. West has long served as one of 10 members of the board of directors and was recognized for his years of service to the association.
The second Distinguished Service Award was presented to grower Fred Bennett.
Bennett is the fifth generation to farm the land known as Bennett Farms. Since high school Bennett has worked on the family farm with his father. Over the years they grew peas and lima beans for several processors such as Draper Foods, King Cole, Jenkins Foods, Hanover, Pictsweet and Charles West Farms.
Today he works with his son Mark, growing grain and vegetables as well as poultry. He and his wife Kaye, granddaughter of Carlton Clifton, who founded Clifton Canning Co., live in Milford. The Bennett Farm is a State of Delaware Century Farm, has been honored as a “Farm of Distinction” by the state and in 2003 received an Environmental Stewardship Award.
Bennett is a past member of the FFA and Milford Southern States Board of Directors.
He is a member of the Delaware Farm Bureau, Crossroad Community Church and the Historical Vintage Car Club of Delaware. Dave Marvel Jr., made the FVGAD Distinguished Family Award presentation, noting he had known the couple most of his life.
“Bob Minner started farming with his father in the 50s,” Marvel said. In the 1970s, R.T. Minner and Son grew watermelons, cantaloupes, peppers and other crops in addition to raising layer hens and beef cattle. In 1989, his parents retired and his son joined the Marines. The Minners took on even more Acme stores, growing produce on 40 acres and purchasing more from local farmers.
Gov. Jack Markell proclaimed Aug. 12, 2010 as “Bob Minner Day,” celebrating 40 years of direct sales to grocers.
Acme President Dan Sanders, said at the time, “It is the hard work and dedication by local farmers like Bob that enable us to meet the demands of our customers, and more importantly, allow everyone to feel good about supporting farmers and keeping money in the community. Bob is an institution and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.”
Bob and Mary Minner cut back on vegetable production in 1989, growing wheat, soybeans and corn and only three acres of garden at their home in Houston. They sold the excess production with the help of their 9-year-old grandson.
Special entertainment for the evening was provided by LEADelaware. Maryanne Reed and Jayme Arthurs shared slides of LEAD Class 2’s trip to Peru. “It was not a vacation!” Arthurs insisted. “It was very educational. We had a full itinerary and we were going every day.”
A highlight of the trip was a ride aboard a Vista Dome train just days after the rail lines had been washed out (the area gets 90 inches of rain a year).
From the train station they traveled by bus on narrow roads that zigzagged back and forth up the mountain to the top of Machu Picchua which is now proclaimed one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.