Florida Citrus Grower Earns Organic Farmer Of The Year Award
September 15, 2015 
William “Benny” McLean
William “Benny” McLean, production manager of Clermont, FL-based Uncle Matt’s Organic, is being recognized by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) as its 2015 Organic Farmer of the Year.
The OTA Organic Farmer of the Year Award recognizes a professional farmer who has made significant contributions to supporting and advancing organic agriculture and trade at the farm level, whether increasing the amount of land under organic management, expanding the number of farmers using organic practices, or advancing organic agriculture through farm policy advocacy, community education, or innovative land stewardship and technical practices.
McLean converted his citrus operation to organic farming in 1999, growing such organic citrus varieties as pummelos, red grapefruit, Valencias, red navels, and honey tangerines. He was the first certified organic citrus grower in Uncle Matt’s Organic farm plan, and operates as the production manager for Uncle Matt’s, overseeing all of the organic farming operations for the company.
He is responsible for converting close to 1,500 acres of citrus in Florida to organic, and assisted over 25 small family growers to convert to organic production. He also has worked with South Lake Hospital to develop a community organic garden, and continues to consult with the individual gardeners on organic growing methods. In addition, he’s assisted avocado, blueberry, blackberry, and peach growers in Florida to convert to organic.
“Benny Mclean has been very instrumental in putting Florida on the map as a source for organic citrus products, while also playing a key role in providing valuable insight into potential strategies all citrus growers, researchers and consultants could utilize in the effort to overcome the effects of the very destructive disease citrus greening, a serious threat to the future sustainability of the entire industry,” said Gary England, UF/IFAS Extension agent. “Benny has happily been a mentor to numerous citrus and blueberry growers interested in organic production, and has proven what many said could not be done by making organic peach production in Florida a reality.”
The 2015 Organic Leadership Awards are presented at OTA’s annual awards dinner in Baltimore as a kick-off event to Natural Products Expo East.
In addition to McLean, the other organic award winners are Michael Berger, managing partner of Elevation Burger, winner of the Rising Star Award and Thomas Harding, president of Lehigh Valley Organic Growers, winner of the Growing the Organic Industry Award.
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