At the end of last week, state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced Veronique Sallin as the 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. For 36 years, this recognition has been awarded to women who have made exceptional contributions to Florida agriculture. Honorees come from throughout the agriculture community, including cattle, horticulture, timber, citrus, agriculture education, and more.
“Today, I’m proud to announce Veronique Sallin as Florida’s 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture for her exceptional leadership and dedicated years of service to our state’s agriculture community,” said Nikki Fried. “Ms. Sallin’s unique leadership, passion, and commitment continue to influence and broaden markets for Florida’s signature citrus industry while breaking barriers for generations of female agricultural leaders — I am honored to recognize her accomplishments and service to our state’s agriculture industry.”
Sallin is the co-founder of IMG Enterprise, Inc., a family-owned company specializing in agriculture and land management established in 1979. Operating two subsidiaries, Cherrylake, Inc. and IMG Citrus, Sallin acts as the vice president of sales and marketing and director of organizational development for IMG Enterprises Inc.
Sallin has helped grow sustainably-minded companies rooted in land management. Responsible for defining and shaping IMG’s company culture, she’s brought a fresh perspective to the citrus industry. Throughout her career, she has been involved with community organizations to help make an impact locally and has established herself as a leader in the field in both the U.S. and France. In 2012, French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded Sallin the National Order of Merit for her personal and professional work in Florida to highlight French culture and heritage.
As an avid believer and proponent of Florida grapefruit’s taste and superiority, she has helped elevate Florida grapefruit globally, helping the industry achieve record exports in Europe, approaching 10 million boxes annually at its peak. Sallin continues to help push Florida citrus into foreign markets and has successfully shortened and streamlines its supply chain. In doing so, she has been able to break ground in creating new sales channels and selling directly to retailers in Europe and Japan, introducing fresher, higher quality Florida citrus for consumers, and enhancing food traceability.
FDACS, in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority and the Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program, will honor Sallin as the 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture during the Florida State Fair in Tampa in 2021.
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