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In the Grove & On the Record - David Kemeny

David Kemeny, TRB Groves

A DeSoto County native, David Kemeny started out planting trees in the groves and worked his way up to become manager of TRB Groves in 2002.

David recently took a few minutes to go In the Grove & On the Record with Mutual.

What is your educational background?
I graduated from DeSoto County High School.

What is your business/grove name and position?
Manager of TRB Groves.

What other jobs/positions have you held?
I’ve done it all. From planting trees in the groves working my way up to manager here.

What do you find the most challenging about being in the citrus industry?
Right now, trying to figure out where we are going as an industry, especially with psyllid control and greening management. You do something and then the next year you see a study on it. Information isn’t coming fast enough right now.

What do you think will change about the industry in the next five years?
I think a lot of the smaller growers are going to be gone. If you aren’t keeping up with HLB solutions now it’s only going to get more challenging. You have to manage every aspect of the grove now.

What practices is your company currently implementing in the fight against citrus greening?
All of it. We’re doing everything we can – aerial, ground spraying, ULV.

What do you think people who aren’t in agriculture should know about citrus and farming in general?
It’s a lot of hours, a lot of work and a lot of fun.

What can Mutual do to better serve growers?
Get everyone on the same page. If we can’t get on the same page and work together we’re our own worst enemy.