During the 35th Annual Barbeque and “Fun” Raiser for the Dade County Farm Bureau, Vice Mayor Jon Burgess and Councilman Elvis R. Maldonado presented Homestead resident Jody Johnson with a proclamation, in which Mayor Steven C. Bateman proclaimed April 27th 2013 as Jody Johnson Day.
Jody Johnson was born on July 28, 1935 in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where he began his career in agriculture at the age of 13 at the Cornelius and Johnson packinghouse in the same city where he was born. In 1955, Mr. Johnson moved to Homestead, Florida and in 1959, he began his job at the Homestead Pole Bean Co-Op as a loading foreman. In 1965, he took over as head of sales and remained there for 26 years. In 1985, Mr. Johnson decided to form his own company called Produce Sales of South Florida, which he owned, and operated for 19 years until he sold the businesses in 2005 and went to work for Five Brothers Produce as a salesman and consultant. Mr. Johnson has been married to Ms. Carla Johnson since 1954, and they have three children named Joe, Susan and Gary.
Recognized for his contributions to South Dade Agriculture Mr. Johnson continues today to be an advocate for agriculture while making a positive impact throughout the South Florida Community. He has been recognized countless times by Dade County Farm Bureau for his incredible talents and charm and is said to be the best pole bean salesman in the country.
