By Frank Giles
Producers featured in Specialty Crop Grower often come from multigenerational farm families. While that is well worth recognizing, when a first-generation farmer comes along, that is also worth celebrating in an age when farm numbers are declining.
Paul Orsenigo, founder of Orsenigo Farms Inc., is a first-generation farmer. This year marks the 40th anniversary of his enterprise. His son, Derek Orsenigo, is now an integral part of the family business as the second generation steps up to continue the family tradition.
Paul was born and raised in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). This exposed him to one of the most unique and productive farming regions in the country. His father, Joseph Orsenigo (nicknamed Dr. Joe), moved to the area in 1956 when he took a job as professor of plant physiology at the University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade. In 2011, Dr. Joe was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame for his research contributions.
“My father was a problem solver, very analytical and loved to help farmers work through challenges,” Paul says. “There were many in those days with things like micronutrient deficiencies and weed control. So, being around him was an influence on me. We also always had a garden in the backyard, and I love to see plants grow. That really is at the root of my passion for farming.
Humble Beginnings
Paul graduated from the University of Florida in 1979 with a degree that focused on vegetable crops. The summer after graduation, he took a job harvesting grain from Texas to Montana, which fueled his desire to start his own farming business.
“It was an invaluable experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything,” Paul says. “It was a great way to see the country and how other people farm.”
The following five years, he worked for two different vegetable growers in the EAA. In 1985, he took the leap to begin farming on his own.
“I rented 80 acres of pastureland. All I had was a $500 tractor and my pickup,” Paul says. “It was humble beginnings. I really didn’t know what I was getting into. There was as much pressure to not fail as there was to succeed in those early days. But it has really been a great experience to see where we started to where we are today. We are thankful to those who helped us along the way and all of our great employees.”
Digital Edition
To read the rest of the story and hear the Orsenigos discussing farming in the Everglades Agricultural Area, click here.