Vance Whitaker Honored as FFVA’s Researcher of the Year

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) presented Dr. Vance Whitaker with its 2025 Researcher of the Year Award. The award was presented in September during FFVA’s  annual convention in Orlando.

The Researcher of the Year Award is given to deserving individuals who have dedicated themselves and their work to improving Florida agriculture.  

Whitaker, a professor of horticulture and director of the strawberry breeding and genetics program at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), has made significant contributions to the Florida strawberry industry, resulting in discoveries that have helped grow strawberry acreage in the state to approximately 15,000 acres.

Whitaker has directed the strawberry breeding and genetics program at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center since 2009. During the 2024-25 season, varieties that he released accounted for 88% of Florida acreage, representing an approximate annual farm gate value of $440 million.

“Dr. Whitaker’s leadership of the strawberry breeding program has been exceptional and transformative for the industry,” said Elizabeth Malek, Lipman Family Farms crop protection and fertility manager and FFVA Research, Extension and Education Committee chair.  “His approach combines scientific rigor with a deep understanding of growers’ practical needs, establishing him as both a respected researcher and a trusted collaborator. We are proud to recognize his outstanding contributions to the field.”

Through his research, he works closely with Florida strawberry growers, conducting seven different on-farm trials annually, and incorporates grower feedback into management recommendations specific to each variety.

He also is globally recognized for his strawberry genetics work, including discovery of genes controlling bacterial and fungal resistance. This work ensures the development of improved varieties far into the future.

SOURCE: FFVA