Lucas Appointed To Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative Board

BELLE GLADE, Fla., Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles W. Lucas was appointed to the Board of Directors of Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative at its Sept. 19, 2013 board meeting filling the unexpired term ending January, 2015 held by the recently retired Chairman George H. Wedgworth.

Lucas, of Ft. Myers, FL, earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Florida and has been active in Florida agriculture since 1981. He currently is president of King Ranch- Florida Division where he oversees the company's agricultural operations including citrus on the east and west coasts and sugarcane, sod, rice and winter vegetable operations in the Everglades Agricultural Area.

Prior to joining King Ranch as president of its Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership in 2005, he was vice president of Southern Gardens Citrus and senior vice president of Turner Foods. Lucas sits on the Board of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and the Florida Land Council. He has held several leadership positions in the citrus industry including serving as a Commissioner on the Florida Department of Citrus, president of Florida Citrus Processors Association, chairman of the National Juice Products Association, and director of Florida Citrus Mutual.

"Charlie's tenure in Florida agriculture and keen business acumen will make him a great asset to our Board," said Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida Chairman John L. Hundley. "His leadership in the citrus industry will prove to be valuable in his new role at the Cooperative."

In accepting his appointment, Lucas said, "I'm honored to join the Board of the Cooperative. The Cooperative  comprises some of the most forward thinking farmers anywhere in the County." Lucas added, "To be part of the world's largest sugar refining company is really exciting and I hope to be able to contribute to the continued success of the Cooperative."

Wedgworth announced his full retirement and stepped down from the Board in August after 52 years at the helm. The board passed a resolution honoring Wedgworth for his many contributions to the Cooperative and betterment of Glades agriculture at the September board meeting. 

Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative is comprised of 46 grower-members who produce 3.2 million tons of sugarcane yielding 350,000 tons of raw sugar grown on 70,000 acres of land primarily in Palm Beach County. As partners with Florida Crystals Corporation, they own and operate the world's largest cane sugar refining company ASR Group that operate nine sugar refineries in five countries with the capacity to produce six million tons of refined sugar annually. The company produces a full line of consumer, industrial and food service products under the prestigious brand names of  Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®,Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's Golden Syrup®, Sidul® and Sores®.

SOURCE Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida