TIFTON — Lewis Taylor Farms, Inc., was recently named the winner of the American Vegetable Grower’s 2008 Grower Achievement Award.

Lewis Taylor Farms, Inc., on Ty Ty-Omega Road, has been owned by Bill Brim and Ed Walker since 1995. The company employs 320 full-time and 240 part-time people. The company’s vegetable crop acreage tops 4,000 acres and the farm operates 42 greenhouses. Brim manages the vegetable operation and Walker manages the greenhouse operation and hydrocooling facility.

Lewis Taylor Farm, Inc., is the cover story for September’s issue of American Vegetable Grower magazine.

Brim said Wednesday that he felt honored that his and Walker’s business was chosen for the award. The article explained how growers, researchers and vegetable associations from across the nation submitted a record number of nominations for the seventh annual Grower Achievement Award. The award recognizes operations that serve as role models for the industry. Nominations were evaluated by a panel of judges representing a cross-section of the U.S. vegetable industry. The nominations were evaluated based on growers’ achievements in consumer-oriented marketing efforts, innovative technology, food safety and quality, industry leadership and the spirit of achievement.

Brim is one of the founders of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and is currently in his second term as the association’s president. He is also director of the Georgia Farm Bureau and serves on both U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss’ and U.S. Senator Johnny Issacson’s Ag Advisory Committees. He serves on the Government Relations Council for United Fresh Produce Association and as the chairman of the Labor Committee for the State of Georgia.

Brim said he believes it is important for him to be involved in associations relating to the vegetable industry and to keep abreast of legislative issues.

“There are so many policy changes every day and if we aren’t involved, we can’t have any say,” Brim said. “Going to Washington and Atlanta is one of the most important things I can do for the fruit and vegetable association. It pays to be involved and let people know we know what is going on and spread that information nationally.”

NOTE: Information from an article in the September issue of American Vegetable Grower was used in this article.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.