South Florida Farmer Named Farmer of the Year 

November 2024

Jim Alderman of Alderman Farms in Palm Beach County has been named the 2025 Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year.  

Alderman has been an organic vegetable farmer since 1979, growing an array of fresh vegetables, ranging from tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumber, eggplant, cabbage and fresh herbs. In addition to organic vegetables, Alderman owns a cow/calf operation. 

Alderman has been an advocate on key agricultural issues such as trade and labor, traveling to Washington D.C., to provide testimony on the challenges faced by farmers. He has served on the Florida Farm Bureau labor and trade advisory committees, where he provided his knowledge and expertise to help shape the organization’s policy. 

“Mr. Alderman is an outstanding farmer and leader in his community,” said Florida Farm Bureau Federation President Jeb S. Smith. “He is a staunch proponent for farming, and we are proud to have him as an ambassador for Florida’s farmers and ranchers.” 

As the 2025 Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year, Alderman will compete for the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga., October 14-16, 2025. Ten states participate in the program: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.