Farm Bureau Honors Families Of The Year

  Dade County Farm Bureau honored the Finocchiaro and Talarico families as Farm Families of the Year at their annual membership meeting luncheon on October 07, 2014 at the Redland Golf and Country Club.

  Every year, Dade County Farm Bureau chooses a family to honor at their Annual Meeting who has made an impact in the agricultural community. The Finocchario and Talarico families have worked together for 47 years building their business, F&T Farms. Gaetano “Guy” Talarico was born on April 12, 1941 in Magisano P’Catanzoaro, Italy. He was a carpenter in Italy before he moved to Middletown, New York in March 1960. Guy farmed in New York with his brother-in-law and father-in-law, Leo and Joseph Nicotra.

  Orazio “Russ” Finocchairo was born July 28, 1934 in Fiumefreddo Sicilia, Italy. Russ worked on the farm with his father in Italy. Russ moved to New York in the summer of 1949. He farmed in New York with his uncle, Tony Alspina. Tony Alspina and the Nicotras were farming together in Chester, New York when Guy and Russ met. The Talarico and Finochiarro families farmed in Chester during the summers and Florida during the winters from 1951.  In 1966, they moved to Florida.

  In 1967 F& T Farms began.  Initially, Russ and Guy only grew yellow squash. Now they grow zucchini, cranberry beans, pole beans, string beans, grape tomatoes, bell peppers and jalapenos.

  The farm is now run primarily by their sons Leo Talarico and Sal Finocchario. Leo and Sal were both born in New York but grew up in Homestead. Since their fathers were business partners the boys grew up as best friends but considered themselves family.

  As kids, Leo and Sal would go to the farm with their dads and help out where they were needed.

  “We would go to the farm with our dads as early as I can remember. We had to help out. We would help pick zucchini with our mothers and stack and load beans,” said Sal.

  The two attended South Dade Senior High and were active in the FFA. As teenagers Leo and Sal both decided that they would peruse a career in agriculture. 

  In 1987, before they graduated high school, Leo and Sal were named full partners at F&T Farms. In 1989 Sal and Leo formed S&L Beans which was created to lessen the liability for Guy and Russ with F&T Farms when they decided to step back from daily operations. 

  Currently F&T Farms is growing 2,000 acres of several vegetables including yellow squash, green beans, grape tomatoes and zucchini.

  “We’ve been together our whole lives and we’ve always had a good relationship. We and our dads have always had a really good working relationship and it’s all been good,” said Sal.

  As for the future of F&T Farms Sal Finocchiaro and Leo Talarico are focused on the present and working hard to grow their business even further, and  they credit their fathers with providing insight and encouragement.

  Ron Hebert was also honored at the annual meeting. He retired on October 1, 2014 after 37 and a half years working for Dade County Farm Bureau. Dade County Farm Bureau agent, Hal Arve shared fond memories of working with Mr. Hebert and the Farm Bureau agents gifted him a beautiful watch. He will enjoy his retirement in Sebring with his wife.

  Dade County Farm Bureau represents over 3,400 members, over 750 of whom are actively involved in agribusiness. Visit them on the internet at www.dade-agriculture.org.  If you are interested in learning more about membership and benefits with Dade County Farm Bureau, please contact Debbie Brady, Executive Director, at (305) 246-5514.