Florida Strawberry Growers Association honors Wish Farms owner

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association has inducted Gary Wishnatzki, owner of Wish Farms, a berry grower-marketer, into its hall of fame.

“Gary has been a lifelong supporter of the Florida strawberry industry and an advocate pushing for progress in technology, innovation, and more sustainable practices,” Kenneth Parker, the association's executive director, said in a news release. “From push carts to robots, Gary has kept the culture of Wish Farms thriving by always having the company's eye on the future. As one of the leading innovators and advocates for the industry, there is no question about his resume as a new inductee to the Hall of Fame."

Wishnatzki’s career in the family produce industry started nearly 50 years ago at Wishnatzki & Nathel. Under his leadership, Wish Farms became a year-round supplier of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries, with growing operations in the U.S., Canada and South America, according to the company.

Wishnatzki co-founded Harvest CROO Robotics, which manufactures robotic strawberry harvesters. The company said it expects Harvest CROO Robotics to reach commercialization in 2024.

“One thing Dad has always said to me is ‘If you’re not growing, you’re dying,” said Nick Wishnatzki, public relations manager for Wish Farms. “He totally lives up to that mantra. He comes to work every day with a positive attitude, a fire to learn something new, and a desire to strive for greatness. Our family is so proud of this achievement and the legacy he has built and continues to build on.”