Duda hits 90-year anniversary milestone

Ninety years is a long time for a company to sustain itself, but this year, Oviedo, Fla.-based Duda is celebrating its ability to do just that.

A. Duda & Sons, Inc. began when Andrew Duda and his three sons harvested their first cash crop of celery in 1926.

In the following decades, Duda saw rapid growth in the state.

The company expanded its vegetable production to Belle Glade, where it also began growing citrus. It started a cattle ranching operation in Cocoa, moved into sod production in Oviedo, then expanded its vegetable operations out of state to California.

"Duda has grown steadily from its humble beginnings in Slavia 90 years ago," said Donna Duda, director of corporate communications and company spokesperson.

Celery growers at heart

"When you think of celery, we hope you think of Duda," said Dan Duda, chief operating officer of Duda Farm Fresh Foods, one of Duda's four business pillars.

"Over the years, we have invested millions of dollars into our celery varietal work and 170 years of celery breeding knowledge has been contributed to our celery breeding program."

Duda boasts three research and development staffers with Ph.Ds, all of whom work solely to develop celery varieties.

The focus on celery has resulted in even more growth, with demand for its fresh-cut, value-added celery prompting the company to expand the capacity of its Oxnard, Calif. plant.

Celebrating stability

The diversity of Duda's four business pillars, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Duda Ranches, The Viera Company, and a commercial properties portfolio, helped the company stabilize its earnings and position itself to grow for future generations, according to Donna Duda.

Duda certainly has a strong history of positioning itself for growth, much of which can be attributed to the fact that Duda is in its fourth generation of leadership and is still family-owned.

"Duda has a 90-year legacy of operating with business integrity, being good stewards of our land and our people," said Donna Duda, providing another reason Duda has fared so well.

The company plans to honor that legacy in several ways.

Duda hosted 90th anniversary celebrations at all of its primary locations, showing employees a special anniversary video and having them sign 90th anniversary posters for display at each locations.

This year's annual employee appreciation events were expanded to include an opportunity for employees to recreate Andrew Duda's iconic celery photo.