Oviedo, Florida (August 15, 2024) – DUDA BB #:111541, a 98-year-old family-owned and –operated diversified company headquartered in Oviedo, Florida, has announced the passing of former CEO Edward “Ed” Duda on Sunday, August 11, 2024. He was 91.
Ed was a third-generation descendent of company founder Andrew Duda and the first of his generation to serve as president of the company. He began his career with DUDA in 1957 as a farm supervisor at its Belle Glade agriculture operation. He held a variety of significant roles within the company before being elected president in 1977. He was later named president and chairman of the board, followed by president and CEO. In 1992, he relinquished his duties as president, continuing to serve as CEO until his retirement in 1998. He served as chairman of the DUDA Board of Directors until 2005. Ed also served as chairman of The Viera Company Advisory Board.
Ed’s involvement and influence in Florida agriculture were reflected in his various industry memberships and recognitions over the years. He served as director of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida from 1982 to 1998, trustee of Florida Institute of Technology from 1989 to 1996, and was elected chairman of United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association in 1996. He was also a member of The Florida Council of 100 and a board member of Sugarland Harvesting Corporation. Ed was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Florida in 1994, alongside his cousin, Ferdinand “F.S.” Duda. In 1996, Ed was named “Produce Man of the Year” by The Packer news organization.
In addition to his professional industry achievements, Ed was a U.S. Army veteran, member of the Oviedo High School Baseball Hall of Fame, former vice president of the Lutheran Haven Retirement Center board, and a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Florida, where he also served on their board of trustees. Additionally, he served as a board member for Southeast Bank and Rabobank, headquartered in Europe, in the 1980s.
“My father had an intense curiosity about people, life, business, and especially farming and the produce business,” says DUDA CEO Sammy Duda, Ed’s son. “He took a great deal of pride in the role he played in growing and diversifying DUDA into the successful business it is today. I will always remember his sense of humor, his interest in people from all walks of life, and his drive and determination that we could always be better. His humility and ability to connect with people will be an enduring legacy for all of us to emulate in our approach to life, work, and relationships. His love of the company and the people who worked here were a testament to his faith and confidence in God and the human spirit. He will be missed.”
Following a private family burial, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 24, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Florida. A luncheon reception will immediately follow the service in the Founders’ Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church or the Lutheran Haven Retirement Center.
About DUDA
A 98-year-old family-owned and –operated diversified company headquartered in Oviedo, Florida, DUDA traces its roots back to 1909 when Andrew Duda immigrated to America from the Slovak region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Andrew was one of the original founders of the small Slovak colony of Slavia in Central Florida. After years of struggle, Andrew and his three sons harvested their first cash crop of celery in 1926 and established A. Duda & Sons. The company was formally incorporated as A. Duda & Sons, Inc. in 1953.
Today, DUDA’s operations include:
- Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of DUDA that operates as a nationwide quality grower, shipper, and marketer of fresh produce.
- Duda Ranches, an operating division of DUDA that manages the company’s diversified agricultural operations, including sod, sugarcane, citrus, and cattle;
- The Viera Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of DUDA whose vertically integrated real estate operation, including Viera Builders, Viera Commercial Properties, Viera Pools & Outdoor Living, and Duran Golf Club, manages the development of DUDA’s non-agricultural land and is the master developer of the planned community of Viera, Florida;
- And DUDA Commercial Properties, an asset management portfolio managed by DUDA that further strengthens DUDA’s diversified land assets and business operations with the acquisition of agricultural lands and commercial properties across the country.
