Source(s):
Thomas Spreen thspreen@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1881, ext. 209

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A prominent agricultural economist has been appointed chairman of the food and resource economics department in the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Thomas Spreen, a professor in the department who also has served as graduate coordinator, will assume leadership in mid-December. He came to UF in 1977 as an assistant professor after completing his doctorate at Purdue University, where he also received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Spreen’s research deals with marketing and trade issues related to citrus and other horticultural products. He has made presentations on citrus across Florida, at several professional meetings in the United States and at international conferences. He has developed models related to world trade in orange juice, grapefruit, fresh vegetables and bananas.

In addition, Spreen is widely recognized for his work on the competitive position of the Florida citrus industry. He also has conducted research on the citrus industries of Brazil, Mexico and Cuba. He is the co-author of two books on Mexican citrus and is a co-editor of a soon-to-be-released book on the world sugar market.

Spreen served as a consultant to the Food and Agricultural Organization on issues related to the world citrus industry. He also has helped develop an agricultural economics program at the University of Veracruz, Mexico

Spreen has published many journal articles and is the recipient of numerous honors, including a U.S. Department of Agriculture Certificate of Appreciation for his work on pesticide assessment in tomato production, a UF Interdisciplinary Research and Extension Team Award, Outstanding Teacher in the College of Agriculture and several faculty appreciation awards from the department’s graduate student organization.

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