Lykes Citrus Division 
Lykes Ranch Division
Silver Lake Preserve 
Lykes Bros. Inc. is pleased to announce that our CEO and President, Johnnie P. James Jr. has again been named to Florida Trend’s “Florida 500” which highlights Florida’s most influential business leaders from different economic sectors. According to Florida Trend, the honorees are "individuals whom others in their communities or industry sectors turn to for leadership or who set a standard for best practices in their sector." James was featured in the Agriculture Sector. https://floridatrend500.com/.
Since joining Lykes in this role in 2019, James has helped this family-owned company with deep roots in agriculture navigate the severe headwinds facing the citrus industry from disease and weather, finding new agricultural uses for some of its lands. Under James’ leadership, the Company has embraced opportunities to derive income from the environmentally valuable features of the Lykes’ Ranch by entering the carbon credit market, assisting Lake Okeechobee cleanup with water projects, and guiding the company’s sale of conservation easements in areas critical to the survival of the Florida panther, all while diversifying reinvestment and preserving the core land assets. He is also a leader in the citrus industry and has embraced innovations such as growing citrus under protective screens and experimenting with new rootstocks and treatments.
Said James, “I am blessed to work with a family who is strongly committed to Florida’s agricultural base and Lykes’ role in it, and at the same time balancing public needs which Lykes is uniquely able to support with its large landholdings in southern Florida. My colleagues at Lykes are the best in the business and bring an incredible wealth of knowledge, skill, and experience to the management of our diverse businesses. Agriculture faces challenging times, but there’s nobody better prepared.”
James is active in the agriculture business organizations, Florida’s Natural and the Florida Land Council, as well as the statewide business organizations of the Council of 100 and the Florida Chamber.
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