IMMOKALEE, Fla. – Lipman, a locally invested and nationally recognized tomato grower, recently donated $20,000 in college scholarships to graduating seniors at Collier County high schools. This year, 15 students received scholarships ranging from $500-$2,000.

“We received nearly 50 applications this year and had to narrow it down to only 15 students,” said Jaime Weisinger, Lipman’s Director of Community Relations. “It was a difficult process, but we are proud of the results.”

Students must fill out an extensive application, as well as submit high school transcripts, financial information and an essay in order to be considered for the scholarships.

One of the recipients, Eric Garcia, graduated ninth in his class at Immokalee High School with a 4.89 GPA and will attend Cornell University in the fall.

“Having grown up in Immokalee, I have known about the Lipman family my entire life,” said Garcia. “In addition to the company’s financial generosity, I have been mentored by company leaders and encouraged to be all I can be. Not only am I grateful, I am committed to making them proud for the investment in my future.”

Since 2012, Lipman has provided more than $200,000 in scholarships to local students. The scholarships provided this year have the potential to be worth $80,000 in total if all the students renew them every year.

“Our founder, Max Lipman, never actually had a formal education,” said Weisinger. “But he made sure that every one of his six children had the opportunity to go to college. It was very early on that my family realized the importance of a good education. It is one of the foundations for our success.”

 

About Lipman

Lipman, the largest open-field tomato grower in North America, dependably provides fresh fruits and vegetables 365 days a year through an integrated network of research & development, farming, processing and repacking. From planting to harvest, expert farmers nurture our crops on tens of thousands of acres in Florida, California, South Carolina, Virginia and Mexico. Based in Immokalee, Fla., Lipman is an industry leader in sustainable agriculture, food safety and the delivery of high-quality produce. For more information, visitLipmanProduce.com.