U.S. Sugar Names New President and CEO

Oct. 27, 2023

Kenneth W. McDuffie takes the reins of the Florida-based sugar cane, citrus and sweet corn producer.

U.S. Sugar, a Clewiston, Fla.-based producer of sugar cane, citrus fruit and sweet corn, has announced that executive vice president Kenneth W. McDuffie has assumed the role of president and CEO, succeeding Robert H. Buker Jr. McDuffie steps into the role with more than 30 years of agriculture leadership experience in ag operations, precision agriculture technology, research, business strategy and finance, according to a release from the company.

McDuffie has been executive vice president of U.S. Sugar since 2021, assisting Baker in all strategic and political matters, and having oversight of the company’s ag operations, including citrus agriculture and research, railroad operations and industry/grower relations. McDuffie also oversaw Rouge River Farms, U.S. Sugar’s locally grown vegetables division.

McDuffie has worked for U.S. Sugar since 1992, starting as a farm assistant with the company and working his way up. During his tenure, he led efforts to develop a technologically advanced and productive harvesting fleet for the company.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.