Deseret Ranch Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Taiwanese Delegation of Agricultural Buyers

Osceola County, FL - Officials from the Deseret Ranch rolled out the Red Carpet last month for a delegation of a dozen agricultural buyers from the Republic of China (Taiwan). General Manager Erik Jacobsen, above, greets the group at the Welcome Center, an old-style "Cracker House" on the property.

The group was in Central Florida for the Fresh Summit with a goal to purchase $150 million in produce. Michael Ryshouwer, International Development Representive with the Florida Department of Agriculture, was their guide.

At the ranch, they saw first-hand how the state's largest cattle operation is run with the help of David Wright, Government and Environmental Affairs Manager; Mark Mortensen, Manager; and Scott Smith, Controller. They also saw citrus and other products that are cultivated on the 290,000-acre (450-square mile) ranch that stretches across Osceola, Orange and Brevard counties.

The delegation had lunch with Osceola hotelier George Chen and then recapped the day with a dinner hosted by the Economic Development Department at Gaylord Palms. Enterprise Florida's Michael Schiffhauer, Senior Director of Field Operations and European Trade Development, was present.