Rob Gibson, 35
Chief Operations Officer , Gibson Produce and Watermelon Sales , Gibson Farms Vero Beach, FL
June 9, 2025 | 3 min to read
SHORT BIO
Hometown: Vero Beach, FL
Hobbies: Golfing, Hunting, Spending time with family
Family/Community: Married, 1 son and 1 on the way, Trinity Episcopal Church
Motto in life: Do it right the first time.
Gibson is a dynamic leader and advocate in the watermelon industry, blending hands-on experience with strategic vision. As COO of Gibson Produce and part-owner of Gibson Farms (in Arcadia, FL), he oversees every step of production. His leadership at the Florida Watermelon Association has modernized marketing strategies and expanded outreach. His influence spans multiple state and national boards, and his service has earned industry accolades.
He began working in agriculture in 2006 with his father, gaining hands-on experience in nearly every role of watermelon shipping. Since 2008, he has worked in operations at Gibson Produce.
In 2017, he received the Future Watermelon Farm Leader Award from the National Watermelon Association. He has served on the National Watermelon Association’s promotions and research committees since 2018 and was a member of the Florida Watermelon Association (FWA) board of directors from 2018 to 2020.
He was promoted to his current position at Gibson Produce in 2020, and that same year began serving as FWA second vice president (2020–2022). In 2021, he joined both the Georgia Watermelon Association board of directors and the National Watermelon Promotion Board, where he served on the executive committee. In 2022, he became FWA’s first vice president and chaired the marketing committee. That year, he also co-founded Gibson Farms with his father, where they now grow their own melons. In 2023, he was elected president of the FWA, joined the National Watermelon Association board of directors, and received the FWA Outstanding Service Award.
Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry and why?
I began working for my dad in 2006 as a forklift driver, and it just became something I loved and wanted to continue doing. His passion and dedication to quality have inspired me for my entire career. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without his guidance.
Q: What do you know now you wish you knew when you first started your career?
I wish I knew patience. Everything comes with time. It takes time for fruit to grow to maturity, to grow professionally, and as a person.
Q: What is the one thing in your business that you are most passionate about?
I am definitely most passionate about quality. At Gibson Produce, we don’t strive to be the biggest, but we do strive to be the best. Our quality is a direct reflection of our team and our work ethic. I am passionate about maintaining this standard.
Q: What do you think consumers will desire in the future?
Consumers will desire more fresh-cut watermelons because of its ease of use. As an industry, we strive to promote all of the benefits of using the entire watermelon, but people like convenience.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
I am most proud of being nominated as an officer of the Florida Watermelon Association. To be trusted by my fellow industry members to lead our industry in the best direction is truly an honor.
NOMINEES
