The Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association has presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Aglime Sales President Ray Bassett. Bassett, 80, the grandson of Bowling Green farmers, was an Army Reserve captain in the Korean war, an accountant, and a citrus grower before joining Dolime Minerals Co. in Bartow. He founded Aglime Sales in Babson Park 20 years ago in partnership with Emil Jahna and later the Jahna children. Today, Aglime Sales, Florida’s largest agricultural limestone company, is wholly owned by the Bassett family. In announcing the award, the association praised Bassett for his integrity, professionalism, and service to others. He was FFAA’s chairman of the board in 1996-97.
The Taiwan Supreme Court in July found former Taiwan Fertilizer Chairman Hsieh Sheng-fu, 70, guilty of corruption and ordered him to jail, according to The China Post. He was reportedly sentenced to two years and four months for accepting NT$70 million in bribes from a construction company when he headed the then government-run Taiwan Fertilizer in the 1990s. According to the paper, Hsieh had formerly worked as a prosecutor, judge, and secretary general of the legislature.
Abraham Shabot has recently joined Innophos Holdings Inc. as vice president and director general for Latin America. The company says he has an impressive track record in business development with several Mexican companies.