Kathleen Cooper
Company
Costa Farms
Job Title
Research & Development Manager
Accomplishments
- Works with breeders to solve grower issues such as daylength requirements, pests, diseases and heat tolerance.
- Responsible for new variety trials and evaluates over 1,500 new trial codes — from propagation to production to performance trials.
- Named Costa Farm’s Employee of the Year for 2021.
Extracurricular
Can’t Live Without: Kathleen loves living near the water. “Whether it be the beaches in Miami, rivers in North Carolina, or the beach in my hometown Myrtle Beach, I love spending time by the water.”
Fun Facts
A Deep-Rooted Family Tree That Knows How to Spell: Kathleen’s great-great-aunt Helen lived to be 112 years old, and she is a distant cousin of Vanna White of Wheel of Fortune.
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GPN recognizes 40 industry professionals under the age of 40 who are helping to determine the future of the horticulture industry. These individuals are today’s movers and shakers who are already setting the pace for tomorrow.
