Emerald Coast Growers reinvigorates production with addition of Jonathan Babikow

PENSACOLA, FLA. – Emerald Coast Growers has announced that Jonathan Babikow has joined the family business as general manager/head grower for the Lancaster, Pa., location.

“We’re so pleased that we can now count Jonathan’s 40 years-plus experience among the many resources we can offer our customers,” says Paul Babikow, president.

Jonathan Babikow, a cousin to Emerald Coast Growers’ current owners, grew up in the family business, starting as a teenager in his father’s greenhouse, GreenLeaf Enterprises. By his 20s, he was a range manager supervising up to 20 people at different locations. By his 30s he was an owner and the vice president of vegetative production of perennials, overseeing all propagation of unrooted cuttings.

After Yoder Brothers purchased the business in 1996, Jonathan continued in the same role for five years, before eventually moving to Esbenshade’s Greenhouses to launch their perennial program. After 11 years there, he decided it was time to come back into a Babikow family business, this time managing production for Emerald Coast Growers’ Lancaster, Pa., location.

“It’s the opportunity to make a real difference and work with the family—we have a real kinship,” says Jonathan. “My hope is that with my production management background, we can look at new products and new opportunities to complement their current offering.”