Profile: Andy Vega
Andy Vega is a USDA National Needs Fellow working with IPM Florida and is enrolled in the Doctor of Plant Medicine Program at the University of Florida. His position as an information specialist in IPM will aid him in obtaining a certificate in Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Management. Andy received his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Northeastern University. While in Boston, he developed a passion for plant health while working at Zoo New England as a tropical horticulturist and facilitated in exhibit design, landscape maintenance and education for a keeper training program. As a DPM student, he plans to focus on sustainable agriculture to help alleviate the global food crisis. Whenever Andy has spare time he enjoys gardening at his community organic plot, walking his dog Tomato and playing softball.
Andy with his assistant canine farmer Tomato, harvesting some zucchini among his "three sisters" crop of corn beans and squash on his organic garden plot.