By Christopher Leach
WGNO
PLAQUEMINES PARISH, La—The Becnel family has grown citrus fruit in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana for many generations.
Robert “Bob” Becnel is 90-years-young and the head of the agriculture-loving family and says “My daddy was growing citrus back as far as I can remember. He use to hire himself out to bud trees at the lower end of the parish.”
Robert Becnel is one of nine siblings. Many of his children as well as his siblings children grew up around agriculture and they know that the spring season is the time when the air is sweet with the smell of satsuma tree blossoms.
Cindi Becnel is the daughter in law of Robert Becnel and she continues the Becnel family legacy of agriculture in a different way. She is the owner of Belle Danse Orchids & Tropicals.
“We carry about 60 different’ varieties of orchids and counting,” says Cindi.