Grower Members

Lake Wales Citrus Growers Association
Alluding to Lake Wales’ claim as “The Jewel of the Ridge,” the label shown here is the oldest known version of this brand. The cooperative has been in existence since 1919.

Winter Haven Citrus Growers Association
Chartered in 1909, Winter Haven was touted as having the “largest citrus packing house in the world” by 1931. It consisted of 93,000 square feet of floor space. This label was registered in 1924.

Waverly Growers Cooperative
Founded in 1914 by eight growers, this packinghouse once featured a Waverly Welcome House gift fruit operation. The label shown here dates back to the 1930s.

 

Haines City Citrus Growers Association
Organized in 1909 by six growers, the Haines City Citrus Growers Association Hill Top label has been in use since 1909.

 

Peace River Packing Company
The Peace River Packing Company was founded in 1928 by a group of 11 growers. Originally built as a “four-car plant, “it is still located on the original property in Fort Meade.

Umatilla Citrus Growers Association
Umatilla means “Land of Many Waters,” an appropriate name for a region with 40 clearwater lakes within a two-mile radius. This label was in use around 1930.

 

Lake Placid Citrus Cooperative
The Lake Placid Citrus Cooperative was founded in 1963 by five area growers.

 

Dundee Citrus Growers Association
Founded in 1924, Dundee’s original packinghouse was the W.E. Lee House just north of the City of Dundee.

 

Hunt Bros.
Founded in 1922 by D.A. Hunt and Charles M. Hunt for grove development, Hunt Bros. gradually bought groves of its own, and in 1928, built the Highland Park Packing House. D.A. Hunt was inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame in 1989.

Ben Hill Griffin, Inc.
Over 50 years ago in the small town of Frostproof, Florida, Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. began shipping citrus to markets throughout the United States, starting with a 10-acre orange grove, a small packing facility, and a commitment to excellent quality.

Orange Growers Marketing Association
The Orange Growers Marketing Association became a member of Florida’s Natural Growers cooperative in 1997. Originally formed by seven local growers, the group has grown to several times its original size and now includes growers from all across Florida’s citrus-growing regions.

Citrus Marketing Services
The Great Fruit Company was born of a marriage between a citrus caretaking, development, and real estate business and a citrus buying, selling, and harvesting company. Citrus Marketing Services was incorporated in 1968.

Lykes Brothers, Inc.
Lykes Bros. Inc. was founded by Dr. Howell Tyson Lykes and his seven sons in 1900. Lykes has major land holdings in Florida and Texas and is one of the largest private landowners in the United States. Current businesses include large operations in citrus, cattle, sugar cane, forestry, insurance, land development as well as other equity investments.

Southern Gardens
Southern Gardens owns and/or manages 16,500 net acres of citrus groves in Southern Hendry County and has been recognized as an industry leader in efficiency, vertical integration, modern grove management and citrus research.