Growers Fertilizer Corp., a retail and fertilizer blending operation with three Florida locations, is going out of business after 84 years in operation, according to Brent Sutton, the company’s president and general manager.
Sutton told Green Markets that the company was forced to make a “tough decision” because of disease pressure from citrus greening and high real estate values that were affecting its customer base. Growers Fertilizer is not declaring bankruptcy, but will be liquidating all inventory and assets, with plans to shutter operations before the end of March 2019.
Founded in 1934, Growers Fertilizer currently operates locations at Lake Alfred, Newberry, and Dade City. The company’s main plant in Lake Alfred is a full blending operation with two bag lines and dry and liquid bulk capabilities, as well as a full-service warehouse for pesticides and herbicides. The Dade City and Newberry warehouses have bagged fertilizers and crop protection products, and all three locations have on-site retail stores.
Growers Fertilizer has been a provider of dry and liquid fertilizers in bulk or bags to the farm, turf, and ornamental industries, as well as offering a full range of agrichemical and nutritional products and custom blending services. In addition to citrus, the company’s customers include growers of peaches, blueberries, row crops, pastures, rangeland, and other commodities.
Growers Fertilizer has 58 employees. Sutton, who has been with the company for 15 years, will continue to lead the organization until the closure is complete. He will then begin working for Diamond R Fertilizer, Fort Pierce, Fla., as the company’s agriculture sales manager. Seven sales employees from Growers Fertilizer will be joining Sutton at Diamond R, which operates seven full-service warehouse facilities and two fertilizer blending locations.
The Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association (FFAA) noted the pending closure at its recent board meeting. Mary C. Hartney, FFAA president, said the board and staff “expressed their support for Sutton and Growers’ employees during this difficult time.”