Sometime before the end of their season in mid-April, you must take a drive out to historic Floral City and visit Ferris Groves. The colorful farm store built in 1959 is old Florida at its finest. Here you can purchase their citrus and berry products and a variety of jams, preserves, syrups, milkshakes and even locally raised beef. While their citrus products are now grown throughout Florida due to Citrus Greening, the “Ferris Berry” strawberries and blueberries are grown on the Duval Island farm along Lake Tsala Apopka in Citrus County. There are 85 acres devoted to strawberries and another 40 acres for blueberries. Ferris Groves employs 10 staff throughout the year and during the busy season, about 100 contract employees.
The owner of Ferris Groves, is Southern Citrus Corporation- who purchased the 450 acre Lake Tsala Apopka property from Harriet Ferris in 1978 along with the packing plant and farm store located on Highway 41. Ferris Groves was the brainchild Harriet’s husband, L.G. “Doc” Ferris, an outgoing and ingenious marketer who was the grand-nephew of the inventor of the Ferris Wheel- George Washington Gales Ferris.
Doc came to Florida in 1925 to join other members of the Ferris family in investing in Floral City property. His father, James Cleveland Ferris, who was president of Simmons Bed Manufacturers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, “sank” $100,000 in a Homosassa development after his retirement- according to Hampton Dunn’s Back Home- a history of Citrus County. The elder Ferris hoped that Duval Island would prove more successful and wished to develop an upper echelon golf club community there. However, plans fell through after the 1926 hurricane and the real estate market bust. Doc was left with Duval Island after his father passed away in 1927.
Doc’s idea for Duval Island did not involve golf. He knew the island’s rich soil and proximity to the water would be ideal for citrus groves. There were already about 20 acres of citrus trees planted on the island when he acquired it, some estimated to be 100 years old. In 1938, he became a full time resident of Floral City and in 1942, he built a packing plant for $75,000.
They say the very old citrus trees were around 40 feet tall and pickers were paid 35 cents per box (2 bushels) to harvest them. A single tree could yield about 80 bushels. Harvesters were paid 25 cents per box for the 30 foot trees. At the height of production, Ferris Groves had over 350 acres and 31,000 trees in many citrus varieties including Parson Browns, Hamlin and Valencia oranges, Temple oranges, tangelos, white, pink and ruby red grapefruit. There were around 70 employees during harvest season, working in the processing plant, in the fields and at the retail store.
While 85 percent of Florida citrus were grown from lemon stock, Doc told Milton Plumb, farm editor of the Tampa Tribune, “Hammock land and sour orange stock- that’s the formula for whatever success I have made.”
Doc marketed and sold their citrus products throughout the country and worldwide. Railcars were loaded from the packing plant. Every Christmas Doc sent his citrus to the President of the United States. In 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower personally thanked him for the generous gift in a letter explaining that while Mrs. Eisenhower is away, “all of my grandchildren… needless to say, are joining in my enjoyment of the fruit.”
Ferris Groves also had a large presence in South Florida, where Doc’s wife Harriet ran the business. They maintained several stores and hotel outlets in Miami for the sale of the fruit.
Doc “The King of Citrus” was well known for his congeniality and showmanship. He employed colorfully decorated station wagons, convertibles and beautiful young women to promote Ferris Groves and make an impression. But on a local level, his generosity was an outstanding quality. Around 1963, before the Floral City Volunteer Fire Department even had a firehouse, Doc drove up to his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin, purchased a fully equipped fire truck for the department for $18,000 and drove it back down to Floral City. Upon arrival at the future Floral City firehouse, 1200 community members gathered for a dedication ceremony and there was a parade from Inverness to the (future) firehouse. He is quoted to have said, “That was one of the greatest moments in my life.” The community celebrated Doc Ferris Day for many years to commemorate this gift.
Doc passed away in 1975. Harriet took over the business for a few years, but severe freezes destroyed the trees and she sold the business in 1978. Harriet lived in their home on Duval Island until she was no longer able to care for herself. She passed away in 2005. Doc and Harriet were both laid to rest across the street from the Ferris Groves store and packing plant at the Hills of Rest cemetery.
Today, Ferris Groves farm store is bustling with customers seeking out their delicious citrus, preserves, pies, syrups, fresh squeezed orange juice and milk shakes. They have strawberry milkshakes with pieces of fresh strawberries and an orange cream smoothie made with real oranges. They also carry local honey, cheese products and locally raised Ferris Beef in a variety of cuts.
The store is conveniently located adjacent to the Withlacoochee State Trail, making it a popular stop for bicyclists. The old Fire Station is also nearby, now the Floral City Heritage Museum, where you can immerse yourself in the area’s rich history.
Ferris Groves products can be purchased at roadside produce stands and online to send as gifts via their website at www.ferrisgroves.com/shop/ – but neither will give you the authentic old Florida experience of the 1959 Floral City farm store.
Heritage Hall Museum Address:
8394 E Orange Ave
Floral City, Florida 34436
Ferris Groves:
7607 S Florida Ave,
Floral City, FL 34436