Floral City also has its own very special island – one that is filled every winter with citrus, strawberries and blueberries. Duval Island is about a mile long and a quarter-mile wide, and most of it is made up of Ferris Farms.

Dudley Calfee is Ferris Farms’ general manager. “We put 1.7 million strawberry plants in the ground,” he said. “We’ve got about 83 acres. As soon as the strawberry season ends, the workers are in place to begin picking blueberries, which we have on about 20 acres.” The farm also has 25 acres of citrus groves, which is how it all began.

Could have been a golf course

Dudley Calfee, Ferris Farms' general manager, says what he does isn't a job, it's a way of life that he loves.

Ferris began planting citrus trees in 1931. The trees thrived in the rich soil of the island. Thanks to his marketing savvy, the effort was a success. He opened a retail store, which still operates in its original location on Route 41 selling fruit in season, jams and jellies, candies and wonderful fresh strawberry milkshakes. The store is located just off the Withlacoochee State Trail and offers hikers and cyclists a cool break.

Ferris passed away in 1975. After the 1977 freeze, his widow decided to get out of the business. She sold it to Southern Citrus Corporation. Freezes in the 1980s devastated the groves, so while replanting, the company diversified into strawberries.

People are key

Calfee appreciates the uniqueness and culture of the farm as well as the Floral City area. He grew up in Clearwater, Florida and spent much of his working life in construction management. He calls his work at Ferris Farms not so much a job as a lifestyle, one he and his wife embrace.

“People either love this kind of life or hate it,” Calfee said. “We love it. You have to be able to deal with what Mother Nature hands you. But I like the challenge,” he said. “You can control a lot of variables in agriculture, but not the weather.”

Although freezes are a threat, being surrounded by water means the farm exists in a unique ecosystem. It is situated far to the north of most strawberry operations, but the temperature is regulated somewhat by the Lake Tsala Apopka. “Also, being so far north, we have a lot of experience mitigating freeze damage,” Calfee said.

“But the thing I love most about being a part of this business is the people – the culture,” Calfee said. “We’re lucky. We have good workers because we treat them with respect, provide housing and offer a longer season because we’re diversified. Getting a dependable workforce is, I think, the biggest issue we have in this business. Congress and the American people in general have to realize how important this country’s food supply is. You can be the best farmer out there [and] grow the best products. But if no one is around to harvest them, they’re worth nothing,” he said.

Ferris Farms sells the bulk of its berries to retail outlets through the brokerage services of Plant City-based Wish Farms. Citrus, including navel and Valencia oranges and Fall Glow tangerines, is sold to commercial picking companies that market the product to packers and shippers.

To sample the sweet island fruit of Ferris Farms, visit historic Floral City and stop by the Ferris Groves retail store by the trail. More information is available here. Ferris also ships gift fruit. The store is open from mid-October to May, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.