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Slideshow: Island Grove Ag Products

Go behind the scenes at Hawthorne, FL-based Island Grove Ag Products.

April 12, 2011

  • Ken Patterson, owner/managing partner of Island Grove Ag Products (IGAP), has been growing blueberries for more than 25 years. © 2011
    Ken Patterson, owner/managing partner of Island Grove Ag Products (IGAP), has been growing blueberries for more than 25 years.
    © 2011
  • This past winter's cold start and mild finish provided a good environment for a bountiful crop this season, Patterson says. © 2011
    This past winter's cold start and mild finish provided a good environment for a bountiful crop this season, Patterson says.
    © 2011
  • Patterson says the operation is constantly taking out old varieties, propagating new ones, and rotating fields to stay on the cutting edge of earliness and quality. © 2011
    Patterson says the operation is constantly taking out old varieties, propagating new ones, and rotating fields to stay on the cutting edge of earliness and quality.
    © 2011
  • New blueberry varieties, such as Farthing, hold promise in fruit quality and machine pickability. © 2011
    New blueberry varieties, such as Farthing, hold promise in fruit quality and machine pickability.
    © 2011
  • Organic blackberries are part of IGAP's offerings. © 2011
    Organic blackberries are part of IGAP's offerings.
    © 2011
  • New peach releases from the University of Florida are part of IGAP's expanded edible line. © 2011
    New peach releases from the University of Florida are part of IGAP's expanded edible line.
    © 2011
  • Patterson had his hand in the development of a widely used blueberry growing practice today in Florida--bark culture. © 2011
    Patterson had his hand in the development of a widely used blueberry growing practice today in Florida--bark culture.
    © 2011
  • Investments in sophisticated packing equipment promotes efficiency and helps IGAP compete in a crowding market. © 2011
    Investments in sophisticated packing equipment promotes efficiency and helps IGAP compete in a crowding market.
    © 2011
  • A little more than a year ago, IGAP got into the wine-making business. © 2011
    A little more than a year ago, IGAP got into the wine-making business.
    © 2011
  • At presstime, the company was in the process of signing a contract with a major distributor and is scheduled to have its product © 2011
    At presstime, the company was in the process of signing a contract with a major distributor and is scheduled to have its product
    © 2011
  • A turn-of-the-century Florida Cracker house sits onsite at IGAP's headquarters in Hawthorne. An image of the house is depicted on the company's wine product labels. © 2011
    A turn-of-the-century Florida Cracker house sits onsite at IGAP's headquarters in Hawthorne. An image of the house is depicted on the company's wine product labels.
    © 2011
  • The old Florida Cracker home, which once served as a temporary office space for the company, was renovated to preserve its historical features and relevance. © 2011
    The old Florida Cracker home, which once served as a temporary office space for the company, was renovated to preserve its historical features and relevance.
    © 2011
  • An old map of Florida (circa 1860s depiction) hangs in the hallway of the Cracker house. Note the large, light green hued area that stretches down around Lake Okeechobee was then Brevard County. © 2011
    An old map of Florida (circa 1860s depiction) hangs in the hallway of the Cracker house. Note the large, light green hued area that stretches down around Lake Okeechobee was then Brevard County.
    © 2011
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Hawthorne-based Island Grove Ag Products continues to make its mark in the blueberry business sector while diversifying its product portfolio to stay ahead of the demand curve. Below, scan a slideshow of images taken from this month's Florida Grower cover story photo shoot a take a virtual tour of this bustling berry operation to see what makes it tick.

Click here to read the May cover story and learn how the operation plans to hold its ground in the blueberry marketplace and grow beyond its borders.

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