About Us

---

 

The legacy that is now known as Parkesdale Farms began when company founder R.E. (Roy) Parke, Jr. emigrated from Northern Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1924 with his family. Roy’s father continued to pursue a vocation in farming after arriving in America with his family. In 1956, the family relocated to Plant City, FL, which was recognized throughout the country as the prime location for growing winter vegetables and strawberries. Thus the first 10 acres of Parkesdale strawberry crops had been planted!

Over the years, Roy and his own family took on the farm with a zest for hard work and a keen knowledge of agricultural and business practices. They expanded the farm into hundreds of acres of the finest strawberries, citrus, and vegetables available anywhere in the country. Parkesdale also added their own plant nurseries, which hold four extensive greenhouses, where they produce over a million vegetables and flowering plants annually.

In January 2005, Roy’s son Gary and his wife, Terri, started Parke Family HydroFarms.  Parke Family HydroFarms is a family owned and operated ‘pick your own’ farm located in Dover, Florida.  The farm is hydroponic and insecticide/pesticide free.  Gary and Terri, along with their four children, Amanda, Devon, Jordan and Joshua, are the only employees (so family owned and operated really means family owned and operated).  Come on out and introduce yourself and meet the family!