The Florida blueberry season is now in full swing. At Clear Springs in Bartow, the ripe and ready crop is the first to roll through a new 100,000 square-foot state-of-the-art produce distribution center.
"We're receiving the bulk product, we're packing the product, grading the product, palletizing it, storing it, and selling it and marketing it," saidClear Springs Agriculture vice president Jerry D'Amore.
Each day, more than 50,000 pounds of blueberries, grown locally and across the state, are packed here. That is just a start of what the Clear Springs company envisions for its future in Florida agribusiness.
"It's a grand plan and we're just this piece of it," D'Amore said.
Melissa Sogegian from Bartow said, "The plant is just the first step in Clear Springs' overall plans of a community based in agriculture, with other industries and residential sites being planted right among the crops."
Clear Springs owns 18,000 acres in Bartow. Land the company says is ripe for development of homes, businesses, and educational centers. However, if plans are ever approved for construction it will be built around existing orange groves, blueberry shrubs, and cattle lands.
"Without farming the rest of what we do is not even possible," D'Amore said.
When blueberry season is over a new crop will be brought in for year-round processing.
"We think there is a strong future for agriculture here," D'Amore said.
A "company town" concept rooted in the past, that Clear Springs hopes reaps big benefits for years to come.
Public hearings for future development in Clear Springs will be held in June.
Plans are already underway to build a corporate college on the site.
Clear Springs recently donated $12 million and 15-acres to Polk Community College to build it there.
In Bartow, Melissa Sogegian,
Central Florida News 13.