The Harrell’s story began more than half century ago, in 1941. Despite the impending war in Europe, Ormond and Lucile Harrell had the courage to purchase a small feed store in Lakeland, Florida. From day one, Harrell’s established a reputation as a business with a core belief of Christian values, quality products and personal service, and from this the feed store prospered.

Central Florida's residential construction boom of the 1950’s created a new opportunity for lawn and garden products. To serve this new market, Harrell’s opened five retail garden centers, under the guidance of Ormond’s son Jack Harrell, Sr. For 25 years Harrell’s Garden Centers served the lawn and landscape needs of homeowners as well as farming and ranching interests.

Driving between store locations Jack became aware of the golf courses being built in the area. Long fairways and manicured greens needed quality fertilizers, and by the early 1980’s turf fertilizer sales eclipsed retail Garden Center sales.

Customized Blending

Harrell's saw the need to improve the quality and effectiveness of turf fertilizers, and the way to make it happen was to produce the fertilizers they sold in their own plant. So in 1985 the first bag of Harrell’s own branded fertilizer rolled out of the company’s new high tech plant in Lakeland, Florida.

Other improvements came through distributorships and marketing associations with many of the nation’s leading chemical manufacturers and agribusiness related companies. Harrell’s had added a depth of support and service that set new standards in the industry.

Harrell’s also developed a close relationship with Pursell Technologies of Sylacauga, Alabama; the world leader in the development and manufacture of controlled-release fertilizers. From their research came the breakthrough technology patented as POLYON^®. The encapsulating of minute fertilizer granules within uniform polyurethane coatings…allowing precisely programmed release of nutrients and pesticides, feeding plant roots as needed.

Sports turf wasn't the only industry destined to benefit from Harrell's custom-blending process. In 1994 Harrell's began a partnership with the Florida agribusiness industry.

Growing A Better World

As the original Lakeland plant and distribution center grew to meet increasing demand, Harrell’s  also grew; and the company began taking their business north of Florida. In November, 2001, Harrell’s completed construction of the industry’s most technologically advanced fertilizer manufacturing plant located in Sylacauga, Alabama. The facility, which includes a distribution center, is strategically located to serve Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.

In January, 2002, Harrell’s acquired Wilbro, Inc., a 61-year-old fertilizer manufacturer and distributor in Norway, South Carolina. This positioned Harrell’s to serve turf and nursery customers in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The acquisition also strengthened Harrell’s relationship with the ornamental horticulture industry well beyond the southeastern U.S.

Harrell’s continues to grow, and our core values of integrity, trust, personal service and value won’t change. We will continue adapting to the ever changing environment by setting the standards for quality and innovation. We remain focused on our commitment to serve customers, and the need to help nature.