Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida history

In 1963, George used his organizing skills to put together a group of local business people to form a “home town” bank and in November of 1963 the Bank of Belle Glade opened its doors.

One Japanese colonist remained after World War II. George Morikami purchased and farmed 200 acres in Delray Beach until his death in 1976.

After Mott was succeeded by his son, Charles Stewart Harding Mott, United States Sugar diversified into citrus and vegetables, purchasing South Bay Growers in 1980.

In 1991, Helen and her sister, Barbara, spearheaded the Wedgworth family’s gift of $1 million to the University of Florida IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade.

Following in his mother’s footsteps, George was inducted to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1994.

She kept an office at the farm and came to work virtually every day until her death in 1995 at the age of 92.

Keith Wedgworth, a fourth generation family member joined the company in 1999 after earning a Master’s Degree in Agricultural and Food Resource Economics from the University of Florida.

Dale’s daughters, Krista and Kimberly, continued the tradition of working in the family business.In 2000, Krista Erickson began managing daily operations; her son, Brendan Erickson, shows an interest in everything that grows.

Katie W. Bryson, Dennis’ youngest daughter, is also a fourth generation family member that joined the company after graduating from the University of Florida in 2004.

Helen Wedgworth Boynton passed away in May of 2007 at the age of 83.

© 2009 Historical Society of Palm Beach County | all photos courtesy HSPBC unless otherwise noted

Since George retired in 2013, his youngest son, Dennis, now manages the farm, and Wedgworth’s Inc., is the state’s largest fertilizer company.

By the time George Wedgworth passed away in November 2016, he had seen the family businesses grow dramatically over his lifetime.