ABOUT POLKDALE FARMS

Polkdale Farms is a family- owned business that started in 1999 and has since grown into 23 acres of organic blueberries and 8 acres of peaches.  Owner, Bill Braswell, and his son, Tyson, run the day to day operations and are very conscious of how their farm impacts the environment. 

The Braswell’s are intentional about using Best Management Practices (BMPs) to help them reduce water and nutrient use and also improve water quality throughout each of their properties.  Some of the BMPs implemented include drip irrigation which has reduced overall water use by 90%.  Since Polkdale Farms is an organic operation zero fertilizer is applied to the plants.  The risk of soil erosion is greatly reduced by potting each blueberry bush and inside each pot is a mixture of mulch, coconut fiber, peat and perlite to maintain nutrients and moisture.  Natural wind barriers have been put in place to not only combat wind but to also provide habitats for wildlife. 

Braswell believes that it is his responsibility to protect natural resources because he depends on them for his livelihood and also his son’s livelihood.  When he isn’t working to innovate his farm, he is actively involved as Vice- President for the National Blueberry Association, the Polk County Commission as well as the Agricultural Technical Advisory Council.

Florida Farm Bureau Federation is proud to award a 2018 CARES designation and sign to Bill Braswell for his dedication in being an outstanding environmental steward.