Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida

The Cooperative is made up of 45 grower-owners who produce sugarcane on approximately 70,000 acres, located in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA).

Once formed, the Cooperative's immediate need was to build a processing facility and agricultural equipment to harvest the sugar cane grown by its members.

The member-growers were assessed 30 cents per ton produced in 1960 to pay for the feasibility study to build their own sugar mill.

Wedgworth was induction into Florida's Agricultural Hall of Fame,[5] and named Community Leader of the Year[6] by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

The farmer members of Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative stay abreast of technological advancements in order to maintain efficient farming operations.

Additionally, the Act provided for the construction of 40,000 acres of natural filter marshes that further reduce phosphorus in water flowing from farms, urbanized areas and Lake Okeechobee.

However, Audubon of Florida argues this reduction standard was intentionally set too low, making it easier for the sugar industry and other growers to meet the annual requirement.

[8] Rich, organic soil, abundant water and sunshine, and the warming influence of Lake Okeechobee are the primary reason sugarcane farmers are located in the area.