Growers Fertilizer Corp. buys U.S. 98 warehouses

BUYER: Growers Fertilizer Corp. (principals: John Strang, Robert Barben, Jere Stambaugh, Steve Sorrells, Harvey Snively and Brent Sutton), Lake Alfred

SELLER: Thomas and Patty Schrader

PROPERTY: 9921 Old Lakeland Highway, Dade City

PRICE: $995,000

PREVIOUS PRICE: $300,000, May 2000

LAW FIRM ON DEED: Larry S. Hersch Esq. PA, Dade City

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: Lake Alfred-based Growers Fertilizer Corp. purchased two warehouse buildings between Old Lakeland Highway and U.S. 98 for $995,000.

The price equated to $38 per square foot.

The 10.17-acre site features a 14,400-square-foot building and a 12,000-square-foot building.

The two buildings are replacing several smaller warehouses the company previously leased in Dade City.

“We were leasing about 10,000 square feet,” says Brent Sutton, company president. “ We had outgrown our space in those buildings. This [property] is much larger, and it's also much convenient. The other buildings were spread out.”

The company has already occupied one of the buildings and plans to lease out space in the second building.

The company sells fertilizers pesticides and herbicides.