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Discover the Story of Nelson Family Farms
Welcome to Nelson Family Farms, one of the last remaining open-air markets in Fort Pierce, FL, serving Fort Pierce and Florida’s Treasure Coast. For 80 years, our family-owned & operated farm has been offering the finest tastes of Florida, in tradition with our roots in Fort Pierce.
Located in beautiful White City, we’re open 7 days a week for those seeking the freshest fruits, vegetables, and decorative plants. Come visit us between Oleander Ave and US#1 at 875 W. Midway Rd – for directions, refer to the small map on our Contact page.
Our Roots in Fort Pierce
Established back in 1938 by Alfred and Hilda Nelson, our farm was founded on principles of hard work, honest business, and exceptional quality produce. We started selling our citrus fruits straight from Alfred and Hilda’s first home (which still exists on our farm) and now operate the largest outdoor produce market in the area.
Charlotte, Dan, and Lisa Nelson, you’ll find our dedicated family members on the farm every day, ensuring that your Nelson Family Farms experience keeps you coming back for more.
Our History
- 1936 Alfred Nelson traveled from his farm near Wauchula, Florida to White City, south of Fort Pierce, for the first time. Alfred was originally from Denmark and heard that White City was a Danish farming community.
- 1938 Alfred Nelson purchased property that Nelson Family Farms stands on today. He promptly planted it in citrus. He traveled back and forth from Wauchula to maintain the grove.
- 1944 Alfred and Bill (his son) built a house and packing shed on the property.
- 1945 Alfred, Hilda (his wife) and Bill moved to the present day farm. The Nelsons started selling citrus to tourists and snowbirds traveling down Old Dixie Highway. They also started packing gift fruit baskets and shipping them up north via railroad.
- 1969 Bill and Charlotte with Cheryl (Bill’s wife and daughter) build their house on the farm. They move in with with son Dan also.
- 1972 Daughter, Jennifer, is welcomed to the family.
- 1977 Bill and Charlotte (his wife) built a fruit stand on the corner of Midway and Oleander. They continued a second generation of citrus sales and gift fruit shipping.
- 1995 Dan (Bill and Charlotte’s son) returned from overseas to help with the family business. The gift fruit business was expanded to include early internet sales. Jennifer joins the business to assist with the gift fruit expansion.
- 1998 The Nelsons started selling produce and plants. Lisa (Dan’s wife) joined the business.
- 2003 Nelsons moved on from gift shipping to focus on building a local fresh market.
- 2005 Opened present day market and nursery. The old fruit stand on the corner is now our garden supply center and shade house.
Locally Grown Fruits and Vegetables
Serving Port St Lucie, St Lucie West, Tradition, and Vero Beach
Our mission doesn’t stop with serving Fort Pierce. We also support local and regional farmers from Port St Lucie, St Lucie West, Tradition, and even Vero Beach. We uphold the ‘Know Your Farmer’ and ‘Farm to Plate’ initiatives because we believe directly selling to customers sustains farming as a profession for future generations.
In an effort to bring you the finest fruits and vegetables, we prioritize local treasures of the Treasure Coast first, followed by Florida’s regional crops, then extending to the continental US, and finally global resources when necessary.
Through this process, we provide you with a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, minimizing shipping and distribution time, and ensuring that you always have access to the freshest produce possible.
Come see what we’re about – from the finest fruits and vegetables in our wonderful open-air setting to our gourmet coffee and fresh squeezed citrus juices, our farm has something for everyone. Experience Nelson Family Farms today and become a part of our story.
