Gary and Donna Schneider have owned and operated Pine Island Tropicals since 1993. Their 16 acre eco-friendly farm is the growing grounds for their unusual selection of organic tropical plants and flowers.
Gary and Donna began growing, exhibiting and hybridizing tropical Hibiscus as a hobby. The demand for their beautiful plants inspired the start of Pine Island Tropicals. However, it is their dedication, passion and hardwork are the backbone to this farm that produces some of the finest plants in Southwest Florida. They take great pleasure in sharing their beautiful products with their customers.
For both Gary and Donna, the working knowlege of creating a small farm from which to grow and nuture plants, began in their youth. Gary spent summers on his grandparent's farm and Donna did yard work for her grandfather who loved to start different varieties of plants from cuttings. Living is south Florida was the seed for their love of tropical plants which grew into their hobby of hybridizing Hibiscus. The enthusiasm of their customers and the ensuing demand for unusual products lead to the establishment of Pine Island Tropicals.
This thriving business endured Hurricane Charley in 2004 and, a few years later, a fire which spread from a neighbor's property. Both of these disasters lead Gary and Donna down new and productive paths resulting in the expansion of their product line to what is now their organic farm where they proudly raise Asian vegetables, tropical fruits and flowers.
Momma Donna's line of jams, sauces, breads, raw pack fruit, syrups and local honey started with Donna's love of cooking. While their plant business was still a hobby, Donna worked in the restaurant business, where she learned all aspects of the business, including food preparation and presentation. Now that they are growing tropical fruits, she began using these fruits in her cooking, evolving into her Momma Donna's Product line.
With these same tropicals, Donna also creates beautiful flower and fruit arrangements and center pieces using the fresh fruit and cut flowers grown on the farm.
Gary and Donna have both been long-time active members in plant societies, such as Hibiscus, Orchid, Bromeliad Societies,our local Pine Island Garden Club, and are members of Fresh from Florida (FL Dept of Agriculture) . They continually do research and developement of different plant cultivares to further not only their education but enhance the wide varities offered by Pine Island Tropicals.
Their next goal is to have a commercial kitchen for greater production and distribution of Momma Donna’s products. Additionally, they are working on making their farm a Eco-Agro Tourism Farm to share their love of Tropicals.
239-283-4874
PineIslandTropicals
@gmail.com
Monday-Saturday: 10-5
Sunday: Seasonal Call ahead for hours
Pine Island Tropical Fruit Market
12870 Stringfellow Road
Bokeelia, FL 33922
2015
American Made Winner
Pine Island Tropicals
5443 Game Bird Lane
Bokeelia, FL 33922
Licensed and insured: # 47223343