History

In 1945, Victor B. Story, Sr. (deceased) returned with his wife Frieda (deceased) from overseas fighting in World War II to purchase 100 plus acres north of Frostproof, FL. The Story’s settled on the property and started a family, sons Victor B. Story, Jr. and Lyles (Terry) Story. As his father before him, Vic Sr. with his sons begins to plant the property he purchased until all the land was in farming. While tending to the newly planted orange grove Vic Sr. kept a full time job to support his growing family. As the sons grew up into young men they helped everyday on the family’s farm, after time the Story’s started to purchase other citrus producing properties in the area under the name of Story Groves, Inc. After college Terry Story started a successful aviation company in central Florida that he and his family operated until 2005. For Vic Jr. citrus is his passion, after the Army Reserves and college he returned to the family business in 1965. Since that time the Story’s have added numerous properties to their various holding companies, they started to harvest their own crops in 1980 with the formation of the family’s management company Story Grove Service, Inc. After the terrible freezes of the 1980’s Vic Jr. decided to start yet another venture in the industry, citrus management from others. In 1991, Story Citrus Services, Inc. was created to service the industry’s needs from a production side. In all the Story Companies own and/or manage over 5,000 acres of producing citrus in central Florida.

Today, Vic Jr. is the President and Chairman of the Board of the Story Companies overseeing the direction in which each company is heading. Also, the fourth generation of the Story family has rejoined the industry. Matthew Story is production manager for the companies; his daily responsibilities include all labor and skill applications to producing fruit. Kyle R. Story is Executive Vice President for the companies; his responsibilities include the harvesting division, marketing division and investments.

After all the changes, threats from diseases, imports, as well as, supply and demand the Story’s are committed to the continuation of their agricultural roots. The family still owns and maintains the original property that was planted by the family in 1945, as well as, the recent acquisition of citrus property on that was owned by Lyles Story (Vic Sr.’s father) since the late 1930’s.