FloriTurf Roots

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Over the years, FloriTurf has transformed from a primarily St. Augustine business into a massive diversification to multiple Turf Grass Varieties to stay more updated in the turf industry. Originally an Ohio-based enterprise, founders Cecil Collins and Bill Campbell expanded their business to Florida. They hired Donald Johnson as a manager and part-owner in 1994 and he acquired the business shortly thereafter.

Johnson and his wife Nancy, married for 45 years, devoted themselves to establishing a reputable sod operation in Florida, while raising their children, Erin and Travis. 7 years ago, Travis proudly purchased FloriTurf and took the helm of the company. Donald and Nancy are very proud, saying: “I think it’s great passing it along from generation to generation, and now Travis’ sons, Kaleb and Mason are involved as well. Each new generation brings new ideas and innovations ”.

Travis has always enjoyed witnessing the development of raw land into a turf farm. “After we go through all the infrastructure of laser leveling, putting in an irrigation system and the two years of work, it makes the first harvest very exciting” he says. 

 Travis takes pride in FloriTurf and is very hands-on stating “I don’t think I have anybody that’s doing a job here that I haven’t physically done at some point in time, and I think that helps. The problems a sod farm has are things I’ve experienced from a young age. You don’t realize what you learn by just standing around business and farming from a young age." 

With a team of over 25 employees, FloriTurf has experienced rapid growth over the past 5 years, doubling its acreage and staff count. Travis maintains the values and atmosphere of a ‘small-business’ regardless of recent expansion, staying heavily involved with all their employees and coordinating their daily routines with FloriTurf’s Turfgrass Manager, Allan Kersey.  

 FloriTurf has established strong relationships with a network of ranchers in Southern Central Florida. They have different arrangements including leasing land for extended periods, some up to 15 years, and in other cases, harvesting from landowners’ cow pastures or Bahia fields. Over the years, the company primarily focused on grass cultivation. However, as the farm expanded, it diversified into growing various grass varieties and has become more active within the industry as well as staying updated on local regulations from the water management district.