The History of A. Duda & Sons, Inc. and Cocoa Ranch
America's post-war prosperity, combined with the construction of the interstate highway system and refrigerated trucks, provided growers like DUDA better transportation systems and opened new markets for their perishable crops. Business was good, and the partnership between Andrew and his three sons was formally incorporated in 1953.
Later on, as one of the fastest growing states in the nation, Florida became an excellent market for sod, and in 1973, DUDA established its sod division at its home base in Oviedo, Florida. Sod operations were started not long afterward on the Cocoa Ranch. Over the years, DUDA sod has dressed up some impressive homes and facilities, including the Florida Governor’s mansion, the Kennedy Space Center runway and the outfield at the Space Coast Stadium in Viera.
During the 1980s, the tremendous population growth in Florida changed the use and improved the value of some of the company's land holdings in the state. A new real estate development subsidiary, The Viera Company, was created and began developing a new crop of commercial and residential centers. The grandest of these was the master planned community of Viera in Brevard County. Today, in its fourth generation, the family-owned company's highly diversified agriculture operations extend beyond America's borders. DUDA continues its successful agricultural operations, while the employees of The Viera Company carry on the grand traditions of the company in the field of real estate development.
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
Visit www.duda.com to learn more. |
