The Polly Hale Newsletter-Stephen Hale Jr. September 2006

Stephen C. Hale, Jr. and the History of Hale Indian River Groves

1919-2005

Stephen Hale, Jr., founder of Hale Indian River Groves, passed away late last year. He was 86 years old. Few people in Indian River County can claim they were here before Hale Indian River Groves began selling fresh citrus to winter visitors. Yet, like so many other American business success stories, it had humble origins.

In the fall of 1947, Steve and his wife, Polly, opened their first fruit stand. But Steve was not interested in just a fruit stand; his intention was to be in the mail order business.

Working out of their home, Steve made a list of friends, relatives and those customers who had stopped at his roadside stand. He sent them a postcard offering to ship the same fresh fruit he sold at his stand. That first mailing list eventually grew to millions of names.

When his first order came back in the mail, Steve was in the gift fruit business. His first employee, named OK, picked the fruit, then Steve packed it in the shed behind the house, and trucked it to the Railway Express Station. Polly manned the phone, answering questions and taking the orders. In the evenings they shared the task of taking care of their four children, writing gift cards to be inserted in the fruit baskets and typing the shipping labels.

The children eventually became involved in the business, beginning at an early age. Steve III and Dexter bagged fruit for customers from the time they were seven or eight. Susan and Marianne worked behind the counter when they were about ten years old. Susan would ask where a customer came from and say, “Oh, that’s my favorite city.” They would get letters from customers who remembered her.

From this small start, Hale Indian River Groves has grown rapidly for more than half a century. Acknowledged as being Florida’s leader in the industry, it has become a national company shipping fruit and other products throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Steve did not know where his and Polly’s efforts would lead when they opened that fruit stand back in 1947, but knew he had to follow his dream. Little could he have imagined that he would achieve the American Dream and found a company with a reputation that reaches far beyond the borders of Indian River County.

Steve lived and breathed the citrus business. The Hale Indian River Groves family promises to uphold Steve’s memory and provide the excellent products and service you have come to expect.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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