Hardee County

As Hardee County’s largest private employer, Mosaic is deeply committed to being a trusted neighbor, a responsible corporate citizen, and an active community partner. For 325 employees, it’s where they live, raise families, and build futures. We invest in Hardee’s people and prosperity because feeding a growing world starts with strong, local communities.

Florida Operations Hillsborough Polk County

Community Partners

$2.4M

Total Community Investment (2021–2025)

Cutting Edge Ministries

Hardee Athletic Foundation

Hardee County Chamber of Commerce

Hardee County Fair Inc.

Hardee Help Center

Hardee Youth Football & Cheer

Hardee County Youth Sports

Kiwanis Club Wauchula

AdventHealth Wauchula

450 Hours

Mosaic team members volunteered 450 hours and supported a dozen local causes through Mosaic’s Employee Giving Program.

Largest Corporate Contributor to Local Hardee Non-Profits

Mosaic invests in organizations that strengthen Hardee County—from local nonprofits and school STEM programs to 4‑H and FFA—helping sustain the rural economy and preserve the community’s unique way of life for generations to come.

Community Projects

Main Street Wauchula, Historic City Auditorium Renovation & Crews Park Project

Friends of Hardee Parks, Community Center and Grill Shed

Hardee Senior & Junior High Schools, STEM Scholars & AVID Programs

Nu-HOPE Elder Care Services, Home Delivered Meal Program

Friends of Hardee County Parks, Movie Night in the Parks

Florida Pioneer Festival, Homesteading in the Heartland

Rotary Club of Hardee, Watermelon Festival

Drug Free Hardee, Youth Initiatives

$155K Send Me Missions, Inc.

In Hardee County, Send Me Missions, Inc. serves as a lifeline for neighbors in need—bringing hope, hands-on support and a strong sense of community to families facing difficult times. Since 2021, Mosaic has contributed $155,000 to help advance that work. From disaster recovery to strengthening local infrastructure, this partnership helps uplift lives, restore homes, and bring people together when it matters most.

$8M Hardee Education Foundation

Through an $8 million endowment to the Hardee Education Foundation, Mosaic helped launch the Grow Hardee Scholarship program—encouraging graduates to build their lives in Hardee by reimbursing education costs for those who contribute to the local economy.

$90M - Largest Contributor in Diversifying Hardee County’s Economy

Mosaic’s impact in Hardee County extends beyond our operations, strengthening the local economy through jobs, wages, and significant investments that support businesses and community stability. Since 2008, we’ve contributed $90 million through development agreements to help diversify the county’s economy, attract new industries, and shape its economic future. No other similarly situated county has received this level of funding from a private entity to help them grow.

Mosaic
Operations in
Hardee County

Hardee County has been a critical hub for Florida’s phosphate mining industry dating back 140 years. Mosaic operates two mining sites in Hardee.

South Fort Meade

Operating since 1995, sits on county line with Polk
250 employees
Mining and processing of phosphate matrix

South Pasture

Operating since 1978, temporarily idled in 2018
Mining and processing of phosphate matrix

By the Numbers

325

Employees call Hardee County home

300

Employees work at our South Fort Meade, South Pasture and Ona sites

$33.6M

Employee salaries & wages

$76.3M

Total local contractor and vendor spend

Taxes Paid

25%

Mosaic taxes paid account for nearly 25% of the county’s annual tax roll.

$8M

Payroll Taxes for Hardee County Employees

Ad Valorem

$8.5M Real property
$6.6M Tangible
$3.3M Severance Tax

$284M

Capital investments

$31.2M Reclamation Investment

Spent reclaiming more than 21K acres, including initial earthwork, revegetation and ongoing maintenance

Agriculture in Hardee County

Over 70% of Mosaic’s land holdings in Hardee County support local agriculture.

Florida Fishing Trail

The Florida Fishing Trail is a partnership between Mosaic, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Hardee County, transforming reclaimed land into a premier freshwater fishing destination. Spanning nine scenic lakes, including five newly built lakes on over 260 acres of formerly mined land and four within Hardee Lakes Park, the trail offers exceptional fishing for anglers of all ages and skills. Open seasonally and carefully managed to preserve the habitat, the Florida Fishing Trail showcases how land can be thoughtfully restored to create lasting recreational and community value for generations to come.

Click to learn more

For more information, contact Public Affairs Manager Kirsten Turner at kirsten.turner@mosaicco.com.