About Us

We are a biological technology company who produce and sell tissue culture liners on a wholesale level. Tissue-culture is the duplication of the original plant we put into production, in doing so we have an exact replica of the "mother" plant. We clone plants!

Our lab technicians use scalpels, microscopes and petri dishes, to produce thousands of little plants from a single, tiny growing tip cut from a superior "mother" plant. Our plants are grown on a gelled nutrient rich medium with growth regulators. They are grown in vessels, on shelves, in a sterile laboratory which is temperature and light controlled. Each plant is disease free and can be virus indexed upon request.

When the plants are large enough to harvest, or to be planted in soil, to allow them to root and grow to 3-5" in height, then they are sold as liners in 72 cell-packs. Using tissue culture means a sample of an endangered plant can be used to grow thousands more. If researchers develop a hybrid with curative properties, Agri-Starts can mass-produce it.

Our Mission
Provide our customers with a competitive advantage in the market place
Provide leadership and support for the nursery industry
Provide our owners and technicians with opportunities for unlimited growth

...was founded in September 1984 in Apopka, FL by Randall E. Strode and Gerri Abner. They began producing and selling tissue culture liners to the wholesale nursery industry, specializing in Alocasia, Musa, Spathiphyllum and Syngonium.

...with principal owner Lee Goode, was incorporated in 1989 specializing in producing Dieffenbachia, Ficus, Ferns and Philodendron. They are located in Apopka, Florida on Round Lake Road. Visit their website at www.agristarts2.com.

...with Mike Rinck as principal owner, was incorporated in 1993 and produces Insectivorous varieties, Calathea, Gerbera Daisies, Hosta, Grasses and other herbaceous perennials. We are located in Eustis, Florida. Visit their website at www.agristarts3.com.

...was incorporated in 1994 with Bruce Carpenter as principal owner specializing in Anthurium, Bromeliad, Gingers, Orchids, Cordylines and Homalomenas. They are located in Mount Dora, Florida on Britt Road. Visit their website at www.agristarts4.com.

...our fifth company also known as AMI, was established in January 1997 to exclusively produce micro cuttings. It draws upon the entire product line of all four Agri-Starts companies to produce and sell micros primarily to international customers. Click here for more information.

Research and Development (R&D) at Agri-Starts, Inc began in 1999 under the direction of Rick Slocum. It is committed to improving the existing technologies of today while embracing those of the future. Our research strategy is driven by the global competition of producing standard crops more efficiently and new crops more frequently.

We are using the sciences of cold storage and UV water sterilization, a greater understanding of in vitro conditions, irradiation-induced mutations, new crop production protocols, and even knowledge of fern life cycles as tools for commercial success.

Current biotech investigations at Agri-Starts, inc. are with semi-automated liquid production systems development, crop initiations through somatic embryogenesis, phytochemical production via nutraceuticals, and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The Research and Development program will help us maintain our role as an industry leader, as well as offer even greater potential for future growth!

All of our companies are committed to offering quality plants and superior service. Each Agri-Starts company is individually owned and operated, therefore orders and payments should be made to the respective facility.