Bill's Nursery, Inc., DBA Almond Tree Nursery was established in 1969, incorporated with the state of Florida as of January 1, 1982 and has been in good standing since. The company’s president and 100% shareholder, Stephen Garrison Sr. was a combat veteran of the Vietnam war, a former Chief of Police in Virginia Gardens, Florida and former President of the FNGLA, Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association, with many other accomplishments on his resume. The other officers in the company are his sons and they are also veterans. Matthew Garrison was a disabled veteran who suffered from PTSD, and he passed away earlier this year.
The officers currently own and operate Plant Life Farms, and PLF Logistics. Plant Life Farms grows on over 500 acres in Homestead. PLF Logistics has a fleet of trucks in order to control the quality of the company's service. A family owned and operated business, Almond Tree Nursery has been in the wholesale plant business for over 30 years committed to growing the highest quality trees, shrubs and ornamental plants in South Florida.
In 2015, the Company submitted two applications with Department of Health/ Office of Compassionate Use in order to obtain a license to cultivate low THC/High-CBD strains of cannabis. While his 3 sons focused on building Plant Life Farms, in 2014, Stephen Garrison Sr. began using the majority of his resources for the opportunity to obtain a license to grow medicinal cannabis in Florida. He has successfully secured the financing and an experienced
team ready execute on the plan.
The team is local and have operated successful companies within the State of Florida. They have built an extensive rolodex within the medical marijuana industry. and on their own accords decided to travel across the country to States such as California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington to learn and partake in every facet of the industry. They hope to bring the knowledge learned nationwide to help heal and create jobs for our local Florida communities.
They have also secured advisory and/or operational roles with other professional entities and/or leaders in the industry and patient advocates, that each bring knowledge and influence at the national, state and local levels, including crafting cannabis laws across the world. Stephen is confident this team will succeed in obtaining an MMTC license and, more importantly, succeed in obtaining market share as a leading MMTC in the State of Florida.
Bill's Nursery is a certified Veteran Owned Business. Bill/s seeks to establish an affordability program to allow for increased access of medical marijuana to our veteran communities. Bill’s seeks to honor our fallen loved ones by funding research into how this plant may help patients with PTSD, and allowing for safe, affordable access to Medical Cannabis This will be in honor of Stephen Garrison’s son Matthew, who is no longer with us. Matthew was a disabled veteran that suffered with PTSD.
Stephen Garrison’s Bio
Stephen Garrison Sr. is a combat Veteran of the Vietnam war part of the search and rescue unit. He served 4 years in the US Navy and 1 year operating small boats in a combat zone in Gulf of Tomkin. He was former Chief of Police, former President of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) amongst other accomplishments. He is the Owner of Bill’s Nursery, Inc dba Almond Tree Nursery since 1981. The family run business has spent over three decades providing tropical plants and trees for landscape from Key West to Jacksonville Florida and the throughout the Caribbean. Currently the company has an ownership interest in Plant Life Farms, LLC, and the principals manage operations. Plant Life Farms grows on over 500 acres in Homestead, Florida, and they are on pace to record over $17,000,000 in revenues in 2017.
Mr. Garrison has 20 years of experience in the Law Enforcement field. In 8 years at the Virginia Gardens Police Department, Mr. Garrison made his way up from Patrolman to Lieutenant and eventually Chief of Police. He was also a membership representative and elected member of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association, Board of Directors for 10 years, where he was responsible for the representation of members, contract negotiation for Homestead and other Dade municipalities. He served the Homestead Police Department for 8 years as a Patrolman and was promoted to Detective. During his time at the Dekalb County Police Department in Georgia, he was assigned to the Narcotics Squad and spent one year during a special assignment with the Federal Drug Abuse Law Enforcement Program, more commonly known now as the DEA. Mr. Garrison has been an active member of the following professional organizations Citizens Against Crime, Florida Nurseryman and Growers Association, Dade County Police Benevolent Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #13 William F. Brantley Lodge, Farm Service Administration, South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District and more.
Mr. Garrison graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science Management from Florida International University Miami, Florida.