TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Plant City 'Strawberry King' Parke Dies At Age 87

Florida Strawberry Festival file photo (2004)

Roy and Helen Parke have been active in the annual festival since 1965.

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 5, 2008

PLANT CITY - Roy Parke, probably the most recognized face among Florida strawberry growers and unofficially the "Strawberry King," died this morning.

He was 87.

Parke had been in declining health since he had a stroke about six years ago. This morning he was having trouble breathing, and his family took him to South Florida Baptist Hospital, where he died about 10 a.m.

His family was with him when he died, said his daughter, Sandee Sytsma.

He built a strawberry empire that included a farm and the popular Parkesdale Farm Market.

Parke was active for years in the Florida Strawberry Festival, and a building on the grounds is named for Parke and his wife, Helen.

The Parkes were instrumental in helping build the festival into what it is today, spreading across 110 acres and drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators each year.

When temperatures fall below 32 degrees, TV crews assigned to cover the freeze often sought out Roy Parke, and he became a familiar face to Tampa Bay viewers.

Parke, who served two years as festival president, was known for many innovations and was the first grower to fly strawberries to Europe, in 1962. Parke was director emeritus but was a familiar sight at the festival until the past few years.

The Parke family owns a farm and Parkesdale Farm Market, 3702 U.S. 92 W., where customers often form long lines for strawberry shortcake and other goodies.

The first person inducted into the Florida Strawberry Growers Hall of Fame, Roy Parke was been showered with honors and prestigious appointments: Florida Agriculturist of the Year, Outstanding Strawberry Grower and director of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT