Organic Matters is the perfect example of how Polk County’s economic roots in agriculture have grown and diversified into other industries, such as food processing, recycling, or even logistics. Organic Matters is a small, interesting company located south of Bartow that is actually involved in all of these industries. We first learned about them when their grant writer called us and asked for a letter of support for a project they were working on with the USDA. During our visit, we learned that they take the by-products of food manufacturers – bakeries in particular – and create animal feed for the agricultural industry. They are commercial recyclers serving both the food and agricultural industries. The project they are working on with the USDA takes their relationship with these industries, and their recycling, to a whole new level. They received more than $200,000 in grant funding to construct and operate an anaerobic digester, which will take other types of food waste from food manufacturers, and produce natural gas.

Oh, and they were in this weekend’s News Chief. Take a look!