Carden & Associates, Inc. was founded by Bob Carden Jr., a citrus and nursery grower in Polk County, FL, in 1998. Mr. Carden’s farming experiences shaped his understanding of the investment risks faced in agriculture, showing him the value that a properly structured crop insurance program could be used to provide growers the help they needed to manage those risks more efficiently.

From the beginning, Carden & Associates has focused on providing the highest quality of service to farmers, growers, and ranchers not only in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama but wherever a need has arisen. Through this commitment to service, Carden & Associates has grown to become one of the largest crop insurance agencies in the United States. The agency prides itself on its team of experienced agents, customer service representatives, and support staff with strong farming & insurance backgrounds, sharing a commitment to service that is second to none. At Carden & Associates, we have one goal, and one goal only-to keep you growing first, last, and always, with service, products, and knowledge that are far beyond the norm.

• Put our customers first
• Use up-to-date technology to improve efficiency and service for our customers
• Ensure that our clients understand the insurance programs we offer
• Ensure that our suite consists of the most valuable products and services available
• Select the ideal products unique to the needs of our customers
• Serve our community through charitable events and opportunities
• Establish long-standing relationships with our clients

Our focus has always been to provide clients with a clear understanding of the benefits offered through the crop insurance programs we sell. There is a vast array of products, from revenue plans for row crops to production and dollar plans for specialty crops, as well as various private products. Additionally, a strong understanding of Farm Bill and commodity programs is critical as it dictates how these programs will work in conjunction with insurance. One of the greatest strengths of the agency is the ability to help growers navigate through these complex issues. The company’s knowledge has developed over the years. From Mr. Carden’s involvement in designing some of Florida's first specialty crop insurance programs to his testimonies at congressional hearings, Carden and Associates continues to be an industry leader in not only the Federal Crop Insurance program but in the overall industry as well. Advancements in technology have kept the company on the cutting edge of the industry by working to secure valuable, user-friendly software products and tools for our customers. Carden has also developed a series of product explanations, which clients find provides them the information needed to make well-informed risk management decisions. From GPS mapping to farmer record-keeping, from planning software to state-of-the-art agency software, clients receive service that is second to none. These tools, paired with the relationships that are built with their customers, have forged a strong bond between them.

Carden & Associates offers a suite of products in addition to Federal Crop Insurance that is continuously evolving to keep you growing in the event of a disaster. Along with these products, we have formed strategic partnerships with AgAmerica Lending, LLC, and AgriSompo North America to provide an additional level of support for our customers.

FINANCIAL OPTIONS

AgAmerica Lending is the nation’s premier non-bank lender specializing in agriculture real estate with a broad spectrum of agricultural loan programs. AgAmerica creates options for farmers and landowners that traditional lenders cannot.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Taking crop insurance data to a new level, AgriSompo North America utilizes drone and mobile farm management technology to provide accurate, comprehensive reports and individually customized maps.

INTEGRITY - Do the right thing every time:

Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing in every action you take and in every decision you make, even when no one’s looking! Always tell the truth. Mean what you say and say what you mean.

CUSTOMER SERVICE - Do what’s right for the customer:

In all situations, do what’s best for the customer, even if it’s to our own detriment. Our customers are external and internal, and deserve the most positive experience with every interaction. There’s no better way to build a reputation than to consistently do what’s right for others.

COMPASSION - Practice the human touch:

Listen for and pay attention to the things that make people unique. Show others you care about them as individuals, rather than as transactions. Tell them you appreciate them, acknowledge their work, and make them feel important through your words and actions.

KINDNESS - Create a tone of friendliness and warmth:

Every conversation, email, letter, and voicemail set a tone and creates a feeling. Pay attention to every interaction, and be sure you’re setting a tone of friendliness, warmth, and helpfulness. Make everyone you come into contact with feel special.

ACCOUNTABILITY - Practice blameless problem-solving:

Apply your creativity, spirit, and enthusiasm for developing solutions rather than pointing fingers and dwelling on problems. Identify lessons learned and use those lessons to improve our processes so we don’t make the same mistake again. If you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize, and make it right.

INITIATIVE - Go the extra mile:

Be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the job…plus a little bit more. Take the initiative and next steps to solve the problem, even if it takes doing something that’s not in your job description. It’s the extra mile that separates the average person from the superstar. Be a superstar.

SHARING - Share information:

With appropriate respect for confidentiality, share information freely. Learn to ask yourself, “who else needs to know this?” Information is one of our greatest assets. Find it, share it, and use it.

ACKNOWLEDGE - Celebrate success:

Catching people doing things right is more effective than catching them doing things wrong. Regularly extend meaningful acknowledgment and appreciation in all directions across the company. Saying "thank you" helps to build positive relationships and a positive atmosphere.

OPEN-MINDED - Assume positive intent:

Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, honest, and that the intent behind their actions is positive. Set aside your own judgments and preconceived notions. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

PERSPECTIVE - Keep it fun:

Remember that the world has bigger problems than the daily challenges that make up our workday. Stuff happens. Keep perspective. Don’t take things personally or take yourself too seriously. Create laughter every day!