Formed by a merger in 1972 of the Highland Crate Cooperative and the Exchange Supply and Service Cooperative, Highland-Exchange Service Cooperative initially operated primarily as a corrugated container broker in Tampa for its member organizations. Since then, HESCO's product offering has diversified to now include mesh and poly bags, safety equipment, apparel, tires, batteries, fuel, lubricants, maintenance and repair parts, post-harvest chemicals, production and harvesting equipment, gift fruit cartons and supplies, and janitorial supplies.

Most of HESCO's members are now serviced by a staff of 20 employees from a 75,000-square-foot warehouse and a 7,500-square-foot office in Waverly, Florida. Shipments from the warehouse are handled by a fleet of seven company trucks on regular delivery schedules.

The administrative and policy-making functions are coordinated by HESCO management with an Executive Committee comprised of seven Directors elected by the full Board of Directors for three-year rotating terms, with the President presiding as an ex-officio member. Recommendations emanating from meetings of the Executive Committee are presented to the full Board of Directors for their consideration.