Featured

After 3 Decades and an Ever-Growing Fanbase That Spanned the Globe, Owners Archie and Jill Ritch Retire by SHAYLYNN MARKS photos provided by RIDGE ISLAND GROVES After more than three decades serving up fresh-squeezed orange juice, homemade ice cream, and Southern hospitality, Ridge Island Groves has closed its doors to the public. The family-run citrus […]

Growers Report Steady Market Prices, Strong Production by RYAN MILEJCZAK While the 2025 Florida blueberry season wasn’t without its struggles, Florida growers report a strong year. “South Florida seems to have been a bit lower on production, but everyone had a pretty good year,” says Wild Goose Farms’ Cameron Allison, a second-generation blueberry grower with

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida There’s no doubt that the avocado is an odd fruit. Due to its rough, scaly skin, it is sometimes known as the “alligator pear,” and its soft, rich, and fatty flesh is unlike anything else you can find at your local supermarket.  So, it should

David Sumner’s Book Traces the Rise, Fall, and Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry by REBEKAH PIERCE There are very few industries that are as deeply intertwined with the identity of a place as citrus is with Florida. When you think about Florida, that is, you think about oranges. Unfortunately, that narrative may be changing. Once

Bee-Haven Honey Company Delivers Raw Taste of Florida by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Visit Central Florida Tucked into the trees of North Lakeland, Bee-Haven Honey Company is doing more than bottling honey — it’s capturing the flavor of Florida. The company, which specializes in raw, unprocessed honey, is educating the community and collecting new customers

University Partnership Focuses on New Possibilities for Citrus by RYAN MILEJCZAK The flavors and aromas of citrus are some of the most prized of any fruit. Lemon and orange scents are nearly synonymous with cleaning products, while citrus plays a starring role in the flavors of popular beverages, snacks, candies, and foods. Despite this, there’s

School Named 2024 Polk County Farm Bureau Ag Program of the Year by SHAYLYNN MARKS Congratulations to Kathleen Middle School for earning the designation of 2024 Polk County Farm Bureau Agriculture Program of the Year!  At Kathleen Middle, the award marks a milestone moment for agriculture teacher Julianne Ream, who has spent the past three

Gelb Named 2024 Polk County Farm Bureau Ag Teacher of the Year by SHAYLYNN MARKS Hats off to Mulberry High School’s Kathryn Gelb, who was named the 2024 Polk County Farm Bureau Agriculture Teacher of the Year! The seeds of Gelb’s journey into agriculture education were planted when she was in middle school, thanks to

by REBEKAH PIERCE Marcia Lightsey is a cattle rancher, mother, grandmother, and tireless advocate for all things agriculture and conservation in the state of Florida. Described by her daughter, Leigh Ann Wynn, as “one of the most selfless people” she knows, and by Carole McKenzie, Polk County Farm Bureau Executive Director as a “get things

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Summer is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for some sweet, juicy peaches. While they’re most often associated with our northern neighbor Georgia, peaches are also widely cultivated right here in Florida.  The peach tree, Prunus persica, was first domesticated in China