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Polk County’s Youth Ambassadors Step Up to Spread Awareness by REBEKAH PIERCE Do you know what it takes to be the face of agriculture in Polk County? High school students in the inaugural Polk County Youth Fair Ambassador Program are discovering firsthand exactly how to do just that. This brand-new program was created to increase […]

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida The orange is by far Florida’s most emblematic crop. It’s our official state fruit, appearing on license plates, in the names of our towns and cities, and much more.   It was the Spanish who first brought oranges to Florida in the 1500s. As legend holds,

All Florida Executive Director Travis Thompson Teaching Fourth-Graders About Conservation  by REBEKAH PIERCE When Aldo Leopold wrote about land management and conservation in his book, “A Sand County Almanac,” published more than 75 years ago, he likely didn’t particularly have Central Florida fourth-graders in mind as his target audience. And while his book, which has

Highlands County Youth Citrus Project Teaches Life Skills, Time Management by MAGGIE THARP A Highlands County 4-H club with a 26-year history is helping Highlands County youth practice growing high-quality citrus trees and teaching important life skills in the process. The Highlands County Youth Citrus Project was founded in 1999 by Tim Hurner, former director

by TIM CRAIG Sponsored by Visit Central Florida The next time tourists get ready for a Central Florida vacation, they may want to pack a knife and fork alongside their trunks and sunscreen. According to Grand View Research, culinary tourism was an estimated $2.7 billion industry in 2024 and is expected to grow nearly 20

Strawberry Growers Grapple With Hurricanes, Extreme Cold but Still Come Out on Top by RYAN MILEJCZAK photo by JESS McDONALD Florida growers are only a few months into this year’s strawberry season, but they’re already saying it is one of the best in recent years. In the words of Kenneth Parker, Executive Director of the

by MARY FRANCES MEIER The Highlands County Master Gardener Volunteers will offer a spring plant sale on Saturday, February 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agriculture Center in Sebring.  After several weeks of especially chilly weather, some folks may need some new plants to freshen up the garden.

Alturas Grower David Lawson Pushes Citrus Trees for Strawberries in Bid to Forge a Future  by REBEKAH PIERCEphotos by TYLER DiGIOVINE & JESS McDONALD When asked why he chose to become a farmer, David Lawson responded with a question in turn. “How many times in your life do you need a lawyer? A police officer?

38 Years Strong in a Field of Their Own by REBEKAH PIERCE Central Florida is known for its thriving cattle industry, as well as for crops like citrus, tomatoes, watermelon, and bell peppers. While agriculture has been the name of the game since the area was settled, all the way back in the mid-1800s, sheep

Harvest Collective Helping Area Farmers Connect With Consumers by MAGGIE THARP There’s a new business that’s making it easier than ever for residents to support farms, ranches, and other local businesses.  Founded by Lakeland native Mikaela Booth in late 2024, The Harvest Collective works with farmers and other local producers to get their products to