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Meet the 2025 Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees The Selection Committee for The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced the selection of Dr. Charles W. Adams (deceased), formerly of Auburndale, Dr. James H. “Jim” Graham of Lake Alfred, and Daniel R. “Dan” Richey of Vero Beach as the Class of 2025 inductees. The […]

UF/IFAS Team Secures Funds to Expand Avocado Production Into Central Florida, Combat Laurel Wilt Disease by LOURDES MEDEROS, UF/IFAS Scientists with the University of Florida have secured a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to combat the lethal Laurel wilt disease and the redbay ambrosia beetles

Florida’s Farm to School Program Aims to Connect Local Farmers With the Classroom by RYAN MILEJCZAK You’ve likely heard of farm to table—but what about farm to school? Florida’s Farm to School initiative aims to connect our schools with growers around the state, improving nutrition for our students and building their connection to agriculture.  “Florida’s

Orlando Oasis Showcases Botanical Beauty With a Nod to Rare, Endangered Plants by REBEKAH PIERCE photos by HARRY P. LEU GARDENS When most people think of the city of Orlando, camellias, cycads, and agaves probably don’t come to mind first. Yet within the bustling hub of the downtown area, on the calm shores of Lake

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida The bell pepper is a fresh, crisp, and delicious favorite across the nation. As Floridians, we’re especially lucky because they grow so well right here in our own state!  While they might not get the spotlight like other crops such as citrus and strawberries, bell

78th Polk County Youth Fair Takes Place Jan. 24-Feb. 1 by PAUL CATALAphotos by TOM HAGERTY (2024) For the past year, youths from across the region have been working to get ready for what always proves to be one of the most exciting weeks of the year. When the 2025 Polk County Youth Fair takes

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS As we enter the state’s strawberry-growing season, establishing young strawberry plants in the field requires substantial water. New University of Florida research shows that growers can save as much as 67% — or up to half a million gallons per acre per season by alternating sprinkler cycles on and off —

UF’s SmartAg Certificate Programs Teach Application of AI Concepts by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Graduate students from across the University of Florida can leap into the future workplaces of agricultural technology. Through two Smart Ag certificate programs, started in 2022, the agricultural and biological engineering department (ABE) offers classes in which students can learn and apply

Ben Hill Griffin Nursery Ventures Into Vegetables, Greens, Herbs, and Flower Products by REBEKAH PIERCE photos by JESS McDONALD Beloved performer Dolly Parton famously said, “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” As Florida’s citrus industry continues to struggle amid the citrus greening crisis, more producers are having to adjust their

Polk County Farm Bureau Takes Home Prestigious Apex Award by RYAN MILEJCZAK Agriculture is a complicated industry, requiring intense coordination at all levels to ensure farmers can do their job and put the food we eat on the table. The farm bureaus across our nation at the federal, state, and local level are essential to