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Beleaguered Lakeland Dairy Farm Among Many  in Struggle to Survive Virus Fallout by MARY TOOTHMAN The H.C. Dairy has seen hard times before. Like most farming operations, the family-run dairy farm operated by Mike and Freda Carey has struggled to make ends meet. Built roughly 100 years ago, it is thought to be the last […]

Agri-Fest Has a Strong History of Introducing Youth to Florida Agriculture by TERESA SCHIFFER In 1988, a new idea emerged in Central Florida for a method of engaging young people in agriculture. The goal was to provide interactive agricultural education to students in Polk County. Agri-Fest was born. What started as a one-day field trip

Florida Beef Ambassador Hopes to Get More Youth Involved in Industry by CATHERINE CERVONE For many teens, the end of high school is about prom, graduation and other senior traditions. McKettrick  McKettrick has a few other things on her mind. McKettrick is a senior at DeSoto County High School finishing out the last few months

Is your farm selling produce direct to consumers? If so, FFVA wants to help spread the word. With the current supply-chain disruption, many producers are now selling directly to the public to move their product, and consumers are eager to find out where fresh, local produce is available for purchase. If you or a company

FDACS Creating Online Database for Produce and Seafood On Monday afternoon, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced its effort to establish an online site to facilitate the sale or donation of fresh produce and seafood that might otherwise be left to rot because of the marketplace economics due to COVID-19 impacts. 

Young Rancher Credits UF/IFAS Extension for Much of Her Success by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS correspondent Megan Johnston works alone, proudly managing a 140-acre ranch. Though there are no typical days, Johnston gets up about 5:30 every morning to feed the cows and their calves on land near Floral City, Florida.  Johnston attributes much of her

Food Check-Out Week Spreads Farm-to-Table Awareness by PAUL CATALA For most of her life, Scarlett Jackson has been involved with getting what’s on the farm to the table. But some of Florida’s 20.6 million residents—many from other parts of the United States or abroad—might not know what it takes to get food from a Florida

Researchers Turn to New Cultivars to Rebound From Greening by MARY TOOTHMAN The Sunshine State is making some citrus-centric changes — such a new juice oranges and some new cultivar choices — to help the industry navigate obstacles. The decline in orange juice sales is the reason — at least in part — why new

Florida Blueberries a Booming Business Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida by TERESA SCHIFFER Did you know that the blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is one of only a handful of cultivated fruit crops that is native to North America? Experts estimate that the bush has been present on this continent for about 13,000 years. Native

Florida Is the Second-Highest Strawberry-Producing State Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida by ERIKA ALDRICH Florida strawberries are some of the most beloved berries in the country, especially because they are just about the only strawberry available in the dead of winter! The majority of Florida strawberries originate in Plant City, which is recognized