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Clermont Farmer Banks Helfrich Is On a Mission to ‘Close the Loop’ by REBEKAH PIERCEtitle photo by SAI PATEL Variety is the spice of life, or so they say — and for Clermont farmer Banks Helfrich, that statement couldn’t possibly hold more truth. A performer-turned-farmer, Helfrich grows hundreds of different plants on his 7-acre plot.  […]

Pat Spinosa’s ‘Like a Farmer’ Podcast Is Making Rural America Cool Again by REBEKAH PIERCE If Pat Spinosa could say one thing about the goal of his now famous podcast, “Like a Farmer,” it would be this: “I want to make farming cool again.” He admits (happily), that rural America is starting to become trendy

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Peanuts are one of the South’s most emblematic crops. Rich in protein, fat, fiber, and other essential nutrients, peanuts can be enjoyed roasted, as peanut butter, boiled, or used in classic recipes, to name just a few uses. And though you might not know it,

Sebring’s Secret Gardens Winery & Farm Sharing the Fruits of Its Labor by PAUL CATALA The Murrays live and work in a secret garden they want everyone to know about.  The Murrays – Rick and Valerie and their daughter Alexa “Lexi” Murray – own and operate Secret Gardens Winery & Farm Inc. in Sebring. It’s

by DAVID AUSTIN, UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County There’s nothing more refreshing than enjoying the shade of a tree while eating some fresh fruit on a hot summer day in Florida. The best way to do that is to ensure you have some nice fruit trees in your yard. Central Florida is a great place to

New Highlands County Extension Agent Ready to Take on the Challenges by REBEKAH PIERCE Ranking second in the state for dairy and beef cattle and third for citrus production, Highlands County has always been a hub for agriculture. Now there’s a new face in town ready to help county farmers make an even bigger impact.

As Noble Ag Nears Its Centennial, Technology Keeps It Competitive by PAUL CATALA Nearly 100 years ago, the citrus industry worked differently. In 1926, when W.G. Roe founded Wm. G. Roe & Co., citrus growing, cultivating, harvesting and processing were done almost entirely by hand.  Through the decades, those processes have evolved through the advent

Woman’s Vision Unites Consumers With Locally Grown Produce by REBEKAH PIERCE What if you could find local farm-fresh fruit and veggies just by clicking a button on Facebook? That’s the vision that drove Jillian Childs to create Florida Farm Finder.  Childs grew up in rural upstate New York in the Catskill mountains, where local farms

Brenda Eubanks Burnette Named 2024 Citrus Achievement Award Winner by RYAN MILEJCZAK photos provided by BRENDA EUBANKS BURNETTE Every year, Citrus Industry Magazine names a Citrus Achievement Award winner, which recognizes those who have made significant impacts within the Florida citrus industry or beyond. This year, Brenda Eubanks Burnette received the honor.  Burnette has been

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Summer is in full swing, and the Florida heat is as oppressive as ever. When temperatures shoot up like this, few things are more refreshing than a juicy, sweet watermelon. And when that watermelon is grown right here in Florida, it’s going to taste all