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SFDB Post of the Month

July 31, 2011 by marian33031


Glory be and hallelujah! The good folks over at South Florida Daily Blog decided they liked my post, For the Love of Lychees, so much that they voted it the post of the month for June.

Thanks for the honor! I’m touched the post brought back pleasant memories of savoring backyard fruit. Place has a taste, and those local flavors tell you where you are, or where you are from. Glad I was able to help you (and hopefully others) make that connection.

Many, many thanks to lychee grower Steven Green who invited me to document picking day, and gave me lots of good information. Couldn’t have done it without his help.

Posted in media | Tagged , , | 3 Comments »

Growers opposed to deep cuts

July 25, 2011 by marian33031

Proposed county budget would gut funding for agriculture

By Christina Veiga
cveiga@MiamiHerald.com

There’s a long way between County Hall and the avocado groves of Redland, the rows of tomatoes in Homestead and the plant nurseries of deep South Miami-Dade.

But more than miles seem to separate county government from the county’s $2.7 billion agriculture industry, growers say.

The budget proposed last week by Mayor Carlos Gimenez guts or completely eliminates services to farmers, nursery growers and others in South Dade.

Agriculture folks say the dramatic reductions reflect how out-of-touch County Hall is when it comes to farming in Miami-Dade.

“If they truly understood the value and the asset that this is, I think they might show a little more respect for it,” said Debbie Brady, a spokeswoman for the Dade County Farm Bureau.

Under the proposed budget, the county would eliminate the Agricultural Manager’s Office, which serves as a liaison between growers and the government. Also gutted: the county’s funding for the cooperative extension office, a partnership with the University of Florida which provides research and education for farmers, and programs for youth and families.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/22/2326762/proposed-county-budget-would-gut.html 

Published in The Miami Herald, Sunday July 24, 2011.

 

 

Posted in farmer/grower, location, media, politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

Redland fruit arrives in Central Florida

July 18, 2011 by marian33031

In front of the store in Winter Park.

Last week I was up in Sanford visiting with friends Kattia, Chris and Holden. Kattia knows I’m a big fan of Whole Foods, and took me to visit the store at Winter Park.

Hardees in front and Donnies on the left.

The first thing I saw when I walked in through the front door was a heap of Florida avocados. They looked suspiciously familiar. I peered closer and saw the sign: Bee Heaven Farm, Homestead FL. “Kattia, look! Margie’s avocados!” I shouted, astonished by the presence of Redland raised Hardee and Donnie avocados. (One Hardee was starting to ripen and showed dark red streaks. It will turn burgundy red when it is completely ripe.)

Hardee avocados from Bee Heaven Farm.

The fruits were right under a spotlight and their green skins glowed in the light. They made the California Haas avocados stacked behind them look dark, drab and unremarkable by comparison. I pulled out my camera to take a picture. Kattia and her son Holden made theselves scarce over by the bulk bins, and the employee stacking produce looked at me with curiosity.

Massive mamey from Health and Happiness Farm.

I then noticed mamey stacked nearby, and looked more closely. The sign said Health and Happiness Farm, Homestead FL. “Kattia, look! Sal’s mamey is here too!” Next to the mamey were sapodillas from Kopali Organics, also from Homestead. I looked around and didn’t see my friends. Gee, you just can’t take me anywhere… But Redland fruit travels everywhere!

Posted in fruits, location, market, photo | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments »

Support Florida’s small farms

July 15, 2011 by marian33031

The Florida Dept. of Agriculture’s Small Farm Subcommittee has recommended changes to minimize costs for small farms while ensuring food safety.  This is a great step towards “right-sizing regulations” that impact Florida’s small farmers.

A number of small farms in Florida have provided input to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and we believe these recommendations could help bring you more items like eggs and honey for sale at the farmers market.

If you buy food from small local farmers, if fresh local food is important to you, then please tell Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, to keep up the good work! We want to thank him for paying attention to small farmers and encourage him to implement the recommendations of the Subcommittee.

To read the petition letter and sign it online, please click on the link below and enter your information on the left.  Hit the red “Sign” button when you are done.

http://www.change.org/petitions/keep-up-support-for-florida-small-farms

Help us get to 10,000! Pass this link on to your friends, fellow farmers market shoppers and fresh local food eaters!  We want to get to 10,000 signatures so we can show the Commissioner how many thousands of Floridians care about small farms.

We’ve heard from the Deputy Commissioner that our letters are making a big difference in helping to keep small farms on the Dept. of Ag’s agenda for the coming year (keeps a buzz in their ear at a time when other priorities are competing).

Thanks for your support!

Posted in farm, politics | Tagged , | 2 Comments »

Homestead Harvest Farmers’ Market

July 14, 2011 by marian33031

Verde Gardens, site of the new  Homestead Harvest Farmer’s Market.

Please join us for the opening of the Homestead Harvest Farmers Market at Verde Gardens!

Friday, July 15th
4:00 to 8:00 pm
12700 SW 280 Street, Homestead, FL 33038

We are celebrating the opening of this beautiful, new building with the first of the Locavore Lounge events — bring some food to share, buy a smoothie from the new juice bar, or shop for local produce at the Farmer’s Market.

This new year-round market is dedicated to improving access to sustainably-grown local food for all and will double EBT benefits for the first $10 spent, and offer a wide variety of organic and sustainably grown products from the region.

In the fall we will start selling produce raised next door at the 22-acre permaculture farm we are now developing at Verde Gardens, as well as inviting in more local farmers to offer their products.

This building will be a center for cooking classes, micro-enterprises creating value-added products, and more with a fully functional commercial kitchen, serving the residents of Verde Gardens and the surrounding communities.

Supported by the Homeless Trust and Carrfour Supportive Housing, operated by Urban Oasis Project and Earth Learning.

Posted in events, market | Tagged , , |

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