Florida Farmers Team with State Leaders to Launch Farm to Inmate Program Harvested produce crops feed Florida Department of Corrections’ (FDC) more than 87,000 inmates; action saves food costs while reducing COVID-19 related supply chain impacts. (FFA) — Florida farmers are uncovering new solutions to address supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Florida’s emergency order to shutter businesses …
Maximize Marketing in the Online Space
By Lauri M. Baker Digital marketing could increase sales for agriculture-based businesses that sell directly to consumers. However, many business owners struggle to understand where to place their online efforts and how to effectively market in the digital sphere. The Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement (CREE) conducts research to understand best practices in digital marketing for agribusinesses. Then, the CREE …
Labor Leads List of Grower Concerns
By Zhengfei Guan and Kuan-Ming Huang In a packed conference room at an industry event, a Florida grower sitting in a discussion panel was asked: “You wake up at 2:00 in the morning. What worries you the most?” “Labor,” answered the grower without a second of doubt. Labor has been an issue that bothers not only Florida farmers but those …
WOTUS Is Back
By Frank Giles The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the latest attempt to define the waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. The final rule was announced on Dec. 30. The latest WOTUS definition is the third attempt that started with President Obama in 2015. President Trump replaced that …
Ecosystem Services Move Forward in Florida
By Frank Giles Farming has never been an easy profession, but the past few years have placed even bigger burdens on the job. The pandemic, supply-chain disruptions, inflation and extreme weather events have all placed additional challenges on profitability. Even before the pandemic, a group of growers in Florida began recognizing challenges to their sustainability was a larger discussion than …
Expo Tackles Trucking and New BMPs
By Frank Giles The 2022 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was held last month in North Fort Myers. Growers from across Florida and beyond gathered for the event that was packed with educational programming and a trade show floor full of exhibitors eager to display their products and services. This year’s general educational session focused on some of the bigger …
Register Now: Citrus/Specialty Crop Expo Scheduled for Aug. 17-18
By Clint Thompson Producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for this year’s Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo scheduled for Aug. 17-18 at the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers, Florida. Complimentary registration is available for all growers, packers, shippers, processors, association members and university researchers. Those interested can click here for additional information. Josh McGill, show director, discusses …
Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Slated for Aug. 17-18
By Clint Thompson Producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo scheduled for Aug. 17-18 at the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers, Florida. Complimentary registration is available for all growers, packers, shippers, processors, association members and university researchers. Those interested can click here for additional information. Josh McGill, show director, discusses …
Jeb Smith Takes the Reins at Florida Farm Bureau
By Frank Giles Jeb Smith’s agricultural roots run deep in Florida. He is a fifth-generation farmer born and raised in St. Johns County. He lives on the same property his great, great grandfather farmed in Hastings, Florida. The farm was designated a Century Pioneer Family Farm by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in March of this …
Russian Invasion of Ukraine Reverberates Through Global Agriculture
By Frank Giles As the Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches into its second week, growers in the United States and globally are feeling the fallout. Fuel price hikes are being felt by all consumers, including growers. Last week, the U.S. main price for oil topped $110 per barrel. That is the highest price in more than a decade. Over the …