Recovering

From page 1 declined, only to be lost anyway, she said

The Schneiders were able to help those around them, however, as they used their FruitScapes retail location as a distribution center for fellow islanders in need following Hurricane Ian

“People could come and get food, clothing, kids toys and finally we got with the daycare and distributed the rest to them,” Schneider said of Creative Coast Daycare

There is no cost or registration necessary, just arrive at 6 p m to register onsite

First Baptist Church of Pine Island is located at The Center across from Pine Island Elementary School at

Loss of irrigation made last season a very short one for Pine Island Tropicals, as well as Mama Donna products, since they are made from most of the fruit grown on site, Schneider said Counting themselves fortunate for having been able to stay on the island through the hurricane because she was able to salvage the fruit she’d had in her six freezers, Schneider said, a present issue is for next year, due to a lack of fruit on the trees now In an attempt to tackle the problem, they find themselves purchasing inventory from growers out of the area, admitting this to be a foreign problem, as Pine Island has been plentiful in live inventory, especially mangoes

“We are open at the market FruitScapes so I do have my Momma Donna products there. Right now, we are sourcing out of the area for fruit, but we are fully stocked at the moment as well at the market The only thing I am not doing at the moment is, I’m unable to provide any of my tropicals at the moment Right now, people can look at the fresh fruit any of the tropical fruit and obviously trees that FruitScapes provide and any of my Momma Donna products I’m still making my breads jam, chutney, salsa, barbecue sauce,” Schneider said Schneider thanks islanders for their support, saying

5363 Avenue D , Bokeelia

For additional information about the VBS or if you have questions, please contact Cristen Olsen at 239283-1737 they’ve been on Pine Island since 1980, with plans to continue

“Things may look a little different right now but we’re striving to get back to normalcy and provide all the products we’ve been able to provide through the years, particularly feeding families with organic fruits and vegetab l e s , a n d , o f c o u r s e , w e ’ l l b e a t M a n g o M a n i a , ” Schneider said Pine Island Tropicals is at 12870 Stringfellow Road, B o k e e l i a T h e b u s i n e s s i s o p e n M o n d a y , T u e s d a y , Thursday and Saturday, from 9 a m to 4 p m For additional information, call 239-283-4874, visit Pineisland tropicals com or email Pineislandtropicals@gmail com