Central Florida Ag News January 2023

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10 YARD & GARDEN: A LOOK AT THE TOP TRENDS

Landscaping and gardening have always been popular topics for homeowners. Some of the biggest landscaping trends to emerge lately include a focus on the environment, natural wildlife, and sustainable vegetables. We spoke with Anne Yasalonis, Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator at UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, to find out what’s gaining traction and growing in popularity in gardens and landscapes this year.

12 WORLDLY FARE

When it comes to landscape design, there are plenty of styles and themes to choose from, especially here in Central Florida, where our climate allows for quite a range of options. One Winter Haven nursery, however, really takes the cake when it comes to offering edible options for your lawn and garden. Sow Exotic was established as an online nursery catering to anyone with a taste for the unusual when it comes to gardening. Now, almost seven years later, it’s grown into a thriving business that ships thousands of plants throughout the U.S. every year.

14 KEEPING IT LOCAL

This year, Polk County Youth Fair participants and their families have a new opportunity once the fun wraps up. Baxter Troutman recently opened Florida First Meats, a professional, USDA-certified meat processing facility in Frostproof, and is working with area fairs and farmers to solve supply chain issues and give the community a local option for their animals.

29 EQUAL IN THE RING

so it can reach even more kids. The organization will debut an Adaptive Showmanship Class at the CFYIA Livestock Show and Sale in March. This class will give all kids a chance to show off their skills handling cattle or swine, even if they need some assistance in the ring due to a disability.

Central Florida Youth in Agriculture is expanding its

THE NEW YEAR IS UPON US, and I, for one, am looking forward with optimism.

Sure, one of the most intense hurricanes in Florida history cleaved a path across the state just three months ago. Many of our farmers and ranchers are still reeling from the damage and subsequent fallout of that disaster.

Sure, the citrus industry is in an epic struggle that has turned grove owners across the state into naysayers. For many, the oxytetracycline injections feel like the last Hail Mary, but I think we are counting ourselves short.

Oh, and Florida has its share of challenges when it comes to water resources and labor, too. I get all that; I don’t have my head in the clouds.

But still I feel optimistic.

Every day that goes by is one more day the hurricane is behind us and one more day of recovery. Some of my citrus farmer friends may think I’m delusional, but optimism is almost as important for the industry as a cure for greening is.

We’re starting a new year with renewed hope buoyed by new Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Upon his swearing-in, he reiterated his belief in Florida’s agriculture industry. He called agriculture “the quiet, and often overlooked, giant of our economy,” and that it deserves his undivided attention.

A farmer himself, he says he “will bring an

NELSON KIRKLAND, Publisher nelson@centralfloridamediagroup.com

optimistic, common-sense, and problem-solving approach” to the position.

See. There’s that word again. The O word. We have to believe we can recover before we actually do recover. And I, for one, am optimistic Florida’s ag industry can do that. ag

Columns

11 CITRUS RESET MANAGEMENT: TIPS ON NUTRIENTS AND MORE

Citrus reset management is necessary for maximum efficiency in Florida citrus growers as citrus trees can decline and become unproductive for a number of reasons. This means removing and replacing citrus trees that are declining and have become unprofitable with resets. It also means ensuring that the resets live and thrive to become profitable parts of the grove. Griffin Fertilizer’s Mike Roberts explains more in this month’s column.

17 BRASSINOSTEROIDS RESEARCH MAY PROVIDE A WAY FORWARD FOR CITRUS

For five years, Dr. Fernando Alferez and his UF/IFAS research group in Immokalee have been working with TreeDefender IPCs, studying how to help newly planted citrus trees in an area of widespread HLB. The results have been clear: Protecting the trees with IPCs from the moment they are planted keeps them free from HLB. IPCs are an effective tool against psyllids and greatly reduce canker. Here’s an excerpt from Alferez’s recent report, which points to another tool — brassinosteroids — in the fight against HLB.

18 STAY ON TOP OF HORSE HEALTH WITH WELLNESS CHECKUPS

A thorough annual health exam is one way to keep your horse healthy and stay ahead of any issues that may develop. Generally, the exam is performed at the same time as your horse’s annual vaccinations and Coggins test. This exam allows your veterinarian to closely evaluate your horse’s health and assist in the early detection and prompt treatment of any developing problems. Dr. Katie Hennessy has more tips to offer.

20 L AND IN TRANSITION

There are people who are optimistic about a cure for citrus greening, and then there are those who feel utterly defeated. Regardless of which camp you’re in, the decline of one of Florida’s greatest industries is leaving a vacuum, and that puts landowners in a bind. Baxter Troutman talks about alternative options for citrus landowners

SIGNS OF

SEASON

FUN FACTS FROM AVOCADO HISTORY

The avocados that grow now in Florida came originally from Mexico, Central America, and South America. It’s believed that Florida was the first state in the U.S. to begin cultivating the bulbous fruits after horticulturist Henry Perrine brought them here from the West Indies in 1833, calling them “alligator pears.”

Perrine wasn’t the first to fall in love with the fruit. Spanish explorers in the 16th century quickly picked up on the native fruit, calling them “aguacate,” in their effort to copy the early Aztec word for them — “ahuacatl.” George Washington even gave it a shot, calling them “agovago pears.” So out of all the efforts to mimic the original, ancient name, we ended up with “avocado.”

Avocados had a long history in South America but were a little slow to take off in North America. Once they did though, they took off like a rocket! By the 1950s, there were at least two dozen varieties of avocados being grown throughout Florida, California, and Hawaii, propelled in large part by diet crazes that favored salads.

AVOCADOS IN THE HERE AND NOW

The American love affair with the alligator pear has waxed and waned over the decades, first adored for its low-cal appeal, then temporarily shunned over a misunderstanding regarding its high fat content, and finally fully embraced with the differentiation between heart-healthy unsaturated fats (which avocados are high in) and artery-clogging saturated and trans fats. (Avocados contain a small amount of naturally

occurring saturated fat and no trans fats.)

Mexico and the United States are the world’s top consumers of avocados, and Mexico is the top supplier, with a large portion of their avocados coming into the U.S. Almost 90 percent of avocados in U.S. grocery stores originate in Mexico, despite a temporary ban in 2022 that was the result of a USDA employee receiving threats after refusing to certify a mislabeled shipment of Mexican avocados.

By comparison, most of the avocados grown in the United States are subsequently sold and consumed domestically. In 2020, the U.S. avocado production was valued at $426 million by the USDA. The U.S. imported $2.4 billion in fresh avocados while exporting just $45,502 in fresh avocados that year.

The bulk of our domestic avocado production takes place in California — 86 percent according to UF/IFAS in 2012. The remaining production is divided between Florida (13 percent) and Hawaii (1 percent). Most of the avocados grown in Florida are cultivated on farms in the southernmost part of the state, primarily in Miami-Dade and Collier Counties.

Avocado trees flourish in warm weather, making South Florida an excellent locale for their cultivation. While avocados produced domestically can be purchased year-round due to California’s ability to derive two fruiting seasons from one annual bloom, you’ll have to move quickly or wait a few months if you prefer those grown in Florida – our season runs from June through late February.

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida

FINANCING

THE FUTURE

Farm Credit of Central Florida is an Agricultural Credit Association. We provide financing for Farms, Homes & Land across 13 counties in Central Florida. We have offices in Lakeland, Plant City, Brooksville & Plant City. For more information

Yard & Garden

A Look at the Top Trends in Central Florida Landscaping

by GRACE HIRDES

LLANDSCAPING AND GARDENING have always been popular topics for homeowners. We’ve noticed that some of the biggest landscaping trends to emerge include a focus on the environment, natural wildlife, and sustainable vegetables.

We spoke with Anne Yasalonis, Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator at UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, to find out what’s gaining traction and growing in popularity in gardens and landscapes this year.

If you’re interested in preserving your yard while making upkeep easier and environmentally conscious, some of these trends might be perfect for you.

1. GROWING FOOD

Yasalonis says the most common questions she fields in Extension classes and at different events are about growing various vegetables, herbs, or fruit tree gardens. She says once Covid hit, many people became much more focused on their health and started to ask what they can do differently. A common answer to this question has been to eat healthier or exercise more and that’s where we see this trend of wanting to be more sustainable by growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits.

2. ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPING

When it comes to the more floral aspect of landscape trends, Yasalonis says they are seeing an increased interest in native plants, wildlife

planting, and pollinators. If you are interested in adding some pollinators to your yard, she suggests adding some Native Milkweeds. She says even though they are tricky to grow, they are incredibly beneficial. They not only help pollinate the plants around them but are also great at sustaining the butterflies in your backyard. Yasalonis also suggests adding some native wildflowers to your landscape, with one caveat.

“Just because they are native to Florida does not mean they are drought-tolerant or will thrive easily,” she explains. “You need to know their background and be sure to pick ones that will do well in the soil and area you are planting.”

3. CONTAINER GARDENS

Just as home gardens took off after the pandemic, container gardens also are experiencing a renewed interest, especially among young people wanting to start their own gardens on a smaller scale. If you live in a small space and need some suggestions to plant in your containers, Yasalonis suggests tomatoes, butterfly pollinators, pinta, or native wildflowers. You can also plant herbs such as parsley, dill, and fennel. These are all great for small area gardens as well as container or raised gardens.

“Growing mushrooms has become increasingly popular with container gardens,” Yasalonis adds, “just be sure you do your research and choose the right ones for your area.”

4. RAIN GARDENS

Water conservation has increasingly been a hot topic in Florida, and that continues to steer landscaping trends.

“In Florida, water conservation has been a big trend lately, with a lot of people converting from high-volume irrigation to micro-irrigation,” Yasalonis says. She says she’s seen an increased interest in rain gardens as a way to conserve water. A rain garden is a garden that collects rainwater, holds it for a limited amount of time, and filters it before slowly releasing the water into the ground. It collects rainwater from various surfaces like roofs, patios, or parking lots, allowing the water to slowly seep back into the ground and preventing runoff from reaching local waterways. When building a rain garden, you’ll want to select only native plants as they can control erosion by stabilizing soils and filtering any contaminants in the runoff before it enters the groundwater.

5. LEAFY GARDEN

Everyone loves a good salad, and what’s better than growing your food right in your own backyard? You can have your own continual salad bowl to eat from if you plant some leafy

POLLINATORS

greens and lettuce in your garden. These greens can be planted in the ground or in a container garden and can be planted now in the cooler weather or in the spring when it warms up.

“Just be prepared to move or cover your plants if you decide to plant now as there is still a risk of frost or freeze,” Yasalonis warns. “A few years back we had a freeze in March, so we need to be prepared for that in case it happens again.”

Our state’s climate offers diverse and unique opportunities to explore through landscaping and gardening. Yasalonis and her team at UF/IFAS offer classes to help answer any questions you may have. To see when their next class is visit: https://www. eventbrite.com/o/ufifas-extension-polk-county-gardening-programs ag

CITRUS RESET MANAGEMENT: TIPS ON NUTRIENTS AND MORE

CITRUS RESET MANAGEMENT is necessary for maximum efficiency in Florida citrus growers as citrus trees can decline and become unproductive for a number of reasons. This means removing and replacing citrus trees that are declining and have become unprofitable with resets. It also means ensuring that the resets live and thrive to become profitable parts of the grove. A recent UF/IFAS Tip of the Week shared tips on citrus reset management concerning nutrients, irrigation, and more. Essentially, citrus resets need to be taken care of and pampered so that they have the best shot at growing into productive members of the citrus grove.

CITRUS RESET MANAGEMENT ELEMENTS

The Tip of the Week offered the following tips on citrus reset management:

• Growers should find out the reason the tree began to decline in the first place and correct the problem so that it does not spread to other trees.

• Resets should only be planted in a mature grove if there are at least 8 feet between one tree’s dripline and the next tree’s dripline. Allowing 8 feet from trunk-totrunk does not appear to leave enough space for the new citrus tree to grow and develop a canopy.

• Resets need to be pampered when it comes to irrigation, fertilization, weed control, and protection from pests, diseases, and the elements. They do not have the hardiness of mature trees to withstand less-than-perfect treatment.

• Pest management for resets should include treatments for citrus psyllid and citrus leafminer through utilizing systemic pesticides like imidacloprid and thiamethoxam and contact pesticides because resets’ frequent flushing cycles make them a target of leaf-eating pests.

• Weed control is important because weeds take nutrients and moisture away from young trees, so herbicides should be used before planting, post-planting, and once the tree is established.

• Growers should consider utilizing controlled-release fertilizers rather than soluble dry fertilizers on resets that are located randomly in large blocks to reduce the time spent fertilizing.

• Irrigation needs to be frequent but moderate for citrus resets as excess water at the rootzone will cause problems.

• If the entire grove utilizes a fertigation program, then no additional steps are needed for the resets.

This column is sponsored by Griffin Fertilizer Co., and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO:

visit griffinfertilizer.com.

by MIKE ROBERTS

Mike Roberts is the Vice President of the Frostproof, Florida-based Griffin Fertilizer Co. Roberts joined the company in November 2011. He has spent the majority of his career in the fertilizer/agchem industry. Roberts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in citrus production from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For more information,

RAIN GARDEN

Worldly Fare

Winter Haven Nursery Brings

Globe’s Rare Edible Plants to Central Florida

by TERESA SCHIFFER

WHEN

IT

WCOMES TO LANDSCAPE DESIGN, there are plenty of styles and themes to choose from, especially here in Central Florida, where our climate allows for quite a range of options. One Winter Haven nursery, however, really takes the cake when it comes to offering edible options for your lawn and garden.

Sow Exotic was established on Earth Day 2016 by Brittany Bandi and her husband, Jared, as an online nursery catering to anyone with a taste for the unusual when it comes to gardening. Now, almost seven years later, the couple has seen their project grow into a thriving business that ships thousands of plants throughout the U.S. every year.

It all started with the couple’s passion for gardening on their own property and a growing zeal for finding uncommon edible and medicinal plants to add to their landscape. As their homestead began to blossom, an idea emerged.

“The interest came from wanting to grow anything edible and interesting and useful and medicinal that we could,” Bandi says of the inspiration to open the online nursery. “We really focus on the most unusual edibles – the rarest, unique, and unusual edible plants.”

They began sourcing plants from all over the world from various online retailers, with a special focus on plants that have culinary or medicinal uses. As their garden grew, they began propagating the plants using clippings and seeds.

“We had really worked up quite a collection,” recollects Bandi. “We decided that there were so many things we were growing, and we were spending so much time trying to source seeds from all over the world and all corners of the internet, we just wanted to make it easier for oth-

er people who wanted to start a project like this. We wanted to have everything all in one place. That’s when we decided to start our own nursery.”

The collection the couple has accumulated is indeed vast. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the selection available on the Sow Exotic website, as it ranges from the familiar succulent aloe vera to the more exotic dragon fruit and passion flower vines, to tropical trees with peculiar names like jocote, bilimbi, and kwai muk.

“A lot of the plants are hard to find elsewhere,” Jared explains. “We’ve had to do a lot of research and talk to people. We have a lot more plants than are listed currently that we’re in the process of growing out and getting big enough to propagate from.”

They’ve taken the notion of a global village to heart, really digging deep to find what people prize most in their gardens throughout the world and then learning how to grow and propagate those treasures right here in Central Florida. They currently have over 400 different types of plants available for sale, including a healthy selection of various citrus trees.

“Our inspiration comes from what people are growing all over the world,” says Brittany Bandi. “What are the most valuable things to grow, or the most interesting, or delicious? What are the

Keeping It Local

New Meat Processing Facility Aims to Rewire Central Florida Supply Chain

by JESSICA McDONALD & PAUL CATALA

JANUARY MARKS THE BEGINNING of fair season throughout Central Florida, and Polk County’s Youth Fair kicks off the festivities. This year, fair participants and their families have a new opportunity once the fun wraps up.

If the pandemic proved anything, it was the need for more meat-processing facilities at the state and local levels. Interruptions at the nation’s largest meat-processing corporations — which handle an estimated 80 percent of the total supply — led to shortages and other supply-chain disruptions.

That struggle prompted fourthgeneration Florida farmer Baxter Troutman to evaluate how he could bring the meat-processing function closer to home. That shift, he says, could be a game-changer for the local agriculture industry and especially youth fair participants.

A HISTORY IN AG

The 56-year-old Frostproof native is no newcomer to the Florida agriculture scene. He has a long history with citrus and cattle ranching, and in 2010 he opened Chop-N-Block, a Winter Haven custom meat-processing business that serves area hunters and farmers.

Troutman tried his hand at processing for fairs in a limited capacity in 2021 and then more extensively in 2022. He worked with eight fairs, including the Polk County Youth Fair and Florida Strawberry Festival, as well as fairs in Charlotte County, Kissimmee River Valley, Orange County, and two in DeSoto County. At the time, he processed roughly 500-600 head of livestock.

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Now, he’s building on that vision to better serve the ag community and those who have worked so hard to pass on their way of life to the youths.

This month, he opened Florida First Meats LLC — also called F1 Meat Co. — a full-service meat processing operation that will serve the 28 county fairs within the Central Florida region.

The Frostproof operation, which is a professional, USDA-certified facility, is currently up and running, and the official grand opening/field day was set for January 13.

Troutman expects the facility to handle an estimated 2,500 head of livestock this season — which is roughly 35 percent of the area’s fair animals.

During the first four months of each year, the focus will be on processing livestock from the youth fair. Once the fair season is over, F1 Meat Co. will focus on working with local ranchers to buy their animals at market prices to sell via e-commerce and directly to food service entities, wholesale, and retail grocery stores.

“A meat-processing service is very important to the overall success of a county fair, and it’s the last part of the process for kids raising livestock animals,” he explains. “You’ve got to have a professional, dependable, reliable processor in order for a fair to be a success.”

ADDRESSING A NEED

The businessman hopes that by bringing the meat processing function to the local level, he’ll be able to help local farmers and the community.

Currently, Central Florida farmers and fair participants are limited in their options for processing meat. While there are small, backyard operations, they may not be able to guarantee safety and cleanliness like a facility that is fully vetted by the USDA.

“There are only six USDA-certified meat processing facilities south of Interstate 4 in Florida, and four of those are specifically for kosher or halal processing,” he says. “This means, essentially, there are only two USDA-inspected facilities south of I-4 dedicated to nonreligious processing. That needs to change.”

WHAT’S IN A CERTIFICATION?

So why is USDA certification important?

“When you’re under USDA inspection, you are held to a higher standard,” Troutman explains. “The USDA’s primary objective is cleanliness. We have to submit plans by which we will process the animals.

[The USDA] reviews and accepts those plans and then holds us accountable for them.”

It’s that kind of assurance that he says the ag community of Central Florida desperately needs.

“Eighty percent of Florida’s major cattle-ranching operations are within 150 miles of where F1 Meats is set up,” he says. “That did not happen by accident.”

The community’s reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Troutman says he’s been approached by small, backyard ranchers and large operations alike who are enticed by the direct farm-to-fork model, the elimination of middlemen, and the hyper-local advantage.

“What I’m doing is unprecedented,” he says. “My hope is that this will help those in the farming community, particularly the youths, and make them want to stay in farming and ranching.”

Troutman served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010 and is the founder and chief executive officer of the Labor Solutions staffing agency. He also owns Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch, a 5,000-acre working cattle ranch just west of Lake Placid, where he raises grass-fed beef cattle for sale to the public and offers his historic land as an agritourism venue. ag

CULINARY TOURISM INITIATIVE

Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing has developed a culinary tourism initiative for Polk County to further establish our county as a culinary destination for visitors.

PCTSM is working with a panel of restaurants, chefs, farmers/ranchers, and agricultural industry experts to help guide their efforts and connections to the local culinary/agricultural industry.

Part of the initial process involves developing an inventory of farmers/ranchers in Polk (and surrounding counties) that would have the capacity/ability to work with local restaurants on a regular basis to enable them to offer more Farm-to-Fork dining options on their menus.

If you are interested in being part of this opportunity, please contact Kelly Rote at Kelly@VisitCentralFlorida. org or call (863) 551-4707 with your name and farm/ ranch name, a phone number, the size (approximate acreage), the type of farm/ranch you operate (crops you harvest, animals you raise, etc.), and the address.

most nutritious things you can grow in every country? What does every culture value and love to grow? That’s what we get really excited about.”

Although Bandi and her family have welcomed visitors onto their property for tours of their 2-acre food forest, they do not currently conduct in-person sales at the nursery. They do participate in some of the local plant sales, such as Plantopia, which will be held at Hollis Garden in Lakeland on February 26.

For now, if you want to get your hands on a jackfruit tree, goji berry bush, butterfly pea vine, or any of the other fascinating plants offered by Sow Exotic, you’ll have to visit their website to order.

One thing you won’t have to worry about when you order from their online nursery is excessive, wasteful packaging. They offer plastic-free shipping, mindful of creating truly sustainable business practices to complement the eco-friendly nature of the nursery. Each plant shipped from Sow Exotic travels to its destination in a special plant-based, biodegradable bag that is designed to retain moisture and hold soil securely in place, creating a safe and comfortable vessel for seedlings, herbs, and forbs to be transported in.

When you receive your order from Sow Exotic, you can pop it right in the ground immediately, because the plants arrive in biodegradable planters that are garden-friendly while supporting healthy root growth. This helps ease the transition of the plants into their new locations so they can become a happy, productive part of your landscape more quickly.

Brittany and Jared have plans to expand their operation in 2023, as they have acquired a 5-acre parcel of land near where they have already been living and working in Winter Haven.

“We’re getting ready to open a nursery that will be accessible to the public,” Brittany Bandi says. “Right now, it is online only. We have done some local pick-up, but we’re not doing that currently. And we’ve done some really awesome events, like food forest tours that we offer seasonally. But at the new location, we’ll be doing some really exciting stuff, so stay tuned for that!” ag

NEWSAgri

Researchers Hope to Change How Homeowners Think of Irrigation

by BRAD BUCK

YYOU SET your automatic sprinkler, and it activates right on schedule – even if it’s raining. Many people see rain as a bonus — on top of their sprinkler — when they should view precipitation as their cue to conserve water, University of Florida researchers say.

People who do not habitually turn off their automatic irrigators waste water, researchers say. With a population of 22 million, a figure projected to go up to 27.8 million by 2050, Floridians need to conserve this precious resource.

Preserving water boils down to good habits. It can be as simple as whether you intend to save water, say University of Florida researchers, who would like to change the behavior of those who leave their sprinklers on when it’s raining.

“A lot of people do not think about how rain plays into the total amount of water a yard receives,” says Laura Warner, a UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural education and communication. “So, if someone wants to apply a half-inch of water to their lawn, they may set their irrigation system to do so regularly, and then if it rains, that is just ‘extra.’ It would be advantageous to shift people’s mindsets, so they consider rain first and irrigation supplemental.”

Warner and John Diaz, another UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural education and communication, co-authored a new study that examines whether homeowners intend to turn off their irrigation when it rains — the so-called “intenders.”

Researchers conducted an online survey of 331 Florida residents who identified themselves as users of automated sprinkler systems.

They wanted to know whether homeowners intended to turn off their water, based on recent or current rain.

To find their answer, researchers asked questions such as, “How likely are you to use local weather data to turn off your irrigation when recent rainfall is adequate for your yard in the next month?” Respondents could select from “very unlikely” to “very likely” for all three questions.

Researchers labeled respondents with the highest score as “intenders.” In other words, the person plans to turn off the irrigation system when it’s raining. They also intend to turn off their water if it’s rained a lot recently and see no reason to water their lawn.

Warner and Diaz want to change the habits of “non-intenders.”

“Rather than just providing information on how to conserve water or why — which is not terribly effective — we want to connect with people and have them connect with water resources on a deeper psychological level,” Warner says. In other words, homeowners must feel a sense of obligation to conserve water.

To move toward wiser lawn-irrigation habits, UF/IFAS Extension agents, governments, homeowners associations, and neighbors can nudge residents to stop or reduce irrigation when it’s raining. One way to do that is by pointing out that other homeowners are turning off their sprinklers, Warner says. ag

community

BRASSINOSTEROIDS RESEARCH MAY PROVIDE A WAY FORWARD FOR CITRUS

FOR FIVE YEARS, Dr. Fernando Alferez and his UF/IFAS research group in Immokalee have been working with TreeDefender IPCs, studying how to help newly planted citrus trees in an area of widespread HLB. The results have been clear: Protecting the trees with IPCs from the moment they are planted keeps them free from HLB. IPCs are an effective tool against psyllids and greatly reduce canker. Here is an excerpt of Alferez’s report, which points to another tool — brassinosteroids — in the fight against HLB:

“... Our team has seen greatly improved fruit quality in TreeDefender-protected trees. We planted Valencia trees protected with IPCs in Feb. 2018 and have evidence from the first two crops (Feb. 2021 & 2022), showing significantly more ºBrix and a better ºBrix/acid ratio than non-protected trees. This is relevant because these crops were harvested after IPC removal. In the first crop, about 60% were infected. By the second, all of the trees were HLB-positive. Installing IPCs from the beginning is a beneficial kick-start that lasts at least two seasons even though the trees become infected.

Next month, we will harvest the third crop that has now been 100% infected for about one year. We are anxious to know the new data on fruit quality.

Our challenge now is to prolong tree health and keep trees producing quality fruit in a sustainable way once IPCs are removed and the trees are exposed. This requires some of the other tools in our toolbox, including the application of brassinosteroids to the trees once the IPCs are removed.

Brassinosteroids are plant growth regulators that can induce immune responses in some plants, although research about citrus is scarce. Some data shows that brassinosteroids delay HLB infection because the treatment activates the immune machinery in the tree. Trees treated with brassinosteroids have less incidence of psyllids and fewer psyllid eggs and nymphs than non-treated trees. Progression of HLB infection is significantly reduced with brassinosteroid treatment, as is rust mite damage.

However, we do not know how long the effects of brassinosteroids last. This will dictate how many applications are needed and will determine the cost per acre. Thanks to a USDA-NIFA grant, we are confident that we can answer this question.”

This is exciting work from Alferez, and it appears that brassinosteroids may be a way forward for the Florida

citrus industry.

by SCOTT THOMPSON

This column is sponsored by Tree Defender, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Scott Thompson is co-founder of Tree Defender, Radical Ag-Tech, and Care Planet Technologies. He is a Central Florida native with a background in agribusiness, food manufacturing, and bioscience.

Zooming in on agriculture in your community.

Congratulations to the six Polk County Florida Farm Bureau Federation Mini-Grant recipients! Teachers from Southwest Middle Academy, Union Academy Middle Magnet - Bartow, Bok Academy North Campus, Bok Academy, Dundee Elementary Academy, and Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology all received funds for ag-related projects in their classrooms.

Highlands County Mini-Grants, page 28

STAY ON TOP OF HORSE HEALTH WITH WELLNESS CHECKUPS

A THOROUGH ANNUAL HEALTH

EXAM is a way to keep your horse healthy and stay ahead of any issues that may develop. Generally, the exam is performed at the same time as your horse’s annual vaccinations and Coggins test. This exam allows your veterinarian to closely evaluate your horse’s health and assist in the early detection and prompt treatment of any developing problems.

During the annual wellness examination overall health, weight concerns, skin or breathing issues, metabolic concerns, arthritis, laminitis, and other diseases can be evaluated or tested for. Obesity, in particular, is a major predisposing factor for numerous other diseases in our equine companions. During a general health check, your veterinarian will perform a thorough examination of your horse’s heart, lungs, coat, skin, gait, foot balance, legs, and a basic examination of their teeth.

If your vet determines there’s anything of concern, then further investigations can be undertaken such as blood tests, radiographs, or a dental float. As a general rule, most horses need their teeth floated at least every two years. Certain tests allow you to diagnose the early onset of some diseases or disorders. Early intervention can slow the progression or possibly even allow corrective or curative treatment to be performed.

AGRISHOPPER AGRISHOPPER SHOPPER

The Right Products Make DIY Landscaping

Projects

by GRACE HIRDES

Easy

Do you have a “honey do” list full of DIY projects you want to do to spruce up your outdoors?

These projects can seem overwhelming as the thought of landscaping often involves lots of tools, permits, and being “under construction” for a long period of time. However, if done correctly with the right products, landscaping can actually be fun and relaxing as you enjoy the beautiful Florida weather. We’ve put together a list of the best products that can make your DIY projects a little easier, less expensive, and more relaxing.

1. Bamboo Accents 7-in. Adjustable Spout and Pump Fountain Kit

If you are wanting to add a fountain to your yard this one is highly rated. This adjustable bamboo fountain kit allows you to make a custom fountain out of any vessel – a ceramic or cement planter, metal trough, wheelbarrow, really anything that can hold water. It is easy to install and can be moved to new locations in your garden at will. There is no plumbing needed, so it can even be used indoors or on the patio. https:// bit.ly/3ZFI9BJ

2. Concrete Stepping Stone Mold

Stone paths are a classic feature in landscape design. When placed correctly, a stone or gravel path can add structure to a garden and can improve the look of your landscape significantly. This Pathmate concrete stepping stone mold comes in two patterns. The “random” pattern is for a more natural look and is great for curved, winding paths. The “Belgium” pattern is for square- and rectangular-shaped stones and is perfect for straight paths or larger areas. You can find these online for as low as $28.99 The best part of this mold is that it is easy to use, does not require a releasing agent, and can be used quickly. https://bit.ly/3k99b40

3. Japanese Hori Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool With Stainless Steel Blade & Sheath

gather and have conversations outside in the garden, no matter what the temperature is like. Unfortunately for most people living in urban or suburban areas, it is often illegal to have a wood-burning stove or pit in your yard. This is where a propane burner like Heininger’s portable kit comes in handy. This portable propane fire pit can be installed permanently in your backyard landscape or can be easily transported to different locations. https://bit.ly/3iwjsa0

5. No-Dig Landscape Edging

This No-Dig Landscape Edging Kit from Vodaland can be used to create clean, eye-catching borders. This plastic edging works well for DIY projects such as creating a raised layer of soil for a flowerbed or for containing rocks or mulch along a pathway. It is super easy to install with its anchors and flexible material. https://bit.ly/3XqvNvh

6. Schlosser Permanent Mulch Pathway

This textured fake mulch pathway blends beautifully with landscapes and is very durable as it is made of recycled tires that have been shredded. It is also very easy to install, all you do is roll it out and lay it flat. If necessary, it can also be trimmed to fit. The best function of this pathway is that it stops weeds. https:// bit.ly/3ZrFkE4

7.

by DR. KATIE HENNESSY

This column is sponsored by Polk Equine, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Dr. Katie Hennessy graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 with a degree in large animal health and equine medicine. She completed an advanced internship at The Equine Medical Center of Ocala and is currently the owner and practicing veterinarian at Polk Equine. Her expertise ranges from small and exotic creatures to large animals, specializing in equine medicine.

This all-purpose tool is made from extremely durable, non-bending stainless steel and can be used for a variety of gardening and landscaping tasks. Digging, scraping, cutting, weeding, cutting sod, sawing, chopping, and dividing plants can all be done using this tool. Well-constructed Hori Hori are known to last 10 years or more with regular use, making them the perfect tool for your DIY projects. https://bit. ly/3XjXo10

4. Heininger Portable Propane Outdoor Fire Pit

A good no-smoke fire pit can be a valuable addition to your backyard landscape. Fire pits invite people to

2-Inch Agtec Geocell Ground Grid Paver

The Agtec Geocell provides load support and stability to base layers of gravel, rock, soil, or sand. It prevents fill from shifting or being pushed sideways. The 2-inch geocell is used for light traffic areas or areas such as foot traffic and anywhere a 4-inch base of gravel or fill material is not possible. The increase in strength allows for a decrease in the amount of material needed to form a solid base and saves users time, money, and resources. https://bit.ly/3W3tWew

If you’ve been trying to find some motivation to get your DIY project going, maybe one of these tools will inspire you. Get started today, and turn your average garden or landscape into something amazing.

Your Source for Exceptional Care

Schedule your appointment today.

Primary Care

Auburndale

2028 U.S. Highway 92 W. Auburndale, FL 33823 (863) 965-9327

Bartow 2250 Osprey Blvd., Suite 102 Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 533-1448

Haines City

36245 U.S. Highway 27 Haines City, FL 33844 (863) 421-9801

Lakeland

619 Midflorida Drive, Suite 1 Lakeland, FL 33813 (863) 701-7188

Plant City 1601 W. Timberlane Drive, Suite 300 Plant City, FL 33566 (813) 754-4611

Winter Haven 400 Ave. K S.E., Suite 11 Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 294-4404

7599 Cypress Gardens Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33884 (863) 324-4725

1201 First St. S., Suite 100A Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 280-6080

Specialists

Cardiac Electrophysiology

200 Ave. F N.E., Suite 9118 Winter Haven, FL 33881 (863) 292-4004

Cardiovascular Surgery

200 Ave. F N.E., Suite 9118 Winter Haven, FL 33881 (863) 292-4004

General Surgery

2000 Osprey Blvd., Suite 205 Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 733-4390

1601 W. Timberlane Drive, Suite 100 Plant City, FL 33566 (813) 708-1312

Hematology-Oncology

1601 W. Timberlane Drive, Suite 100 Plant City, FL 33566 (813) 708-1312

200 Ave. F N.E. Winter Haven, FL 33881 (863) 292-4670

Obstetrics-Gynecology

1601 W. Timberlane Drive, Suite 400 Plant City, FL 33566 (813) 321-6677

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

1417 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Lakeland, FL 33805 (813) 321-6820

Structural Heart and Valve Program

200 Ave. F N.E., Suite 9118 Winter Haven, FL 33881 (863) 292-4004

Urology 7599 Cypress Gardens Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33884 (863) 845-2688

THERE ARE PEOPLE who are optimistic about a cure for citrus greening, and then there are those who feel utterly defeated. Regardless of which camp you’re in, the decline of one of Florida’s greatest industries is leaving a vacuum, and that puts landowners in a bind.

While scientists feverishly search for a greening cure — or, heck, even a Band-aid — countless growers across the state are losing their livelihoods. They’re faced with difficult decisions because citrus, plain and simple, just isn’t a viable option right now.

Their options are:

1.) Sell their groves (and dreams) to developers then live with the regret 20 years down the road if we defeat greening.

2). Hold onto their groves in the hopes that a cureall comes sooner rather than later, then lose their Greenbelt ag exemptions while they wait.

3.) Sink an easy $60,000 into every acre to convert their fields to a CUPS operation. (Let’s be serious: Most operations don’t have this kind of money.)

That’s not many choices. And I don’t know about you, but I like options.

So what if there was another alternative? We can’t successfully grow citrus right now, but we can certainly grow protein. What if we repurpose the land and instead use it to raise livestock? This way landowners have a chance of retaining their Greenbelt exemptions, keeping the land, and holding on until a solution for greening is found.

I’m not saying it’s the perfect solution, and I’m not saying it would save citrus landowners. Obviously, a livestock operation wouldn’t be as profitable as citrus was back in its heyday.

What I am saying is that repurposing the land could be an affordable stopgap. Abandoned groves already have the infrastructure they need to grow forage for goats, sheep, and lambs. My new hyperlocal processing facility would offer top dollar and quick turnaround, and that land could once again be profitable.

At least it might tide us over until we find a way to mine liquid gold again.

by BAXTER TROUTMAN

This column is sponsored by Labor Solutions, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Baxter Troutman is founder and chief executive officer of Labor Solutions, a staffing company with offices in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Arcadia, and Plant City. You also can visit his Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch online at www. DH-LR.com. A cattle rancher and citrus grower who served in the Florida House of Representatives, Troutman understands the challenges and concerns of today’s farmer.

PREVIEWEvent

Polk County Youth Fair Ready for Action

by PAUL CATALA photos by THOMAS HAGERTY (2022)

FFOR THE PAST 75 YEARS, the Polk County Youth Fair has been dedicated to helping foster a future for Polk County and Central Florida youth.

Since the 1940s, generations of youths ages 8 to 18 have been able to show and sell an array of livestock and goods.

The 2023 fair, which takes place in Bartow from January 21-27, is expected to see record numbers of youths showing livestock, getting awards, and making sales, says PCYF President Scott Fowler.

Now in his second month as president, Fowler, 65, has been on the PCYF board of directors for 14 years. A Rockledge native raised in Fort Meade, he was the concession stand manager for 12 years prior to becoming president.

Speaking from his home in Fort Meade, Fowler says 2023 will be a busy year for the PCYF.

Fowler says about 1,000 children participate each year, and in 2023, more than 500 children will have pigs shown and entered and about 100 will show steers. He says the annual hog show is the most popular event, with morning and afternoon shows held Sunday and hogs sold on Tuesday.

Fowler, who volunteers as PCYF president, says between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors

and competitors are expected to attend. In addition to hogs and steers, kids and teens will show rabbits, poultry, lamb, horses, horticultural and agricultural plants, and citrus. In 2020, goats were added, which has gained popularity.

“The steer show was down for a while, but it’s beginning to pick back up,” says Fowler.

“It used to be that the steers were the main thing, but hogs have kind of overtaken that because steers are very expensive and it’s a long, drawn-out deal.”

Besides showing their animals, Fowler says another popular competition is the “whip-popping” contest, where kids compete cracking whips. And this year, the PCYF board has added an adult show class for pigs and beef animals, broadening the fair’s scope.

That’s part of the point of the PCYF, says Fowler, to influence children and teens to be aware of the state’s agricultural relevance, even if they don’t go into the field themselves.

“Even if a kid is never involved in agriculture when they’re older…the time they spend and the discipline it takes to raise an animal like that, I think it really builds character and

gives them discipline,” he says, “And that builds self-esteem and carries over into any professional career.”

Overall, the 2023 fair will build on the 2022 event, which was a rebuilding year after Covid. He says the 2022 PCYF was a record year in what was paid out in sales, about $1.5 million.

“This year will be a success if we get all the animals sold and the kids get a good price. Last year, it was exceptional,” he adds.

Fowler says the event should be a “positive experience” for everyone involved.

He says the PCYF is also a way for longtime area families to get back to their agricultural roots by bringing back fond memories, which in turn, makes them want to get personally involved with helping the PCYF.

“We want to make sure it’s accessible to children and families, especially first-timers. Our job as youth fair board members is to be able to pour into their lives something that will stick with them for years to come. People I talk to look forward to it every year; it’s the highlight on their calendars.”

For the latest on the fair, go to pcyf.net ag

Agriculture Is Our Passion

The Story Companies are comprised of Florida agriculture management entities. Since 1945, these family owned and operated corporations have provided services to Florida agriculture including land holdings; citrus, peach and blueberry caretaking; and marketing of various commodities on over 7,000 acres. For over 70 years the Story’s have been providing superior service with outstanding returns. Please contact us to see how we may be of service to you.

JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2023

JANUARY 7, 14, 21, 28, FEBRUARY 4, 11, 18, AND 25

SATURDAY NIGHT RODEO

JANUARY 7, 14, 21, AND 28, FEBRUARY 4, 11, 18, AND 25

DOWNTOWN LAKELAND FARMERS

CURB MARKET

This vibrant, eclectic market brings the community together every Saturday in Downtown Lakeland with fresh, local produce, live plants, and a variety of hot foods and handcrafted wares. It is located on the 200 block of N Kentucky Ave in Lakeland from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Saturday (except in August) and is a production of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA). Learn more at www. downtownfarmerscurbmarket.org.

This fun, family-friendly rodeo takes place every Saturday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, located at 3200 River Ranch Blvd in River Ranch. Enjoy the antics of cowpokes and bronco busters as they show off their skills in trick riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, and more. Kids are invited into the rodeo arena toward the end of the night to participate in a real “calf scramble.” Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 5 – 12, and children ages 4 and under are free. For more information, please visit westgateresorts. com/hotels/florida/river-ranch/westgate-riverranch-resort/activities/rodeo/.

JANUARY 18 – 21

35TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE ENGINE AND TRACTOR “SWAP MEET”

Buy, sell, and swap engines, tractors, parts and pieces at this four-day event. Enjoy a daily Antique Car parade at 10:30 a.m., Antique Tractor Parade at 2 p.m. each day, observe a functioning sawmill demonstration, browse the huge flea market, stroll through the Antique Village, and for the young’uns, there will be Kids Pedal Tractor Pulls on Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. Gates open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club, located at 7000 Avon Park Cutoff Rd in Fort Meade. To learn more, please go to www. floridaflywheelers.org.

JANUARY 26 SANDHILL RESTORATION MOUNTAIN LAKE AT BOK TOWER

JANUARY 14 & 28, FEBRUARY 11 & 25 DOWNTOWN FARMER’S MARKET IN LAKE WALES

JANUARY 7, 14, 21, AND 28, FEBRUARY 4, 11, 18, AND 25

GRADY GOAT YOGA TAMPA BAY

Every Saturday from 10 – 11:30 a.m., Grady Goat Farm hosts a fun and relaxing yoga class featuring their famous goats. Tickets are $37 for each attendee. This delightful event benefits Project G.O.A.T. (Global Offensive Against Trafficking), a charity that works to protect children. Grady Goat Farm is located at 12551 Franklin Rd in Thonotosassa. Learn about this incredible farm and all that they do by visiting their website at www.gradygoat.org.

The Lake Wales Downtown Farmer’s Market is sponsored by Lake Wales Main Street and takes place every second and fourth Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 20 N Market St in Lake Wales. This producer-only market specializes in locally grown, pesticide-free produce and plants, baked goods, local honey, Florida grove pepper sauces, cheeses, award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs, homemade jams and jellies, natural pet treats, plus a ton of crafts, clothing, and jewelry. For more information, you can contact Lynn Greenfield at (863) 676-8782 or visit www.lwmainstreet.com/farmers-market.

Take part in the restoration of native habitat by helping to remove invasive grasses and planting native grasses and forbs from 8 – 11:30 a.m. with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Blvd in Lake Wales. For more information, or to register, please go to www.outreach.myfwc. com/events/ or contact Cheryl Peterson at (863) 734-1220, or email her at cpeterson@boktower.org.

JANUARY 26 • GENERAL STANDARDS PESTICIDE CORE EXAM PREP. TRAINING AND EXAM

The training program begins at 8 a.m. and covers all the necessary components of the exam. The exam is administered from 1 – 3 p.m. Luis O. Rodriguez, UF/ IFAS Extension Small Farms and Pesticide Education Agent, will lead the prep session and administer the exam at 700 Experiment Station Rd in Lake Alfred. To register for the exam, please obtain a voucher number at www.pesticideexam.ifas.ufl.edu/. You can learn more about this and other programs offered by UF/IFAS at their website, www.sfyl.ifas. ufl.edu/polk/.

CALENDAR

JANUARY 27 – 29

GATOR CUTLERY CLUB CUSTOM, MODERN & ANTIQUE KNIFE SHOW

You’ll have a chance to win custom, handmade knives in the raffle at this exhibition where a wide variety of vendors will be displaying their knife collections for show and sale on over 200 tables. The Gator Cutlery Club has been getting together since 1979. This event will take place from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, and on Sunday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at RP Funding Center, 701 W Lime St in Lakeland. Admission is $5 for one day, $8 for two days, and $10 for a three-day pass. There will also be an auction held Saturday at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit www.gatorcutlery. com, or contact Dan Piergallini at (813) 754-3908.

JANUARY 27 – 29 AND FEBRUARY 3 – 5

SPIRIT OF THE BUFFALO POW WOW AND NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL

The 27th annual celebration of Native American culture will be taking place at International Market World, located at 1052 US 92 W in Auburndale, for two weekends, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Fridays are Student Appreciation Day and students and teachers are admitted for free! Over 60 exhibitors will be on hand with crafts for sale, historic village displays, workshops, and more. Don’t miss the intertribal dance competitions! For more details, please go to www.spiritofthebuffalopowwow.com.

FEBRUARY 7 MODERN WESTERN SQUARE DANCING LESSONS

If you can walk briskly, then you can learn to square dance! Get started with a free lesson, and after that, it’s just $7 per lesson (per person). Wear casual attire and comfortable shoes, and get ready for a fun social activity that is great for your health. Lessons will be held Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Strawberry Square and Round Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd in Plant City. For more information, please visit www.strawberrysquaredancing.com or call the office at (813) 752-0491.

FEBRUARY 7

PSA ADVANCED TRAINING

This is a three-day workshop collaboration between the Produce Safety Alliance and the Southern Center that is focused on providing trainers and lead trainers of the PSA curriculum with detailed scientific explanations of the Produce Safety Rule. Attendees must have attended the PSA Train-the-Trainer Course prior to taking part in this advanced workshop. The fee is $1,000. Registration is limited and no substitutions, transfers, or refunds will be issued within one week of the start date for the training. UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, located at 700 Experiment Station Rd in Lake Alfred, will host this course. You can get more details and register online at www.eventbrite.com/e/psa-advancedtraining-lake-alfred-registration-479534108427.

FEBRUARY 18

16TH BIENNIAL MIKE SHARP MEMORIAL TRACTOR DRIVES & BANQUET

Enjoy an early morning tractor drive through the Florida Flywheelers Park, located at 7000 Avon Park Cutoff Rd in Fort Meade, as well as through various local groves. Lunch is served, t-shirts and prizes are available, and a special Banquet dinner is held in memory of Mike Sharp, with the proceeds going to benefit area FFA and 4-H. For more information on how to attend, please visit www.floridaflywheelers. org or call (863) 285-9121.

FEBRUARY 18 GONE COUNTRY FOR kidsPACK

Help ensure that no child goes hungry in Polk County even when school is out by supporting kidsPACK. The 10th annual Gone Country event takes place on February 18 from 6 – 10 p.m. at White Horse Ranch, located at 5718 Yates Rd in Lakeland. Learn more by visiting their website at www.kidspack.org or by calling 1-800-598-7871.

FEBRUARY 18

CASH & JONES: NASHVILLE TRIBUTE TO TWO LEGENDS

If you yearn for the good ol’ days of country music when Johnny Cash, George Jones, and all their buddies were up on stage entertaining us with pedal steel guitars, harmonicas, and fiddles, then get ready to take a promenade down memory lane with the Nashville Imposters! Close your eyes and you’ll swear that’s the Man in Black himself leading the band from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Ramon Theater, located at 15 E Wall St in Frostproof. You can purchase tickets online at www.theramontheater.com/music-series-1.

compiled by TERESA SCHIFFER

FROM THE DESK OF Dr. Angle

J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP

Happy Centennial, Wish Farms

WITHOUT ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT of technologies, the wheel, we might not be celebrating the centennial of Wish Farms here in Plant City.

Its #AgIsAmerica story starts on the streets of Manhattan in a single pushcart selling fruits and vegetables. It continues with the Wishnatzkis migrating to Central Florida. It unfolds today with the Wish Farms name and pixie mascot on millions of clamshells in homes across the nation.

In addition to its compelling rags-to-riches

arc, Head Pixie (yes, that’s the title on his business card) Gary Wishnatzki presents the family history as a century of progress. Gary highlights the role of science in the farm’s history he so lovingly documents in Generations of Sweetness: Stories That Shaped My Family and the Journey to Wish Farms.

That embrace of innovation manifests today in Gary’s pursuit of artificial intelligence-guided machine harvesting through Harvest CROO Robotics.

Innovation is where the histories of UF/ IFAS and Wish Farms intersect. We’ve been delivering science to Florida growers for even longer than there have been Wishnatzkis growing strawberries in Plant City.

Last year, I spoke at the 100th anniversary of our North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna. This year, I plan to be at events marking a century of UF/IFAS science at our Everglades Research and Education Center, our Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), and our Hastings Agricultural Extension Center and our turf science program.

Our history plays out on farms like Wishnatzki’s. So I am not surprised but gratified to see UF/IFAS included in the Wish Farms story.

It’s there in his book on page 126. The photo of UF/IFAS strawberry breeder Vance Whitaker has a caption that credits him for being “instrumental in breeding new varieties of strawberries such as pineberry, which we market as Pink-a-Boos.”

Whitaker has used Wish Farms acreage for years as part of his trials of new berries, as did Vance’s predecessor, Craig Chandler. Vance also credits Gary with being a marketer and proponent of his best-flavored varieties like Sensation® and Medallion®. Vance has provided technical advice on transplants and varieties for Harvest CROO.

Wish Farms has also hosted research by the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education

Center’s Natalia Peres involving the use of an ultraviolet light system to control a pathogen called powdery mildew.

Gary has asked Steve Sargent of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department to evaluate new clamshell packages and shipping containers for cooling efficiency. And Yiannis Ampatzidis of the UF/IFAS ABE is also advising Gary on the use of artificial intelligence in robotic harvesting.

When I visited Gary in November, I could see from his dazzling year-old headquarters that he’s in this for the long haul. We talked in his treehouse lounge with curved walls and tilted windows that give it an Alice-in-Wonderland feel. I went down the wooden slide like a log on a flume. I marveled at the sculpture trees that give the space a cozy Hobbit feel. And the two of us grabbed strawberry-shaped guitars and had ourselves a ZZ Top moment days before the band headlined Pixie Rock in November.

Like its past, Wish Farms’ future is bound up in family. The successors to Gary and his wife Therese include son Nick, manager of public relations, and his husband Stephen Cramer in accounting. Gary’s daughter Elizabeth is also in the business and married to Vice President of Sales and Marketing James Peterson. Their sons Will and Joey could be fifth-generation Wish Farmers.

If they are, they’ll be able to turn to Vance’s successors for new varieties of berries, that edge of innovation that will keep local growers globally competitive for another century.

Happy 100th, Wish Farms. ag

Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

Angle visits Wishnatzki

Vance Whitaker

UF /IFAS Indian River Center

Gifted Largest Contribution for 75th Anniversary

by ROBIN KOESTOYO, UF/IFAS correspondent

“John Moose built a legacy for collaboration in Florida citrus production best practices. With this exceedingly generous gift to our programs, Mr. Moose extends that endeavor into the 21st century,” says Ronald D. Cave, Director of the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC). “We are grateful for the bequest and will use it with Mr. Moose’s mission in mind.”

THE JOHN T. MOOSE ENDOWMENT

In recognition of the gift, the donation is named the “John T. Moose Endowment.” The endowment will be managed by the UF Foundation in Gainesville, with disbursements from interest gained on the principal. Funds will support local agriculture, especially research for the citrus industry, which has declined in recent years in the citrus greening era, says Cave.

“The Moose Endowment will advance the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Science’s global mission to support high-value crops by improving crops grown near Fort Pierce,” Cave says. “Our scientists work tirelessly to sustain the region’s renowned grapefruit and oranges for fresh fruit.”

Cave said Indian River District grapefruit is an export commodity, a delicacy in Europe and Asia. The Indian River District is a region along the Indian River Lagoon, from Mims, in Brevard County, to northern Palm Beach County.

In Moose’s time, he came to know the district and citrus production as an expert. A native of Tennessee, Moose moved to the Treasure Coast region in 1948, following completion of a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and citrus production

from UF.

Moose and the late Alto “Bud” Adams became close friends during Moose’s employment as citrus production manager at Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce, one of America’s most prominent and historical ranches.

Moose began his career in citrus production for the Michaels family in Indian River County’s coastal Orchid Island groves. From there, Moose gained expertise in the crop as his knowledge and best practices grew with increasing roles of responsibility, according to Robert Adams.

“I spent a lot of time with Johnny Moose on long drives all over Florida,” says Robert Adams. “We attended production manager meetings in places like Winter Haven to talk about production.”

Adams says Moose designed a citrus grove on a square mile of land at his ranch. Moose knew a lot about grove architecture—irrigation, bedding, how deep, and at what position to plant individual trees.

“Johnny Moose would visit about 15 groves a week in the ‘grapefruit belt,’ a common practice at the time, and make recommendations for herbicide, pesticides, and fertilizer treatments,” says Adams. “He would pluck a leaf off a tree and tell you what the tree needed in nutrients.”

“He also knew a lot about packing and finding buyers—Johnny had good judgment for markets,” Adams says.

DISTINGUISHED CAREER

Moose’s long and successful career included positions with Deerfield Groves, W.R. Grace Co., Fort Pierce Cooperative, Adams Ranch, and Diamond R Fertilizer. Moose was a founding

AA HERITAGE CITRUS GROWER who saw local fruit production rise in the world’s premier grapefruit region has willed a legacy gift to sustain the fruit industry he so loved. John T. Moose left the largest individual gift that the University of Florida/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce has ever received. The $260,000 contribution came last December, the same year as the center’s 75th anniversary and contributes to local agriculture and natural resources protection with research, Extension, and education.

member of Diamond R Fertilizer Co. He served on the boards of the Farm Bureau, Farm Credit, the Soil Conservation Service, and Ocean Spray Co., and was an alternate board member for the Indian River Citrus League.

Along with members of the Scott family, Moose grew lemons and tomatoes in the Devil’s Garden, Florida. The area is a fertile production area that was, in the early 19th century, a Seminole fruit and vegetable garden.

Moose was involved with white grapefruit exports to Japan during his tenure as president and manager of Hobe Groves in Hobe Sound, Martin County. And it was from this grove operation that John T. Moose retired in 1984.

MONUMENTAL CHANGE FOR INDUSTRY

“Citrus growers had only two varieties of grapefruit when Johnny started in the citrus business, white or pink grapefruit, says Robert Adams. “Working with UF/IFAS Extension, growers and Florida nurseries, Johnny Moose promoted Ruby Red, Flame and Star Ruby grapefruit in Florida.”

Adams points to the introduction of the new varieties a “monumental leap for the industry to provide sweet grapefruit.” Like Alto and Robert Adams, Moose was an avid hunter. He joined the Adams on hunting trips in Fort Pierce and on Moose’s 500-acre cattle and citrus ranch in Kenansville, near the famous Heartbreak Hotel.

“Moose had charisma and was a likable guy,” says Robert Adams. “He was known for his passion and innovations in citrus production—and he was also an artist and craftsman.” ag

Recipe Spotlight

From Flower to Fork: Florida Offers a Truly Edible Landscape

by COURTNEY LAWSON

FFLORIDA… LAND OF THE FLOWERS. We are blessed in this state to have many beautiful flowers, but did you know that many of them are also edible? Because of our wonderful climate and biodiversity, we are able to grow a multitude of edible plants and flowers. So let’s talk about some of them.

Some may be familiar to you, and some you may never have heard of before. Some you may have only thought were weeds!

Dandelions are the bane of many who want a clean and well-kept lawn, but almost all parts of this plant are edible, including the flowers! You can make wine out of the flowers, or you can batter them and fry them tempura style. The leaves can be fried and eaten like spin-

ach, and the roots can be used as a tonic for liver problems. So next time you see this plant, think twice before pulling it up and throwing it out. Instead, throw it into your salad for some beautiful color!

BEGGAR-TICKS, OR SPANISH NEEDLES

This is a hidden gem in the edible world because the entire flower is edible. You can throw the flowers into a salad or bread. The leaves can be cooked like spin-

ach. It’s also a fantastic butterfly plant.

BUTTERFLY PEA

This beautiful plant will grow very well here in Flori da and has recently become very popular. You can use it to make a beautiful, rich, simple syrup for cocktails.

PASSIONFLOWER

This is another one that is not often thought of as being edible. Trouble sleeping? Make a moon milk with the flower and drift off quickly and happily.

ROSES

Roses also grow well here, and people don’t often think about them being edible! Roses are wonderful in

cookies and icings. Use them on cakes as decorations and in pastries as a wonderful floral taste.

ORCHIDS

Florida’s climate is well-suited for orchids. Most people know that vanilla is the seed pod of an orchid, but did you know that those are not the only edible orchids? In Thailand, they make orchid tempura, and we can do the same here! That moth orchid that you picked up at the grocery store? You can eat that flour! Be sure to wash the blooms first! Some orchids even taste like watercress and can add a beautiful spicy bite to a dish.

NASTURTIUMS

These colorful blooms can really spice things up when added to a soup or a rice dish! You can even add the buds to pasta and use them like capers!

SPIDERWORT

Many people know spiderwort, the beautiful blue blooms that blanket our roadways in spring. Did you know these are edible? You can make fritters or frittatas with these!

Red clover? We can make flour with that! Purslane? Beautiful in a salad or bread. Elderberry? Makes wonderful lemonade. Go pick some flowers and start exploring. Here are some recipes to get you started.

NASTURTIUM MINI QUICHE

Ingredients

4 eggs

1 cup milk

Cheese of choice.

(I like a mile cheese like swiss)

Protein if desired (ham is always lovely in a quiche)

Chopped nasturtium flowers

Salt

12 Nasturtium leaves

Whole flowers to top if desired

Directions

Preheat oven to 375

Grease pan with oil or butter.

Add nasturtium leaves stem side up so you have a smooth outer cup at the end. Whisk eggs and milk together until you have a smooth consistency, then add the rest of the ingredients. Add 1 tablespoon of mixture to the mini quiche pan leaving enough room at the top rim for expansion from heat. Add one flower to each cup if desired. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until puffed and firm. Let cool. Eat as desired.

In The Heartland

EEACH YEAR, the Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee awards $250 Mini-Grants to educators across the state. The goal of the FFB Classroom Mini-Grant is to increase awareness and understanding of agriculture among students and educators, and while the focus is agriculture, teachers across all subjects are encouraged to apply. This year alone, the Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee was able to award more than $28,000 in Farm Bureau Mini-Grants to teachers across the state.

Three Highlands County teachers were selected to receive the grants. The applicants are graded on effectively conveying the project’s “why and how,” presenting distinct learning objectives based on realistic and attainable goals, presenting creative and innovative ways to address/involve Florida agriculture, and delineating an organized project timeline and budget. Each of the winners was awarded a $250 mini-grant to offset costs for their selected project. Here are this year’s winners:

• Krystal Brown of Park Elementary School in Avon Park

• Krystal Dombrowski of Sebring High School in Sebring

• Kendall Prescott of Avon Park Middle School in Avon Park

CHICKEN EXCELLENCE

Highlands County

Three Highlands County Teachers Receive Mini-Grants to Fund Lessons

by JULIE GMITTER

Brown’s project, titled “Chicken Excellence,” will utilize the funds to improve the school’s current chicken coop setup. The chicken coops they had in place were falling apart and in need of clean shavings for the bottom of the cages as well. Livestock production is used to show students the life cycle of chickens as well as the different uses for chickens and eggs. Students will learn about the various stages of chicks growing inside the eggs (in incubators, which the school already has), why chickens and eggs are important to humans, and the responsibility involved in raising chickens. The mini-grant will allow Brown to obtain clean shavings for the coops and improve the coops themselves, enabling students to have an easier time gathering the eggs from the coops and improving the conditions for the chickens, as well.

TRADE INTO SUCCESS

Dombrowski’s project, titled “Trade Into Success,” will utilize the funds to purchase materials that will enable students to try their hands at a trade career before leaving high school. Students will learn to wire a panel box to explore the electrical industry, create working PVC lines to explore the plumbing industry, and weld different types of metal to explore

the welding industry. All three industries face a deficit in job applicants, but certainly no shortage of need. Since many students are encouraged to go to college and not trade school, this project may spark interest and help guide a career path that may not have existed. The mini-grant will allow Dombrowski to purchase PVC, metal, and electrical wires for the students.

RAISED BEDS

Prescott’s project, titled “Raised Beds,” will utilize the funds to purchase lumber, deck screws, and hardware cloth to replace plant beds. Students will learn which type of wood to select, how to use power tools, and how to select the soil and the fertilizer for each type of plant. Students will learn the process of seed to crop, from start to finish, and understand the process by which their fruits/vegetables end up in the stores, and ultimately, end up on our dinner tables. On a larger scale, students will develop an understanding of the food insecurity problem in America, which will inspire students to consider developing solutions for these larger societal issues, as they are also issues within Highlands County, the state of Florida, and the United States as a whole. The mini-grant will allow Prescott to purchase the

Equal in the Ring

Central Florida Youth in Ag to Debut Adaptive Showmanship Class for Kids With

Special Needs

by TERESA SCHIFFER

CCENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE is providing new opportunities for students to get involved with agriculture. Since the pandemic shut down meetings, exhibitions, and competitions a couple of years ago, CFYIA emerged to create a new forum for kids to engage in ag activities.

CFYIA was established to breathe new life into the Central Florida agricultural industry for young people. Over time, many of the youth fairs that once took place in and around Polk County have ceased operations.

Now, CFYIA is expanding its offerings so that it can reach even more kids. The organization will debut an Adaptive Showmanship Class at the CFYIA Livestock Show and Sale in March. This class will give all kids a chance to show off their skills handling cattle or swine, even if they need some assistance in the ring due to a disability.

The goal of creating the class is to allow all children in Polk County who want to participate in ag programs to have every opportunity to do so, without stigma or obstacles caused by any type of disability. Inclusion is key, and the criteria for enrollment in the adaptive class is simply that the exhibitors be younger than 18 and enrolled in a Polk County school.

Kacie Bryant has been one of the driving forces behind Central Florida Youth in Ag since its inception and currently sits on its board of

directors. She is also the co-chair of the group’s cattle committee.

“There are several kids that have siblings that are involved with showing animals, whether it be cattle or swine, and we wanted to give these children an opportunity to show and exhibit their animals, too. The Cowabunga Classic, which is another show that happens in November, started it,” Bryant says. “Several of us also help with that show, so we wanted to bring it over to Central Florida Youth In Ag as well, with the hope that other shows will pick up an adaptive class also.”

She goes on to explain that youth in the Adaptive Showmanship Class will have the same opportunities as other exhibitors, including the chance to win buckles and other awards.

“It just gives them the opportunity to get out there, as well,” she says.

Sarah Hollie is a volunteer with Central Florida Youth In Ag who is helping with the adaptive class. The Hollie family has some cattle of their own, and they also raise and show horses. Hollie has two daughters involved with CFYIA, one of whom has special needs.

Maci is Hollie’s 9-year-old daughter who will be taking part in the adaptive class. This is Maci’s second year of involvement with CFYIA. Her 15-year-old sister, McKenzie, has been showing cows at youth fairs for several years. Before the introduction of the adaptive showmanship class, kids like Maci could only compete up through the age of 8 in the peewee categories.

Hollie explains why a special class needed to be created.

“These kids can do it, but let’s say some of these kids, what if they have a walker? What if they have a wheelchair? What if they have a cane? This gives them an opportunity to compete on their own. They’re still involved with the other

Florida

WHEN MATTHEW MAROVICH set out fishing on August 26, 2022, he didn’t know he would be catching two record-breaking fish. Setting out from Sarasota on a flat, calm day with clear skies, the day was perfect for catching fish, and they were biting. With these ideal conditions, Marovich was able to land a new state record red porgy and a new state record blueline tilefish.

“Both fish were unexpected catches. I thought I had a queen snapper when I pulled up the biggest red porgy I had ever seen!” says Marovich. “The blueline tilefish felt like a grouper. We were grouper fishing and I was using the slow pitch jig and thought maybe a good-sized scamp grouper or a yellowedge was on the other end. I also knew there were snowy grouper in that area. Tilefish is one of my favorites to eat so it was really exciting to see such a nice blueline come to the surface.”

Marovich’s red porgy weighed in at 5.56 pounds, beating the previous record of 4.8 pounds set in 2019, and his blueline tilefish weighed in at 10.55 pounds beating out the previous weight of 5.4 pounds set in 2021.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) maintains state records in conventional tackle and fly-fishing categories for 81 species caught in Florida state waters and federal waters. Saltwater record-holders receive a certificate of accomplishment, custom prize pack, and recognition in various publications.

To qualify for a record, the catch must be weighed with a certified scale on land and photographs must be submitted clearly showing the weight displayed on the scale, the scale’s certification, the rod and reel used to make the catch, the angler with their catch, and various views of the fish for identification

purposes. The angler’s signature on a completed application form must be witnessed by a notary.

For more information and to view current records, visit CatchaFloridaMemory.com and click “Records,” contact AnglerRecognition@MyFWC. com or call 850-487-0554.

Florida Saltwater Fishing Records are part of FWC’s Catch a Florida Memory – Saltwater Angler Recognition program, which rewards anglers for their fishing efforts while encouraging them to target a diversity of species. To learn more and submit catches, visit CatchaFloridaMemory. com. Check out the latest catches and see your achievements highlighted by following the Catch a Florida Memory Facebook page, Facebook.com/ CatchaFLMemory, and view angler catches and much more on Instagram by following @MyFWC. ag

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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FFACORNER

Students Busy Participating in Events and Preparing for the Fair

by HANNAH CLAYTON, Polk County FFA Federation Officer

We started the month on December 3 with several students participating in the Agricultural Education Career Development Event. Those competing had to present their lesson plans to a mini-class and judges, just as an agricultural educator would. On December 13, we held the sub-district leadership and career development competitions where many different speaking contests were hosted at Ridge and Traviss Technical College. These events included parliamentary procedure, which is how to efficiently run a business meeting, extemporaneous speaking, prepared public speaking that can consist of a variety of different topics chosen by the FFA members, FFA Creed speaking, tractor driving, and middle school opening and closing ceremonies.

Many of the speaking competitions allow FFA members to learn how to speak confidently in front of people and in a professional setting. For each of these events, FFA members have spent months preparing in hopes to win first place at the sub-district level. Only those placing first at the sub-district level will move on to the district level of competition.

George Jenkins High School competed on December 15 in Perry at the state Forestry Career Development Event. Earning second place in the state, the team consisted of two seniors, Taylor Talton and Aiden Comisky; two sophomores, Bella Overbaugh and Jody Witter; and their advisor, Kyle Carlton, who had been working hard to study forestry since the start of the school year.

Not only do we have a lot of CDEs going on this month but we also have a lot of preparation for the Polk County Youth Fair as well. The fair will be held from January 21-27 at 1702 Highway 17 South in Bartow. Additional information can be found on the website at www.pcyf.net. Everything from livestock shows and family and consumer sciences events will be showcased. Take an afternoon and come and check it out! ag

Equal in the Ring

kids, but it’s at their level so they can do it.”

McKenzie Hollie has a great perspective on what it means for kids with disabilities to have the chance to participate in an adaptive class.

“Ag means being involved in the future of what’s going to make us all survive,” McKenzie says. “I like getting to help my sister show. Getting to see her show is really special because there are not a lot of places for her to get to compete. I think CFYIA doing the adaptive show is a really good way to help kids get involved because most of the time they don’t get to be involved, and it’s kind of disappointing.”

Bryant is thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity for Central Florida kids and encour-

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ages everyone to support the local agricultural community as well as all of our future farmers and ranchers by spreading the word about the spring show.

“My hope is that this will not only get more kids involved in raising and showing livestock but will also gain more community involvement because it is very important that we educate how agriculture feeds and clothes all of us,” she says.

Central Florida Youth in Agriculture Livestock Showcase and Sale takes place March 2225 at the Hayman Arena in Bartow. The adaptive showmanship will be held on March 23 at 9 a.m. ag

DDECEMBER WAS A BUSY MONTH for many Polk County FFA members! From the many different Career Development Events that have been held to prepare for the Polk County Youth Fair, FFA members are not shy about working hard.

UPDATEAgri

Meet the 2023 Agriculture Hall of Fame Inductees

TTHE CEREMONY for the 2023 Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees will be held at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on February 14. Learn more about the inductees below.

JOHN T. WOESTE

Dr. John T. Woeste is a longtime champion and tireless supporter of Florida agriculture, now a retired dean and professor emeritus of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Woeste was appointed in 1976 as the dean and director of the Extension Service at UF/IFAS, a role he held until he retired 19 years later. With visionary leadership and an innovative approach, Woeste championed the selection, professional growth, and development of 400 Extension Service faculty, specialists, agents, and staff who served the entire state of Florida.

During his tenure, he revived the agricultural law program at UF, adding funding and organizational guidance for the program. That work earned him the U.S. Department of Agriculture Unit Award for Distinguished Service in 1987. He encouraged the development of a national agricultural weather working group, which he chaired, and the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), a program still used extensively by the

In the Heartland

industry during the winter months to this day.

Throughout his career and upon his retirement, his commitment to the development of future leaders in the agricultural industry carried through. During his time as dean, he was greatly involved in developing the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom program. Since his retirement, he has served as a member of the board of the Florida Rural Rehabilitation Corporation and has been president since 2001. Citing a need to support students from rural areas and farms who wanted a college education in agriculture, the FRRC established its first scholarship with CALS in 1985. These scholarship funds have supported hundreds of students over the years.

DONALD J. QUINCEY

Donald “Don” Quincey has an undeniable passion and dedication to the agricultural industry. Born in Gainesville, Quincey is a fifth-generation Florida cattleman. Upon graduation from Chiefland High School, he felt called to serve in law enforcement. But after two years of service,

his unquestionable love for the land and raising cattle brought him back to the family’s feed store and cow-calf operation. He was actively engaged in ownership and operations from 1977 to 2003, when the store was sold. While supporting the family business, he founded Quincey Cattle Company in 1992, a diversified cattle-feeding operation in Chiefland. The operation has grown in size and scope to meet fellow cattle producers’ needs and goals, providing services to improve marketability, and options for Florida cattle. His commitment to innovation has led to improved sustainability for the industry, with approximately 80 percent of his commodity needs coming from within 20 miles of his ranch. Quincey has been an advocate for mutually beneficial environmental and agricultural policy – seeking to bridge the gaps between production and regulation – as a member of the Suwannee River Water Management District board for many years. He served as chair for nine of his 12 years at the district. During his tenure, he initiated the district’s cost-share program and was instrumental in developing a water-use monitoring program to assist agricultural stakeholders with reporting actual water use instead of estimated data. ag

continued from page 28

lumber and other needed materials to construct new plant beds and fill them with soil and seeds.

Danielle Daum, a member of the Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, helped award the grants.

“Through this program, we are able to give teachers a financial boost that will enable them to more easily incorporate fun, hands-on, agricultural activities and lessons into their curriculum,” Daum says. “School isn’t always fun, but the teachers we’ve met go above and beyond to teach reading, writing, math, and science in fun and interesting ways.” ag

LABOR SOLUTIONS FOUNDER

From the Editor’s Desk

Are You Ready for Fair Season?

JESSICA M c DONALD, Editor jessica@centralfloridamediagroup.com

THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR is always exciting for the ag industry in Central Florida because it’s fair season! From January through March, the lineup is packed with county fairs and other great events. Make sure you have these events on your calendar. We want you to milk every last drop of fun from this season!

• Polk County Youth Fair: January 21-27

Area youth show off their skills and talent. Learn more in our Event Preview on page 20 and go to pcyf.net for the latest.

• Osceola County Fair: February 10-19

Livestock shows, youth competitions, and live entertainment. Learn more at osceolacountyfair.com

• Highlands County Fair: February 3-11 Arts and crafts, livestock shows, competitions. hcfair.net

• Florida State Fair: February 9-20

Agricultural competitions, rides, live entertainment, rides, educational exhibits, and all the fried food your heart can handle. floridastatefair. com

• Florida Strawberry Festival: March 2-12

Youth livestock shows, rides, live entertainment, attractions, and — of course — all things strawberry! flstrawberryfestival.com

• Central Florida Fair: March 2-12 Games, rides, food, live music, animals, STEM competitions, and culinary competitions. centralfloridafair.com ag

Strawberry Festival by THOMAS HAGERTY (2022)