Broward County Schools Food & Nutrition Service’s mission is to provide nourishing meals to support student achievement and promote healthy lifestyles.
Scan QR code to Learn More about the crops YOUR school is serving this month & the farms they’re coming from!
Fruit | Zucchini| Dragon Fruit | Sweet Corn R.C. Hatton Farms
Florida grows 90% of all the star fruit grown in the U.S.
Star fruit are a yellow, star-shaped, tropical fruit
Star fruit is harvested during two periods in Florida… August – September and December – February
Wild star fruit trees can live for around 40 years.
One star fruit tree can produce 200-400 pounds of fruit/year.
Star fruit have sweet & sour flavor –similar to a mix between a pear, an orange & a green grape.
Star fruit grows best in sunny & humid climates.
The average star fruit tree is 25-30 feet tall & 20-25 feet wide.
Worthy Family Farms is a family-owned & operated organic star fruit farm
Worthy Family Farms has been around for 36 years
Worthy Family Farms is home to 6 acres of star fruit trees.
Worthy Family Farms offers farm tours & educational programs!
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Worthy Family Farms supports & partners with other family farms throughout FL.
“Our mission is to produce & promote healthy food using sustainable, organic, & regenerative farm practices.”
Zucchini is a type of squash and Florida is the 4th largest squash producing state in the U.S.
Most of the zucchini grown in Florida is grown in north central region.
Zucchini have MORE potassium than a banana.
1 zucchini plant can produce 3 – 10 pounds of zucchini.
More specifically, zucchini is a type of summer squash. plant is also edible and considered a delicacy.
Zucchini are made up of 95% water.
“Courgette”
Zucchini are a type of FRUI T and closely related to melons.
Zucchini are in peak season from May - August.
The LARGEST zucchini ever grown was 69.5 inches long and weighed 65 pounds!
Torbert Produce is a family farm that has been around since
Torbert
Produce is home to 2,000 acres of zucchini and yellow squash.
“We take pride in delivering valuable services and foods that are unparalleled in nutrition, flavor and in appearance
A L L Torbert Produce is grown from seed.
Located in Homestead, FL
Produce distributes their crops
Tommy Torbert has been working on the farm since he was 13 years old.
Dragon fruit thrives in Florida’s mild climate and abundant sunshine.
Dragon fruit is also known as “pitaya. ”
The darker the skin of a dragon fruit, the sweeter it is.
Types of Dragon Fruit:
skin/white flesh
Dragon fruit plants grow to be up to 20 feet
Dragon fruit is a night-blooming plant.
Peak dragon fruit season is Aug – Sept.
Dragon fruit taste like a mix between a kiwi and a pear.
Dragon fruit grow on a climbing cactus plant.
Redlands Best has been in the tropical agriculture business for 30 years.
Redlands Best specializes in tropical fruits. In addition to dragon fruits, Redlands Best also grows lychees, logans
Best’s is home to 200 acres of tropical
Redlands Best’s location provides the perfect climate for tropical fruits to grow.
Florida is the largest producer of fresh market sweet corn in the U.S.
The U.S. is the LARGEST producer, consumer & exporter of corn in the world.
Humans only eat sweet corn
Florida is home to 37,000+ acres of sweet corn. Palm Beach County produces over 50% of Florida’s sweet corn.
In many other countries, corn is called “maize
1 corn stalk produces 1 - 3 ears of corn
Corn stalks can grow between 7 – 10 feet tall.
An ear of corn ALWAYS
There are around 800 kernels on each ear of corn. field crop.
Paul Allen & his son
“Our farm & our company is all about our people.”
R.C. Hatton Farms was founded by Robert C. Hatton.
R.C. Hatton Farms is now home to 8,000 acres of land making them one of the largest corn growers in FL.
Located in Pahokee, FL
R.C. Hatton Farms has developed many sweet corn varieties.
Some of the MOST fertile soil in the U.S.
R.C. Hatton Farms is located beside Lake Okeechobee in an area known for its rich and fertile “black gold” soil.
Lafayette and Okeechobee are Florida’s leading dairy counties.
Most of the dairy cows in Florida are Holsteins (the black and white cows), and their spots are unique like a fingerprint!
Cows chew their cud 50 times per minute.
How many times can chew in a minute?!
Cows can SEE almost and SMELL up to 6 miles away!
Most Florida dairy herds range 150 -
Florida dairy farmers byproducts such as citrus pulp, brewers’ grain and whole cottonseed that are consumed by the cows instead of ending up in landfills.
A Florida dairy cow produces about 68 gallons of milk each day.
M&B Dairy is a 4th-generation family dairy farm that is home to over 700 dairy cows the dairy industry through all aspects of their production.
M&B Dairy is currently run by Dale McClellan.
Located in Lecanto, FL
M&B Dairy prioritizes COMFORT for their cows with open-air barns and rubber mats in stalls.
“Buffy the Cow” is M&B Dairy’s mascot.
M&B Dairy provides milk to over 32 school districts in Florida.
M&B Dairy was started in the 1950s.
Let’s shake some BUTTER!
2 cups cold heavy whipping cream 1 ounce plastic cups with lids
Pour 2 tablespoons of heavy cream into each portion cup. Place the lid on each cup, and distribute to students.
Shake the container until butter forms a soft lump. Continue to shake until buttermilk separates out of the lump and the container contains a solid lump of butter and liquid buttermilk. The process should take 3 to 5 minutes.
To strain, pour off or drink the buttermilk, leaving only the solid butter.
OPTIONAL: Remove the lump of butter, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
For more information, visit FloridaMilk.com/in-the-schools
