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March 2015
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Contents
VOL. 11 • ISSUE 5
Diehl Farms Page
70
Cover Photo by: Stephanie Humphrey
Warner Ground Breaking
Recycled Yard Art
Naturally Amazing
Blueberry Growers
Ornamental CDE
A Closer Look
Operation Outdoor Freedom
Do Not Call
Meet the Minks
Page 10 Page 12 Page 16
Fishing Hot Spots
Page 18
Rocking Chair Chatter
Page 22
GCREC Visiting Scholars
Page 24
Champion of Champions
Page 28
Literary Time Machine
Page 33
4
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Page 42 Page 43 Page 46
Market Watch
Page 84 Page 85 Page 88 Pollinators
Page 52
Page 92
AG Food Incubator
Varrea
Page 54
Page 96
Healthy Dates
Endangered Species
Go Gardeners
Strawberry Picking Challenge
Page 64
Page 80 Activity
Page 97
Page 100
Page 84
March 2015
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WWW. WWW.IN NTHEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
IN NTHEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE
March arch 2015
5
Letter from the Editor Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature’s rebirth? - Edward Giobbi We are lucky here in Florida to be blessed with good weather for most of the year, but I still enjoy this season. The days are lengthening giving us more time to enjoy the natural beauty that Florida has to offer. So get outside! Hike, bike, kayak, or whatever you enjoy, now is the perfect time to do it. Check out one of the many state parks, ornamental gardens, or find an event that celebrates spring flowers. There is something for everyone. It can take a few days to get acclimated to the time change, but is it ever worth it! I normally get up before the alarm, but the first morning posed a bit of a challenge. I had forgotten how startling it is to be rudely awakened by the alarm clock. I trust by this time everyone is well adjusted and happy that, even though we get up “earlier” the extra daylight at the end of the day make it all worthwhile. The fairs and festivals in our area are winding down and we at In The Field magazine would like to extend our congratulations, not only the winners of the competitions, but all who entered. You set your goals, figured out where to concentrate your efforts and went for it! These events are the culmination of a lot of hard work for these students and each and every one of them should be commended for their efforts. Check next months issue for Strawberry Festival Coverage A great big THANK YOU goes out to our advertisers. You allow us to contine to Cover What is Growing. We couldn’t do it without you.
Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry Office Manager Bob Hughens Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Contributing Writers Woody Gore Les McDowell John Dicks
Until Next Month
Sarah
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25 ABC Pizza...................................................91 Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.............76 Alan’s Air Conditioning Service............87 Anna Conrad............................................44 Arrowhead Archery................................95 Astin Strawberry Exchange...................91 Bill’s Transmissions................................78 Bingham...................................................69 Brandon Auto Services, Inc...................59 Brandon Farms..........................................9 Brandon Regional Hospital...................40 Brantley Realty........................................65 Brewington’s Towing & Recovery........98 Broke & Poor...........................................78 Care Plus...............................................103 Cameron Financial Service...................27 Cecil Breeding Farm...............................49 Certis USA................................................67 Certis USA.................................................51 Cheyenne Lopez......................................45 Choo Choo Lawn Care..........................55 Clay Joyner...............................................45 Country Village......................................98
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March 2015
Dad’s Towing......................................................41 Dr. Barry Gaffney, O.D. PA............................29 Dr. Pat Almerico..................................................11 Driscoll’s...............................................................15 East Coast Ag Products, Inc...........................83 Ethan Vaughan..................................................44 Everglades Farm Equipment.........................104 Exo Creative......................................................39 Fancy Farms.......................................................25 Farm Bureau Insurance-Valrico....................90 Farm Bureau Insurance/Jeff Sumner............53 Farm Credit.......................................................66 Felton’s.................................................................31 Fischbach Land Co...........................................23 Florida Mineral, Salt & Ag Products............30 Florida Strawberry Growers Asso................56 Forbes Road Produce........................................15 Fran Haasch.......................................................48 Fred’s Market Restaurant................................23 Gator Ford..........................................................41 Go Fresh Produce.............................................36 Grove Equipment Service...............................79 Gulf Coast Tractor............................................73 Harold’s Feed & Pet Supply..............................3 Harrell’s Nursery, Inc........................................91 Haught Funeral Home......................................72 Hillsboro Bank..................................................26 Home Protection Pest Control........................27 Jarrette Gillman...............................................30 Jarrett-Scott Ford..............................................2 JISOG Properties, LLC....................................59 Johnson’s Barbeque.........................................21 Jon & Rosie’s Tree Farm.................................91 Keene Plumbing................................................34 Ken’s Well Drilling............................................61 Key Plex..............................................................94 Loetscher Auto Parts........................................39 Malissa Crawford.............................................60 Meryman Environmental.................................99 Mosaic.................................................................25 Parkesdale Farm Market..................................17 Pathway BioLogic.............................................93 Patterson Companies.......................................77 Plant City Homestyle Buffet.............................5 Plant City Housing............................................57 Plant City Tire & Auto.....................................91 Platinum Bank...................................................57 R&O Pest Control.............................................37 Railroad & Industrial Fed Credit...................47 RAMM Recycling.................................................86 Rhonda Wetherington......................................83 Rotary Club of Plant City...............................68 Savich & Lee Wholesale.....................20 & 21 Seedway.............................................................23 South Fl Baptist Hospital..................................7 Southside Stores LLC.............................14 & 63 Southwestern Produce.....................................79 Stephanie Humphrey........................................84 StingRay Chevy.................................................32 Sweet Life Farms..............................................77 Tampa Bay Times............................................76 The Southern Barn.........................................62 The Wild Guava...............................................65 Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort................27 Tracy’s Custom Crosses..................................61 Trinkle,Redman,Swanson,Coton,...................66 Verti-Gro, Inc.....................................................47 Vocational Rehab..............................................99 Walden Lake Car Wash & Service...............91 Wasabi Japanese Steak House.......................9 Wells Memorial..................................................82 Willie’s.................................................................83 Wish Farms.........................................................81
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March 2015
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BC1403144-0614
FARM BUREAU Dear Readers:
100toSouth MulrennantheRoad • Valrico, 33594 • 813-685-9121 I am both humbled and honored have been challenges our localFL industry partners face as elected president of YOUR Hillsborough County they strive to produce the high quality products Farm Bureau. All of us owe a debt of gratitude to our markets demand. Those tours are hard work outgoing president Danny Aprile for his years of and represent many hours of support from our service to our organization. I promise to do my A BUSY industry colleagues. We YOUR thank them and those TIME FOR best to continue the momentum he carried forth. legislators and regulators who take the time to FARM BUREAU learn first hand about agriculture in our area and As a sixth generation Florida farmer, I know the how and why we need their ongoing awareness, many challenges and opportunities all of us have help and support. in theReaders: agriculture industry and that is an industry Dear tant opportunities for us to reachour outprogram to the community on behalf Dear Readers: There’s more. Ag-Venture, for bringing that is global. Our major challenge is to continue ofthe agriculture to showcase the manythrough different school things our instory of and agriculture to children to produce the food our growing population must dustry does for all, just industry farmers and ranchers. As this edition of IN THE FIELD Magazine is a group Ihave am both and honored topublished have been the challenges ournot local face as activities, is going on and we willpartners again be particiwhilehumbled the lands devoted to farming continue of your Hillsborough County Farm Bureau board volunteers is elected president of YOUR Hillsborough County they strive to produce the high quality products pating in Farm City Days through which we bring to diminish. The good thing is that the market This coming April 21 Florida Agriculture Literacy Day will be in Tallahassee, participating in the annual Legislative Days of Bureau. All iscontinues ofanusimportant owe to a debt of gratitude our demand. Those are hard the markets story agriculture toconsecutive ourtours friends living in event durfor our products expand. Ourfor task taking place.ofThis is the 12th year for work this Florida Farm Farm Bureau. This opportunity ustoto outgoing president Danny for his years of and represent many hours of support from our ing which Ag industry representatives read to elementary stumeet with oureffectively state legislators regarding ourchallenges concerns, position Tampa. is to meet thoseAprile dual while dents aground the stateWe withthank segments new, non-fiction on pending legislation and to answerenvironment. any questionsto service to our organization. I promise domay myhave industry colleagues. themfrom andthe those protecting our precious Ithey am confident children’s book, Through Florida: Livestock and Poultry”, about our industry. best to continue thetask momentum heforward carried forth. legislators and“Drive regulators who take the time Lastly, if you are not a member of our FarmtoBureau we are up to that and I look to helping that will take students on a tour of the state’s beef, dairy, poultry, learn first hand about in our area family, please join us. agriculture It isn’t necessary that usongoing all do our to assure we do so. be a of swine, equine, sheep and goat industries. This is you aand program This is an highpart priority for us that as legislative emphasis is As a sixth generation Florida farmer, I know the how and why we need their ongoing awareness, farmer or rancher to join. Please visit Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, a non-profit organization continually changing as is the membership in both the Florida many challenges andappreciate opportunities allnew of us have help and support. that educates Florida teachers about where House and I sincerely time and effort that http:// hcfarmbureau.org LetSenate. me also tell you about thethe other officers or and call students 813/685-9121 for their food, and fuel comes from utilizing a variety of means. our members devote to this annual opportunity to are: personally in the agriculture industry that They is an industry elected by your board lastand month. morefiber information. meet with stateglobal. legislators in the Capitol. My thanks, too, to our There’s more. Ag-Venture, our program for bringing that Our challenge is to Ray continue ViceisPresident Willmajor Womack, Treasurer Wood, Let me close by encouraging you to check out the benefits of state legislators for giving us the chance to meet with them and to the story agriculture to children through school to produce the food our growing population must Secretary Michelle Williamson and Member-AtOnce again, I am honored to be The your president and becoming aofFarm Bureau member. modest fee associated learn of our priorities. activities, ismembership going on and and we will again be particihave the lands My devoted to farming continue Largewhile Bill Burnette. thanks to each of them and with my family very best to you your family. in Farm Bureau is a great deal and your pating in Farm City Days through which weand bring diminish. The good thing is that the market involvement will be beneficial to both your family our indusFlorida to Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors hasserve. adopted and apour board for their willingness to try. To learn please to visit: or call proved an and competitive agenda the story of more, agriculture ourhttp://hcfarmbureau.org friends living in foraggressive our products continues legislative to expand. Our that taskwill 813/685-9121 for more information. lower taxes reduce burdensome regulations on family farms Tampa. isAstoIand effectively meet those dual challenges while am sure all of you have come to realize and make Florida agriculture more stable and sustainable in protecting ourknow, precious I am confident vacation is over. busy at Thank you, Sincerely, the future. As youtime all thisWe isenvironment. aare veryparticularly dynamic process and Lastly, if you are not a member of our Farm Bureau we are up to that task and I look forward to helping Farm Bureau. This month we are completing the changes quickly. You may find it helpful to visit the Florida Farm family, please join us. It isn’t necessary that you be a all do our legislative part to assure we do so.legislature Bureau us website: while the third ofwww.floridafarmbureau.org our toursthat during which we take is in session for and timely information on these various of legislative farmer or rancher to join. Please visit elected appointed officials to several our initiatives. http:// hcfarmbureau.org Let me also tell you about the other new officers or call 813/685-9121 for agricultural businesses in this areas so they can see Kenneth Parker - President elected by your board last month. They are: more information. agriculture at work, some of the best management I would also encourage you to contact your state legislators to let Vice President Will Treasurer Ray Wood, practices thatstand haveonWomack, been into andwhy learn them know where you theseput issues andplace how and youof Secretary andwould Member-AtOnce again, I am honored to be your president and would like them toMichelle take the Williamson actions you feel be most appropriate. Having hear from the people that helped to put Large Bill them Burnette. My thanks to each of them and my very best to you and your family. them inour office is important, I thank youtoforserve. taking the time to board for theirand willingness Board of Directors
Advocating on Your Behalf in Tallahassee
Kenneth
have your voice heard.
Kenneth Parker, President; Will Womack, Vice-President; Ray Wood, Treasure; Michelle Williamson, Secretary;
8
Member-at-large; Billcome Burnette; Board As I to ammy sure all of you ahave to realize With regard appreciation, very big “Thank You”members: to our Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Jim Frankowiak, Glenn Hinton, John Joyner, Greg Lehman, Erin Nesmith, vacation time isWhitson over.Chip We are busy at Thank you, Jake Raburn, Marty Tanner, James Tew, Executive Director JudiHarrell, and theparticularly volunteers who helped Ron Wetherington, and Ray Wood, with our presence at both Florida Statecompleting Fair and Florida Farm Bureau. This the month we are the Judi Whitson, Executive Director Strawberry Festival. Both of these annual events serve as importhird of our legislative tours during which we take elected and appointed officials to several of our INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2013 W W W. I N T H E F I E L D M A G A Z I N E . C O M agricultural businesses in this areas so they can see Kenneth Parker - President agriculture at work, some of the best management practices that have been put into place and learn of
Kenneth
Board of Directors
Kenneth Parker, President; Will Womack, Vice-President; Ray Wood, Treasure; Michelle Williamson, Secretary; Member-at-large; Bill Burnette; Board members: Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Jim Frankowiak, Glenn Harrell, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Greg Lehman, Erin Nesmith, Jake Raburn, Marty Tanner, James Tew, Ron Wetherington, and Ray Wood, Judi Whitson, Executive Director 8 88
THE FIELD M AGAZINE March 2015 INTIINN HE FIELD AGAZINE 2013 THE FIELDMM AGAZINE NOVEMBER March 2015
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March 2015
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WARNER UNIVERSITY BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW AG COMPLEX
By Jim Frankowiak
What began in 2010 with Warner University President Gregory Hall’s formation of an Agricultural Degree Task Force made up of industry leaders to investigate offering an Ag Degree program at the Lake Wales Christian institution, took a major step forward February 20 as ground was broken for the new, 38,000-square-foot complex. That task force consisted of Ag industry leaders Steve Maxwell, Hill Griffin, Tony DiMare and Keith Mixon. One of the first experts the task force spoke with regarding the degree program was Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam, who was the special keynote speaker at the event. A Polk County native and member of a multigenerational citrus and cattle family, Putnam “encouraged Warner to move forward with the Ag degree program,” noted Hall. He wanted to see our youth interested in agriculture to have the opportunity to learn the basics of agriculture and earn an Ag degree within a Christian environment. Putnam and his wife Melissa have four children. He holds the distinction of being the youngest member of the U.S. House of Representatives, having been elected to that office at 26 years of age. He was recently re-elected to his second term as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. Warner’s Agricultural Studies program began accepting students in the fall of 2013 and provides students the opportunity to study agriculture in a hands-on environment. The project-based courses allow students to experience agriculture through internships, field trips, mentors, capstone projects and guests lectures by industry leaders. The program is designed to blend traditional agriculture studies with new and emerging technologies. In his remarks at the event, Putnam referred to the new Warner program and facility as being helpful in addressing the “gap” that must 10
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be filled by agriculture in order to provide food and fiber for the additional two billion people that will live on earth by 2050 amid the global challenges facing agriculture. “We are fortunate to have this program that will enable these young people to connect to the land, a connection that has made our country the greatest on earth.” That connection, Putnam said, “has been forgotten by some.” He hopes the vision reflected by Warner and this new program will also “help to attract people to Florida as they search for their piece of the American dream, not just as a place to retire.” Following Putnam’s remarks, three separate groups were involved in groundbreaking activities: University Administration, Trustees, Ag Program Task Force Members, Builder and Architect; Agricultural Donors and Ag Program Faculty and Students. The Ag Complex structure was designed by Architect Scott Crews and will be built by Ed Locke of Semco Construction. It will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certified building in Lake Wales. That certification recognizes projects or buildings utilizing environmentally friendly building practices during construction or remodeling. In addition to sustainable green building practices, the new complex will use wind turbines and solar panels in the interest of energy efficiency. A rainwater collection tank will provide water for irrigation and feeding purposes. Warner University Vice President for Advancement said approximately $1 million has been raised to underwrite the cost of the approximately $2.8 million facility. The university also announced at the groundbreaking event that an anonymous donor had given a matching grant gift in the amount of $500,000. Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony had concluded, Ed and Myrtle Lou SwinWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
dle from Plant City stepped forward with a donation of $500,000, reducing the amount needed to complete the complex to $800,000. The university continues to seek additional donors to help underwrite the cost of the Ag complex, including a number of naming opportunities. The Warner Ag Complex will consist of the Ben Hill Griffin Administration Building, Educational Building, multi-purpose Pavilion, Debbie & Doyle Carlton, III Livestock Barn, Equipment Barn, Rainwater Collection Tank and Hunt Brothers Greenhouse. Enrollment in the Warner Ag Program currently consists of six female and 32 males students, 11 reside on campus with the balance off campus commuting students. Many commuting students are involved in family agricultural operations such as citrus, cattle, vegetable production and others. The majority of Ag students have transferred from other institutions in Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Idaho and Colorado. Founded in 1968, Warner University has a current enrollment of 1,338. It offers 30 undergraduate degree and four graduate level programs. The mission of Warner University “is to graduate individuals who exemplify academic excellence and Christian character, who are prepared to lead and committed to serve.” For more information about Warner University and its undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as Agricultural Studies, visit: warner. edu or contact Assistant Vice President for Advancement Leigh Ann Wynn via email: leighann.wynn@warner.edu or telephone: 863-6381446.
Mr. Frank Hunt holding the photo of him at Warner’s first groundbreaking in 1967 when the Cornerstone was positioned in the first building. It was moved to it’s current location in 2014 in order to honor and remember the past. Mr. Hunt helped Warner break ground on the Ag Complex where Hunt Bros adopted the Greenhouse. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2015
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BLUEBERRY GROWERS UPDATED ON INDUSTRY CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES AT FBGA SPRING SHORT COURSE Three New Varieties Unveiled By Jim Frankowiak Florida blueberry producers recently gathered in Plant City for the Spring Short Course offered by the Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) to share information on various challenges and opportunities currently before the industry. Some 400 attended the session at the John R. Trinkle Center on the Plant City Campus of Hillsborough Community College (HCC). Following welcoming comments from HCC Academic Dean Dr. Bonnie Finsely-Satterfield and a brief FBGA business meeting led by Association President Dudley Calfee, Ms. Michael Heard provided an overview of the broad-based, multi-media promotion in place to expand interest and participation from throughout the state in the annual Florida Blueberry Festival to be held April 11-12 at Brooksville. This year’s festival theme is “Florida has a Blueberry Bright Future.” Dr. Jeanne Lindsey, senior risk management specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency discussed crop insurance options for blueberry producers. She noted the new Whole Farm Revenue Protection now available and other pending advances and enhancements to coverage options available through crop insurance agents. Interested parties were encouraged to visit www.rma.usda.gov, clicking on the Farm Bill section for additional information and access to the cost estimator capability on the site. The assembled growers were then given an update on current USDA blueberry research involving the performance of southern highbush blueberries under artificial shade and harvesting and packinghouse evaluation on fruit quality by Dr. Fumi Takeda, research horticultur12
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March 2015
ist and lead scientist, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USDA – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at Kearneysville, West Virginia. He noted his presentation was an update on the status of a multi-year program involving 10 Land Grant universities located in different areas of the country. The first program he reviewed was the use of mechanical shade systems in a two-year Florida study that saw “improved fruit set, reduced fruit damage, reduced bird predation and happy u-pick customers.” The multi-objective study also focused on mechanical harvesting considerations, food safety, microbial contamination, as well as economic and ergonomic considerations and extension outreach fostering technological transfer. The study is looking at hand and machine harvesting, comparing both from different perspectives and utilizing various advanced technologies such as infra-red and thermal imaging to ascertain internal and external fruit damage. Packing house studies involved use of the BIRD sensor to evaluate the impact of dropping blueberries at various points along packing lines since, “bruising and softening of the fruit limits cold storage time, an important consideration for blueberry crops in some parts of the country,” said Takeda. That work is helping to guide the design of a harvest aid system for small and midsize blueberry farms that would permit “harvesting with minimal bruising of fruit through reduced drop heights. There is also focus on catch plate design, including coverage of some stainless steel along the lines with plastic or fiber plastic that reduces bruising.” In summary, Dr. Takeda said he and his colleagues are focused on WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
a platform system over 3 – 5 rows with handheld shaking vibrators typically used by olive growers to improve fruit removal apparatus and help reduce fruit bruising. That work will also include ergonomic considerations of fatigue and muscle aches of field workers plus a cost benefit analysis “hopefully leading to a system of higher capacity requiring fewer workers,” he said. Disease issues being faced by Georgia blueberry growers that could impact producers in Florida were then reviewed by Dr. Phil Brannen, Extension plant pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. “Replanting with new varieties has resulted in the increasing incidence of nematodes, specifically ring nematode, in Georgia,” he said. “Although both southern highbush and rabbiteye varieties have been impacted, we have found southern highbush more disease prone.” In addition to fumigation, Brannen said, “pine bark has proven to be a great tool in helping to reduce nematodes.” His second warning had to do with bacterial leaf scorch caused by bacterium spread by glassy winged sharpshooters. “Again, we have found the southern highbush to be more susceptible, but the V-1 and Star rabbiteye varieties have also shown to be highly susceptible.” Blueberry necrotic ring blotch virus was next, but “it is not a systemic virus that seems to be controlled by spraying for spider wing drosylius.” While this helps control and eliminate the virus, it does have an impact on yield. His final notice concerned a fungal disease, Exobasidio Leaf and fruit spot. “This is manifest by a white or light spot on the fruit. We have WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
seen this more on rabbiteye varieties, but there have been some on southern highbush. And, it’s not only the look that’s bothersome, they taste nasty,” he said. Dr. Brannen offered options for addressing each of the four potential problems he presented, but he emphasized that they each “may manifest themselves here in Florida.” University of Florida blueberry breeder Dr. Jim Olmstead with the Horticultural Sciences Department of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences introduced three new varieties now available to blueberry producers. All are suited to central and southern Florida and “best suited to the evergreen production system.” The new varieties are Avanti™ (FL06-203), Arcadia™ (FL07-399) and Endura™ (FL06377). Additional information on each of the new varieties is available via the Florida Foundation. See Producers Inc. at http://FFSP.NET or http://www.hos.ufl.edu/faculty/jwolmstead. The current status of labor regulations was reviewed by Michael Carlton, director of labor relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. He emphasized the need for action at the federal level regarding immigration, plus amendments to the guest worker program that is better suited to a broader segment of the industry. Carlton encouraged growers to regularly communicate with their elected officials at the federal level to know “agriculture’s livelihood depends on immigrants” and that they will hopefully move forward with new immigration legislation and amend the guest workers program in such a way that it works for agriculture.” Information on all presentations at the Short Course is available by visiting: http://floridablueberrygrowers.com/2015/02/24/fbga-spring2015-conference-presentations/ INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2015
13
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Operation Outdoor Freedom Provides Healing and Adventure for Florida’s Wounded Veterans More than 1,000 wounded veterans have enjoyed unique opportunities to hunt, fish and boat in Florida’s forests, ranches and waterways through the Florida Forest Service’s Operation Outdoor Freedom program. Operation Outdoor Freedom, launched by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and led by the Florida Forest Service, offers wounded veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces recreational opportunities on state forests and private lands, including guided hunting events and fishing trips. “It is an honor to help these men and women enjoy outdoor activities across our beautiful state,” Commissioner Putnam said. “We can never repay the sacrifices they made to help protect our country but we can try to give back in small ways that make a difference in their lives.” Since Operation Outdoor Freedom was established in 2011, the Florida Forest Service has hosted more than 1,000 veterans on more than a dozen state forests, pri16
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vate ranches and timber lands, as well as the state’s coast. Acres of Florida state forests dedicated to this effort are fully equipped to accommodate the needs of wounded veterans, providing a unique opportunity for recreation and rehabilitation. “It was healing to be in nature, around other vets, and around the great people who were our guides,” said Joseph Campagna, Florida wounded veteran. “The Florida Forest Service put on a top notch event and I really had a great time.” All funding for Operation Outdoor Freedom events is generated through private donations. Veterans participate at no charge. To donate or host an Operation Outdoor Freedom event on your private forest or ranch, contact Ned Waters, program coordinator at Ned.Waters@ FreshFromFlorida.com or (863) 297-3979. For more information about Operation Outdoor Freedom, go to www.OperationOutdoorFreedom.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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March Fishing Report Tampa Bay 2015 The Greater Bay Area can be as wild and undeveloped as you make it. Sitting on Florida’s west coast, the region is a muddle of backcountry, canals, creeks and twisting waterways that create a maze-like appearance. Lush evergreen mangroves provide food, shelter and habitat for a variety of birds, fish and other wildlife. This wonderful sanctuary has created a delightful pastime termed fishing that we share with friends and families. Our fishery is a major resource for our beautiful state and it demands we protect its assets from which we derive such enjoyment.
Let’s Go Fishing
As our population increases so increases the fishing pressure. As it continues climbing we must remember the importance of conserving a positive impact by releasing more than you keep. Many anglers consider fish as food and should never be wasted, consequently never keep more fish than you can use. Some anglers are beginning to fish just for sport and because of this, practice catch and release only. This novel concept makes it possible for other anglers to enjoy catching the same fish at another time.
They continually improve and create state of the art storage containers allowing anglers the opportunity to protect the thousands of dollars they’ve invested in fishing tackle. So, if you’re interested in getting the top of the line tackle compartment storage or need to replace some old damaged units, look to Plano for your next purchase.
This mixture of fishing excitement and beautiful natural settings is enough to classify the mangrove coast as an angler’s paradise. Because nature’s wonders magnify the scenario to such an extent, anglers often become lost in thought waiting for the next bite, often forgetting about how many fish they’ve already caught. Throughout the year and often during fall and winter, the Greater Bay Area’s shore-bound anglers experience some good times not only from the surf, but from one of our many fishing piers. Pier fishing is a great family event and there are several piers to fish from. Visit http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ boating_guides/tampa_bay/pages/fishing_piers.html Some fishing piers rent rods, reels and rigs, others you bring your own. Tossing a baited bottom rig from one of the piers is a terrific way to pass the time of day or night. From summer through the early fall, many of the piers are open for fishing 24 hours a day.
Anglers everywhere, especially throughout Florida, seem hooked (no pun intended) on Plano’s new waterproof storage boxes. Located in Plano, IL, Plano’s been manufacturing tackle boxes since 1952 and has committed to the highest quality since the beginning. As an innovator in molded storage boxes they are one of the largest facilitators covering the fishing, hunting, medical, hardware, tactical, and shelving industries.
Snook:
If February was any indication our snook bite should be great in March. As the water temperatures keep rising they continue moving into their summertime patterns. Greenbacks begin showing up and live bait anglers will be getting out that dreaded cast net. Look for Snook to pattern along outside edges and points along mangrove islands and shorelines and especially where tidal flows move bait. Our miles of grass flats with sandy potholes also offer excellent ambush locations. Live bait, suspending lures, topwater’s and soft plastics always produce. Similar to freshwater bass a snook strikes so aggressively it frequently pushes the lure completely out of the water without getting hooked. The key to a surface strike is waiting until you feel the fish, before setting the hook.
Redfish: There’s nothing more exciting than easing
onto a shallow grass flat and seeing fish tails with that black dot waving in the air. The first thing is to identify which direction they are feeding and approach quietly from the other. Nature provided redfish with exceptional eyesight and even better hearing. It’s been said, “They can almost hear you change your mind.” When searching for Redfish, you might keep in mind that in
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my reports, I mention mullet schools, that’s because it bears repeating. When trying to locate feeding redfish, remember they are eating the baits stirred up by schooling mullet. So I guess it stands to reason that fishing mullet schools usually produces redfish. However, some anglers also use other methods like the dead stick; cut ladyfish, mullet or chunks of crabs; other still prefer artificial lures or live bait. Using artificial topwater lures is an exciting method for taking Redfish and usually entails the fish swirling at the lure, this almost always pulls or pushes it down and sometimes ahead of the fish. Which, means they occasionally miss the lure on the first attempt, particularly in shallow water. If you’re “walking the dog” slow it down, but never stop it. If you stop the lure the redfish usually turns away and loses interest. Again, wait until you feel the fish to set the hook.
Spotted Sea Trout:
Fishing incoming or outgoing tides in March will continue producing good catches of trout. I cannot emphasize the excitement of using topwater lures on calm early morning trout grass flats. Trout love live shrimp, greenbacks, or fifty-cent size pinfish under a popping cork, find a deeper broken bottom grass flat and you’ll catch trout.
Cobia, Mackerel, Sharks:
As the bait shows up these should follow. Check markers and cans holding bait and be ready to toss something in the path of a circling Cobia. Not picky about food, Cobia will readily take large shrimp, small crabs and pinfish or toss them an artificial jerkbait or plastic eel. Mackerel with eat greenbacks, threadfins, silver spoons and of course shrimp lures. “Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” – 813-477-3814 Captain Woody Gore has been guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; his level of customer service, experience and attention to detail allows him to offer world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814 WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
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Tomatoes are the fruit of the tomato plant. They originated in the South American Andes around the area of modern day Peru and were first used as a food by the Aztec’s in Southern Mexico. Because the tomato has seeds and grows from a flowering plant botanically it is classed as a fruit not a vegetable. The biggest tomato fight in the world happens each year in the small Spanish town of Buñol. The festival called La Tomatina, involves some 40,000 people throwing 150,000 tomatoes at each other. Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene, which is important for the health of the prostate gland in men. Tomato seedlings have been grown in space. There are over 10,000 varieties of tomato, these come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, black, yellow and white. Found at Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, USA, the largest single tomato plant in the world covers an area of 56.73 meters sq. That’s bigger than an Olympic size swimming pool! Tomatoes are good for the eyes. Lycopene, the most abundant carotenoid in the blood serum, was found to be the key antioxidant that guards against ARMD ( Age-Related Macular Degeneration), a condition that may cause blindness. Eating tomatoes, ketchup, tomato sauce and tomato paste-topped pizza more than two times a week can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 21 to 43 percent according to Dr. Edward Giovannucci of the Harvard University School of Public Health.
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I remember my mother running me out of the house one time for having stinky feet. I wore my old pair of tennis shoes everywhere. After school I would play sandlot football and get hot and sweaty. This added fuel to the fire. In the summer I had to take my shoes off before coming into the house even though I took a good bath every night. It got so bad they made me take off my socks, too. I almost got a whippin’ for untying my shoes in church one time. They were just loose enough to let enough of the odor out to annoy people. It got very apparent when everybody around me started to move away. I remember my mother was so embarrassed. I must admit it did stink. My sisters Nettie Mae and Betty Jean would always give me a dirty look and say “P U”… get away from me. I found that your dogs, piggies or tootsies, as they are called, get the smell from bacteria created when your feet get sweaty. Scientist says that the bacteria really gets going if you don’t wear socks. The bacteria produces stuff called volatile sulfur compounds. Yuck, rotten eggs! Did you know jobs are available to smell? That’s right, some people get paid to smell. Clinical testing labs hire people to do this when they are testing new products. These professional “smellers” get to smell some of the sweet stuff like the fragrance of a new hair spray or perfume. Other times they may have to test, or smell, a new underarm deodorant. Imagine, sniffling someone’s underarm to see if it works! One company hires body odor experts. Need a part time job? Every once in a while I’ll glance through the want ad section of the newspaper. Some are really hilarious. Check these out: Georgia Peaches-California Grown- 1.00 a pound. Nice parachute-Used Once-Never Opened-Slightly Stained. American Flag with 60 Stars-Pole Included. For Sale-One large Sofa-Will seat the whole mob, and is made of 100% Italian leather. Joining Nudist Colony-Washer and Dryer for sale. Nordic Track $200.00- Hardly Used- Call Chubbie. Open House-Body Shapers Toning Salon-Free Coffee and Donuts. And finally, For Sale By Owner-Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 Volumes. Excellent condition. $900.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything. O.K., I have finally found out how you know you are getting old! Here they are, 26 solid reasons: 1. When you and your teeth no longer sleep together. 2. You try to straighten out the winkles in your stockings and discover you aren’t wearing any. 3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you’re not eating cereal. 4. Your back goes out but you stay home. 5. When you wake up looking exactly like your driver’s license picture. 6. It takes two tries to get up from the couch. 7. When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio. 8. When happy hour includes a nap. 22
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9. When you’re on vacation and your energy runs out before you money does. 10. When you say something to your kids that your mother said to you, and you always hated it. 11. When all you want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age. 12. When you step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there. 13. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up. 14. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired. 15. Your memory is shorter and your complaining lasts longer. 16. Your address book has mostly names that start with Dr. 17. You sit in a rocking chair and can‘t get it going. 18. The pharmacist has become your new best friend. 19. Getting “lucky” means you found your car in the parking lot. 20. The twinkle in your eyes is merely a reflection from the sun on your cataract. 21. It takes twice as long to look half as good. 22. Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work. 23. You look for your glasses for half an hour, and they were on your head the whole time. 24. You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there. 25. You give up all your bad habits and you still don’t feel good. 26. You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart. Let me leave you with this story about why things are not always what they seem to be. I have no idea who wrote it, or where I got it. For some reason years ago I saved it. Perhaps to be printed in this magazine. Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel sawed a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.” The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good nights rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die! “Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it.” Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.” Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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GULF COAST RESEARCH CENTER WELCOMES VISITING EGYPTIAN SCHOLARS By Jim Frankowiak
Two research scientists from Egypt are visiting the University of Florida/Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) for the next six months to enhance their plant breeding knowledge. They are Dr. Mohammed Fetouh from Tanta University and Dr. Awad Shala of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center. Both are working with Dr. Zhanao Deng at the GCREC. Dr. Deng develops new ornamental plant cultivars for Florida growers and consumers. His current breeding efforts are directed toward the development and release of new caladium, gerbera and pomegranate cultivars, genetic sterilization of lantana and nandina and evaluation and selection of superior Florida-native plants. Dr. Deng’s research activities are geared toward understanding inheritance of horticultural traits important to Florida growers and consumers, investigating genetic bases for disease resistance traits, development new genetic, genomic and molecular tools for increased breeding efficiency and applying new biotechnological advances to plant breeding and genetics. Dr. Fetouh, who is married and the father of two daughters, has come to the GCREC and Dr. Deng’s breeding program to gain additional knowledge in advanced breeding techniques for floriculture. His focus will be on caladiums, ligustrum and jatropha. In addition to being an ornamental plant, there is one variety of jatropha that is a candidate for future biodiesel production. Dr. Fetouh’s major specialization in Egypt is horticulture and floriculture/ornamental plants. Dr. Shala, who is also married and the father of two daugh24 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2015
ters, will work on projects for lantana and vinca, which is also known as periwinkle. Though ornamental plants, lantana and vinca also have medicinal properties. Lantana contains essential oils and vinca harbors potent chemicals helpful in fighting cancer. “Vinca is also considered a medicinal plant outside of the U.S.,” noted Dr. Deng. The techniques used in this country may be successfully applied to other medicinal plants grown in Egypt. “This will enable researchers to isolate essential oils and extracts, characterizing them for use in the development of new pharmaceuticals,” said Dr. Deng. The Egyptian researchers both became aware of the GCREC and Dr. Deng’s program through contact with Dr. Mohammed Rakha who had twice visited and studied at the center with Dr. Jay Scott, professor of Horticultural Sciences with primary focus on tomato breeding. Dr. Rakah is currently working in Taiwan as a researcher with AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center. The visits of both Dr. Fetouh and Dr. Shala are being underwritten by the Egyptian government. “This type of collaborative study with researchers from the United States and other countries is a long-standing tradition with the University of Florida,” noted Dr. Deng. “Many of our scientists have participated in such programs here and abroad with encouragement from the university.” In addition to Drs. Fetouh and Shala from Egypt, the GCREC is hosting undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral visitors from more than 10 foreign countries. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Stop by our produce stand and pick up some delicious strawberries. We’re sure they’ll make any occasion. berry special!
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The work we do at Mosaic is critical to helping feed the world. We provide farmers with phosphate crop nutrients that enable them to produce more food on less land. Essential crop nutrients — like phosphate mined and manufactured in Florida — are responsible for 40-60 percent of the crop yields farmers produce worldwide.* That translates into more abundant and affordable food here at home. As our world keeps growing, Mosaic keeps working to help put food on the table, for all of us.
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Source: Agronomy Journal
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CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS “The Best of the Best” THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 1ST Place - $1500 Cash Award – John McGehee From Okeechobee
Savannah Lee from Apollo Beach Matthew Staples from Groveland Jeremy Odom from Howey in the Hills Abby Marion from Deltona Ty Barber from Bronson
2nd Place Champion of Champions - Michael Fioretto from Bradenton
Jan Dillard Memorial Scholarship Winner
3rd Place Champion of Champions - Kayleigh Heather from Dade City
The winner of the $1,000 Scholarship is Jeffrey Mitchell from Zephryhills
4th Place Champion of Champions - Abby Marion from Deltona 5th Place Champion of Champions - Gregory Shoemaker from Hernando 6th Place Champion of Champions - Anastasia Sturgis from Orlando Mosaic Scholarship Winners The winner of the $1,500 Scholarship is Megan Upshaw from Arcadia
The winners of the $1,000 Scholarship are: INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Youth Dog
Junior Champion – Elliot Potteiger from Lakeland Intermediate Champion – Emma Kordek from Plant City 4th place Senior Champion – Erica Curtis from Winter Haven 3rd place Senior Champion – Marisa Murray from Riverview 2nd place Senior Champion – Kayla Byrd from Auburndale Champion Youth for Dog Show – Steven Pink from Punta Gorda
Youth Llama
Florida State Fair Foundation Scholarship Winners
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CHAMPION YOUTH WINNERS
Junior Champion – Maggie Jordan from Nokomis Intermediate Champion – Katelyn Dumas from Palmetto
March 2015
4th place Senior Champion – Savannah Fann from Deltona 3rd place Senior Champion – Joseph Newcomb from Zephyrhills 2nd place Senior Champion – Caitlin Farquhar from Zephyrhills Champion Youth for Llama Show – Anastasia Sturgis from Orlando
Youth Rabbit
Junior Champion – Kally Henson from Winter Haven Intermediate Champion – Alyssa Ligocki from Land O Lakes 4th place Senior Champion – Hannah Gillette from Wesley Chapel 3rd place Senior Champion – Abby Ligocki from Land O Lakes 2nd place Senior Champion – Gregory Shoemaker from Hernando Champion Youth for Rabbit Show – Anastasia Sturgis from Orlando
Youth Steer
Intermediate Champion – Kyle Pridgen from Groveland 4th place Senior Champion – Ty Hamilton from Riverview 3rd place Senior Champion – Allison Randell from Wellborn 2nd place Senior Champion – Christian Rodriquez from Live Oak Champion Youth for Steer Show – Matthew Staples from Groveland
Youth Dairy
Junior Champion – Logan Shoop from Ruskin Intermediate Champion – Nicholas WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Hammer from Odessa 4th place Senior Champion – Kayleigh Heather from Dade City 3rd place Senior Champion – Cara Zeveny from Parrish 2nd place Senior Champion – John McGehee from Okeechobee Champion Youth for Dairy Show – Michael Fioretto from Bradenton
Youth Poultry
Junior Champion - Logan Harper from Sorrento Intermediate Champion – Emily Jennings from Dade City 4th place Senior Champion – Yosbel Garcia from Tampa 3rd place Senior Champion – Oceanna Deaton from Eustis 2nd place Senior Champion – Zoe Tallman from Tampa Champion Youth for Poultry Show – Jonathan Sangiorgio from Brandon
Youth Goat
Junior Champion – John Switzer from Lutz Intermediate Champion – Makayla Vaugh from Edgewater 4th place Senior Champion – Ashlyn Greer from Edgewater 3rd place Senior Champion – Shelbi McCall from Mayo 2nd place Senior Champion – Abby Marion from Deltona Champion Youth for Goat Show – Nicole Falk from Edgewater Youth Swine Junior Champion – Taylor Waller from Inverness WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Intermediate Champion – Drake Treffeisen from Lake Panasoffkee 4th place Senior Champion – William Jameson from Lake Panasoffkee 3rd place Senior Champion – Karoline Harpster from Deltona 2nd place Senior Champion – Baleigh Oliver from Deland Champion Youth for Swine Show – Shelbi McCall from Mayo
Youth Beef
Junior Champion – Gabe Mitchell from Trenton Intermediate Champion – Emily Jennings from Dade City 4th place Senior Champion – Dana Patterson from Alachua 3rd place Senior Champion – Emily Courson from Bradenton 2nd place Senior Champion – Cassidy Dossin from Valrico Champion Youth for Beef Show – Cara Zeveney from Parrish
Youth Sheep
Junior Champion – David Austin from Deland Intermediate Champion – Makayla Vaugh from Edgewater 4th place Senior Champion – Trevor Rosso from Deland 3rd place Senior Champion – Cassidy Hasting from Plant City 2nd place Senior Champion – Bailey Sloan from Deland Champion Youth for Sheep Show – Brianna Edwards from Deland
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By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida
In this installment of the Literary Time Machine, we ask you to venture back to an era in which life was significantly cheaper. In fact, when we came across Torrey-Simpson’s words here we had a hard time controlling our glee. In his chapter: Some Suggestions, he starts off seemingly irritated by people who come to Florida on vacation and yet have no intent to beautify, or make better, the place they claim to love. His great affection for Florida, its landscape and ornamental gardening, is so tangible in this book. In fact, it almost makes one long for that bygone adoration and appreciation, that we might see the Florida it was meant to be. He starts this chapter with a bit of a disclaimer, writing (regarding non-native, human visitors), “Almost any kind of shelter seems to be good enough…I am not attempting to cast any slur on the tourist or winter resident in general…neither am I wishing to say anything disrespectful about those who haven’t the means to build expensive places…”¹ And here’s the part you’re waiting for (the one we mentioned at the beginning of this article), “It is easily possible at a cost of a few hundred dollars to construct of boards a house that will be attractive, and to surround it in a short time with inexpensive trees and plants in such a way that the whole will be a beauty spot.”¹ A few hundred dollars to construct a wood frame home! Wow! Oh that this were still true. He continues, in hopes of clarifying, “I am simply berating in my gentle way the man or woman who merely comes here for physical pleasure, who cares nothing for the welfare of the state or its people, whose eyes are blind to beauty, whose ears are deaf to progress. Many a man wastes a hundred thousand on buildings and grounds which, in the end, are perfectly hideous…”¹ Attractive dwellings are of supreme importance to him. So he advises, “If you cannot design a tasteful house and grounds take your time and look around: in every neighborhood someone will be pretty sure to have an attractive home. Talk with the owners of such places, ask for suggestions… No one of any taste wants a monstrosity of a house or grounds near him; therefore as a matter of self-defense he will be willing to help a newcomer in such a matter.”¹ While this might have been true in 1926 we’re not so sure that it would hold water today! We’ve a lot to learn about loving our neighbors (enough to help). He then makes reference to pretentious houses with serpentine paths, neither of which are spoken of positively. Yet, he doesn’t let that stop him from offering further advice to those trying to create the proper homestead. He instructs, “There are several grasses that make good lawns in Florida. Among these are St. Augustine grass…a strong grower with light green leaves, which is prone to run into shady places and sometimes chokes out planted stuff. Cynodon dactylon is the well-known Bermuda grass which is a more delicate plant but is somewhat objectionable because of its underground runners. Its vaWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Part 6
riety called St. Lucie grass has runners above ground and is much better but both sometimes look dingy during very dry weather; they are hardy throughout the state. Zoysia tennifolia, a lovely grass which forms a dense cover and looks like a velvet carpet, has been grown to some extent in Lower Florida but it dies out in places thus disfiguring a lawn. Recently a Chinese grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) has been tried here and it promises well as it flourishes in poor soil and stands dry weather admirably.”¹ Perhaps you are like us, at least a little bit, because we got riled up when we saw the mention of a Chinese grass (especially since we are now dealing with the consequences of non-native and invasive species). Therefore it seemed prudent to look at the grass he mentioned here. Its common name is centipede grass and it is considered drought tolerant having scored very well in comparison to nine other warm-season grasses. Also, it requires less fertilizer than most other grasses in this arena. We couldn’t find anything that would insinuate that this grass’ introduction has been negative at all. Therefore, it appears to be a good bit of advice from 1926. Who knew? There are a number of additional tidbits of value within the pages of this chapter but as is the case with all magazine articles, this one must come to a close. So, we’ll send you off thinking about Torrey-Simpson’s own last words (in the chapter). He closes with, “…it is doubtful if it pays to install and keep up an irrigation system in Florida… Notwithstanding the fact that one encounters many drawbacks and discouragements in laying out and developing a place in Florida the whole process is a delightful one…even one’s mistakes are not so bad after all for they help to teach useful lessons. One of the best parts of my education in gardening here has been my mistakes: it is just as necessary to know what we cannot do as what we can. What a joy it is to watch the plants grow, to realize as the years go by that one’s home is becoming more and more beautiful and more and more a part and parcel of his life.”¹ May we find as much value in those things with which we’ve been entrusted. ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 25-30). INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Florida
Canistel By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Florida canistel is a creamy, egg-shaped tropical fruit that is delicious eaten out-of-hand or cooked in various desserts. Native to Central America and South American, canistel is a member of the Sapotaceae family, along with sapodilla and mamey sapote. Canistel is also called egg-fruit, yellow sapote, zapotillo, and zapote. This fruit has a bright yellow flesh, sweet flavor, and a creamy texture, much like custard or cooked pumpkin. In the middle is a dark brown, inedible pit. Florida is the only state in the United States that produces canistel, and its peak season is from December until March. NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Naturally sweet and creamy, Florida canistel also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals. Canistels are rich in niacin and vitamin A, and also contain significant amounts of potassium, vitamin C, calcium, iron, thiamin, and phosphorus. A 100g portion of fresh canistel (roughly two fruits) has 136 calories, 2 g protein, 0.3 g fat, 0.1 g fiber and 37 g carbohydrates. It also contains 26.5 mg calcium, 37.3 mg phosphorus, 32 mg carotene, 3.7 mg niacin and 58.1 mg vitamin C, as well as the amino acids lysine, methionine, and tryptophan. NIACIN: FOR HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is best known for its ability to lower LDL cholesterol and triglyercides, the harmful types of cholesterol. Niacin may also slow the progression of atherosclerosis, which is cholesterol deposits in your arteries, which may later lead to heart attack or stroke. This vitamin also helps the body make hormones and improve circulation. Along with the other B vitamins, niacin helps the body convert food into fuel for the body to use, and is necessary for proper functioning of the nervous system. PHOSPHORUS: FOR STRONG BONES AND TEETH Phosphorus plays an essential role in the body. Along with calcium, phosphorus helps build strong bones and teeth. This mineral also helps filter out waste in the kidneys and plays an essential role in how the body stores and uses energy. Phosphorus is necessary for the growth, maintenance, and repair of all tissues and cells, and for the production of the genetic building blocks, DNA and RNA. VITAMIN C: FOR A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM Vitamin C is an important antioxidant, supporting the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple. The vitamin C in canistel also enhances iron absorption from other foods, which reduces the risk of anemia. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
VITAMIN A: FOR GOOD EYESIGHT Vitamin A is essential for optimal eye health and can help prevent night-blindness. It also plays a role in immunity by supporting the white blood cells in fighting infections. This vitamin is also involved in hearing, taste, and normal fetal development. HOW TO SELECT AND STORE Canistel should be harvested from the tree when the fruit turns a bright yellow-orange color. Choose fruit that is uniform in color with intact skin. Allow the fruit to ripen at room temperature for 3-10 days until it feels soft, but not mushy, when lightly squeezed. When ripe, the fruit can be stored for up to several days in the refrigerator. HOW TO ENJOY Fresh canistel is delicious eaten out-of-hand, as well as made into jam, marmalade, pancakes, smoothies, milkshakes, custards, or ice cream. Canistels maintain their bright yellow color and their taste when heated, so they are easy to incorporate into cooked foods. Other ways to enjoy it include: • Dice it and mix with other fruits and vegetables into a salsa or fruit salad • Add slices to a salad as an avocado substitute • Blend with other fruits into a smoothie. • Blend with milk and vanilla to make an eggnog-like beverage • Mash and freeze to make a refreshing sorbet • Puree and add to soup • Substitute for pumpkin puree in a pumpkin pie • Mash and use as a topping for pancakes • Slice and eat with salt, pepper, and lime juice • Combine with chili, limes, and spices into a chutney Enjoy this unique tropical fruit during Florida’s peak season today. Whether eaten fresh or cooked, canistels add nutrition and deliciousness to any dish! SELECTED REFERENCES University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs299 Purdue University. https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ canistel.html
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Why a
Mule
America’s First Frontier
By Les McDowell
Photos by Linda Constant
It’s a cold night on the Parrish Florida set of Dry Creek. A fog machine belches out fog and members of the crew fan the fog so it will spread out and settle in the Oak Hammock where our lights and camera are waiting to catch the magical looking scene. It appears storybook and ghostly in appearance and from my seat astride my mule Peach, next to an actor on horseback, I await the words ACTION! It’s a simple scene we are trying to create but with the element of fog, lighting and trying to get just the right picture painted for the camera to capture, it’s a very trying time today at the least. We are filming a scene for a Dry Creek episode called, The Awakening. In the scene a little girl is lost in the woods and swamps of early Florida. We are playing the part of men on horse and mule back looking for her. As they call for more fog and we wait patiently for our cue to ride through a canopy of oak branches 38
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hanging with Spanish Moss, I can’t help but think back to another time. Just looking down and seeing those long ears of my mule moving back and forth listening to the sounds of the late night, I reminisce about my early years and the first four legged friend with hoofs and long ears. I always dreamed of being a cowboy. I didn’t grow up on a ranch and early on always dreamed of having a horse. I used to have a recurring dream growing up. That dream had me owning and riding a white horse with a silver saddle. Just like Hopalong Cassidy’s. Then before I woke up my white horse would turn into a white rag blowing on moms clothes line. Crazy I guess. But I kept on dreaming. When I was 9 my dad surprised us kids ....he told us to look outside and there was my white horse. Well it wasn’t really white, it didn’t look like Hoppy’s but WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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it had four legs and two big ears. It was a burro. But to me he was every bit a silver steed. I called him Tonka and loved him with his all his differences. So today when I set astride my ole mule Peach, I think back to Tonka. They both are better than any ole white horse with a silver saddle. I just know Dads smiling down with a proud look on his face standing next to Tonka. ACTION! I loosen the rein of Peach and ride thru the fog into the bright lights and think I’m the most blessed man living. Living my boy hood dream of being a cowboy. Maybe not on a white horse with silver saddle but on something that fits me just right. In a magical place called Dry Creek. Everybody knows where Dry Creek is....”cause it’s inside each and everyone of us.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Web Design Graphic Design Lead Generation Online Marketing Content Development Branding exocreative.com 929.500.1396 301 S. Collins Street, Plant City
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Hillsborough County – Recycled Yard Art Contest at the 2015 Florida State Fair By Lynn Barber Photos by Lisa Meredith
The purpose of the Recycled Yard Art Contest was to increase environmental awareness and encourage reuse/ recycling of materials into yard art. The competition involved two and three dimensional art created from items already used for their original purpose. During the twelve days of the 2015 Florida State Fair, attendees voted for the People’s Choice award on one of the nineteen entries submitted. The votes have been tallied, all 5,466 of them, and the winner is: Andy Hamilton for the “Robot Welder” created with a bug sprayer, candle stick, skates, metal thermometer, silverware and bicycle pedals.
McClaren A. Streets “Buddy” won first place for his “American Quarter”, (American Eagle), which was created from used saw blades, truck and weldThe first place award for an Elementary School ing parts. went to Ballast Point Elementary for their “Cycle” creation, which is a Rainwater Harvesting system. The materials used include a plastic garbage bin/can, plastic bottles (water, soda and milk), an old garden hose and bicycle wheel. All of the contest winning entries will be on display at the UF/IFAS Extension Service, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584, until March 18, 2015. We hope you will stop by to view these creations, stroll through the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden and see what we have to offer. I’m truly amazed at the creativity of the artists. Most of the artwork that was entered into the Recycled Yard Art contest would look fabulous in many landscape, mine in particular! Each of us would probably be surprised at how creative we can be. This is a great time to put on your thinking caps for a Recycled Yard Art project you have been Dowdell Middle Magnet School won the first considering creating…and make it. We will have two Recycled Yard Art competitions in place Middle School Award for their creation of 2016; one at the Hillsborough County Fair, and one at the Florida State Fair. Hope you “Penguin Lawn Decorations” that utilized plastic will participate. Thanks for Reducing, Reusing, Recycling and Repeating! bottles in varying sizes and fabric scraps. 42
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FFA AND 4-H YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT By Jim Frankowiak
Middle and senior high school members of FFA and 4-H from throughout Hillsborough County interested in the green industry participated in the recent Nursery, Landscape and Floriculture Career Development Event. This event, which was held at the UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension Office in Seffner, is a partnership between Extension and the Tampa Chapter of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA).
Fifth High individual - $10 Esperanza Vanvleet, Randall FFA
“This is the 40th consecutive year for this event,” said Shawn Steed, multi-county Extension Agent for Commercial Ornamental Production. “It is a great opportunity for agricultural or vocational education students interested in careers in the environmental horticulture industry to have a path to finding opportunities with businesses engaged in the industry.
Career Development Event Sr. Division
High Ind. Plant ID - Certificate $25 Katalina Arias, Barrington FFA High Ind. Insect ID - Certificate $25 Rebecca McGuin, Barrington FFA High Ind. Tool ID - Certificate $25 Haeley Maxwell, Turkey Creek FFA High Ind. Written ID - Certificate $25 Gave Arias, Barrington FFA High Ind. Practicum - Certificate $25 Angelina Amato, Barrington FFA Third Place Chapter – Plant City FFA, Plaque Second Place Chapter – Newsome FFA, Plaque First Place Chapter – Durant FFA Plaque and Trophy First High individual - $50 Michael Whatley, Durant FFA Second High individual - $30 Ethan Vaughn, Durant FFA Third High individual - $20 Jonathan Rowell, Durant FFA Fourth High individual - $15 Olivia Johnson, Durant FFA Fifth High individual - $10 Hannah Spivey, Plant City FFA High Ind. Plant ID - Certificate $25 Brenna Nipper, Newsome FFA High Ind. Insect ID - Certificate $25 Clayton Reasor, Newsome FFA High Ind. Tool ID - Certificate $25 Michael Whatley, Durant FFA High Ind. Written ID - Certificate $25 Johnathan Rowell, Durant FFA High Ind. Practicum - Certificate $25 Sam Sands, Durant FFA
“This county-wide competition also offers an opportunity for those aspiring students to test their knowledge in the areas of nursery, landscaping and floriculture.” Participants are tested in landscape plant identification, landscape tool identification, plant pest and disorders identification, floriculture plant identification, general green industry knowledge and two section tests relative to environmental horticulture practical working knowledge. The competition is divided into two divisions, the Junior Division for middle school competitors and the Senior Division for high school entrants. “This year more than 40 students Competitive test stations were set up by Steed, while Horticulture Excompeted, representing five high schools and three middle schools. tension Agent Nicole Pinson organized the Pest and Disorders Identification exam. “Additionally, we had volunteers from the Extension The Tampa Chapter of the FNGLA underwrites the cost of trophies, faculty and office staff that helped set up, grade, proctor and clean up plaques and cash prizes awarded at the conclusion of the competition. after the event,” said Steed. “We also had volunteers from the HillsTesting took place during a morning session, followed by lunch pro- borough Master Gardeners.” vided by Pam Walden of Hillsborough County Public Schools and the announcement of individual, school and team winners. Prizes will be Greg Shiver from J & R Nursery and Dough Holmberg from Holmawarded at the FFA awards banquet in May. berg Farms, Inc. donated plants for identification and Audie Ham of Diamond R. Fertilizer provided refreshments for participants and volunteers. Career Development Event Jr. Division Third Place Chapter- Turkey Creek FFA - Plaque Grading for both divisions was undertaken by 4-H Extension Agent Second Place Chapter- Randall FFA - Plaque First Place Chapter – Barrington FFA – Plaque and Large Traveling Brandi Yancy and Ed Watkins, agricultural instructor at Armwood High School. Glenn H. Barrington Middle School Agricultural Introphy structor Greg Lehman shuttled plant materials from the nurseries to First High individual - $50 Gabe Arias, Barrington FFA the event and back. Second High individual - $30 Rebecca McGuin, Barrington FFA Third High individual - $20 Katalina Arias, Barrington FFA Fourth High individual - $15 Paige Gran, Barrington FFA WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Stop unsolicited phone calls with the “Do NOT Call” program! by John Dicks
Like most adults over 40 (and in my case, that was a number of years ago), I used to have a “landline” telephone in my home. Probably, you did too. My kids still kid me today about the size of that monster of a phone, with what they referred to as a “leash” permanently affixed to it and plugged into the wall. It used to amaze me that some way that thing was connected by copper to millions of people scattered throughout the country. It’s now long gone from my home. It was sent packing when I learned that I could “port” my home phone number over to a cellphone. Then, someone could call me at “home” no matter where in the world I might roam. For all they knew, I was still sitting by the fire in the house that we built more than 25 years ago. Of course that meant also that telephone solicitors could still find me. And they seemed always to know when we were having dinner and timed their calls at precisely the most inopportune time to regale us with great offerings on timeshares or magazine subscriptions. We learned to simply not answer the pesky solicitation and let it go to voice mail (or back then, it was to the good ol’ fashioned answering machine). But it was the annoying ring that was disturbing, and you felt compelled to listen in on the message to make certain that it was not urgent or important. Fortunately, that dinner time frustration finally came to a halt a few years ago when the “Do NOT Call” legislation came into existence. Evidently I wasn’t the only one who was growing grumpy over the incessant unwanted phone calls. Both Congress and the various States’ Legislatures had heard the complaints and looked for ways to put an end to such phone calls (with a few exceptions, one notable of which is, of course, for unsolicited calls from political candidates, which Legislators deemed to be just fine and specifically allowed to continue). What it means, is that if you like your evenings to be accompanied with a bit of peace and quiet, you can make your wishes known and solicitors will be fined if they are caught calling and not respecting your wishes. The “Do NOT Call” program has been around now for several years, both at the state and federal levels. But there have been some changes made to make it much simpler to get on the list, which solicitors are required to keep an updated copy of and use to honor the desires of those of us not wanting to be disturbed. Even better is that unlike a few years ago when the process was cumbersome and you had to pay an annual fee to keep those cranky calls at bay, today the process is painless and free. You can even do it online which it makes it that much more simple. For our Florida program, it’s extremely simple and easy to remember. Just think about the first letters in “FL Do Not Call”; use them and head online go to www.fldnc.com. The website allows you to list six separate phone numbers at a time, whether they be residential or mobile ones. You can also check to see whether a number is already listed. And just in case you know someone who’d like to get MORE phone calls during dinner, tell them that they can use the same website to unsubscribe their phone number, thus opening up their “telephone front door” to all kinds of fascinating offers and “once in a lifetime” opportunities! 46
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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and a Farmer. He and his family own a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!” John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three years as Mayor. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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s e p i c e R These recipes come from WWW.STRAWBERRYSUE.COM
Florida Strawberry Nutella Pizza Filling
Pizza dough for one pizza 1 jar of Nutella 8 oz bittersweet chocolate bar 4 cups of sliced Florida strawberries
DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 450°F. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven as it preheats. This will give you an extra crispy crust just like a traditional stone pizza oven!
and carefully place the pizza dough on the stone. Place back into the oven and bake for around 10 minutes or until its edges are puffy and the crust begins to turn golden brown.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface. Pressing from the center out in a circular motion, start forming your pizza. It’s important to keep the dough density consistent so flip the dough and re-flour from time to time.
Once the pizza is ready, remove from the oven and the pizza stone. Now spread the Nutella and don’t be afraid to be as generous as you like! Grate the dark chocolate bar over the Nutella.
Evenly distribute the sliced strawberries, Take your pizza stone out of the oven. slice and enjoy! Dust the top of the pizza stone with flour
Florida Strawberry Dream Ice Cream INGREDIENTS
2 cups whole milk 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups mashed fresh strawberries
DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, combine the milk, cream, sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour the mixture into the frozen freezer bowl and let mix for 20-30 minutes until it begins to thicken. Add strawberries and process for 10-15 more minutes. The ice cream 50
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will have a soft, creamy texture. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving. Add a sprig of mint or basil for an even more beautiful display. Chef’s note: If your ice cream maker is as noisy as most, or if it tends to lose its cool a little early in the process, have I got a trick for you! Simply clear out some space in your refrigerator or freezer and let the magic happen in the cold, quiet darkness of your freezer or fridge. This also means you can make more than one batch a day since your freezer bowl won’t thaw out as quickly! March 2015
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Biopesticides. Short REIs and zero
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The Biopesticide Company Melocon is a registered trademark of Bayer Crop Science. Screen Duo is a registered trademark of Crop Microclimate Management Inc. Cueva is a registered trademark W. Neudorff GmbH KG. Kocide is a registered trademark of Kocide LLC. WWW. INare THEregistered FIELDMAGAZINE.COM All others trademarks of Certis USA LLC.
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By Libby Hopkins
Market Watch: When I say, “BAMM!” what comes to mind? Emeril Lagasse? Well, BAMM actually stands for Bay Area Maker’s Market and they hosted their very first market this past February at the historic Crislip Arcade in St. Petersburg. It was very fitting for Wendy Wyler, of Fandomonium Designs and BAMM market manager to host the market at the 89-year-old arcade because during the 1920s through the 1950s, the arcade was the most popular place to shop in downtown St. Petersburg. “I put the pop-up market together for the makers’ group as a way to give smaller, local businesses the chance to reach a larger demographic with the hopes of eventually having the opportunity to open a brick and mortar resource center that offers business and skillfocused workshops for makers in the Tampa area,” Wyler said. “The Bay Area Maker’s Market will feature a unique shopping experience from a variety of local food and handmade vendors.” The pop-up market will change locations each month and they hope to be popping up in the Tampa Bay area sometime in late March. Pop-up markets and restaurants are on the rise and they are creating a lot of capital. According to PopUp Republic (www.popuprepublic.com), these pop up businesses have brought in billions of dollars in annual sales. “Pop-ups are those temporary places of business such as popup yard sales, farmers markets and supper clubs that sell product and food. They are literally popping up everywhere and they have grossed $50 billion in annual sales.” 52
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Wyler is a member of the Tampa Bay Etsy Crew (TBEC). The online group has a Facebook page with more than 1000 members. They support each other and use the page as a forum for small business guidance and other issues. “Most of us are makers first and then small business owners second,” Wyler said. “TBEC is where I met most of the vendors for this market that I have become friendly with and I wanted to see that kind of support group flourish off of the Internet. We call each other ‘frienders’.” One of those “frienders” is Sunshine Canning (www.sunshinecanning.com), which is owned by Lisa Fulk. She wanted to be a part of BAMM because she really liked the camaraderie within the local maker movement and she felt it would be a lot of fun to get together for the market. “I’m pretty passionate about buying local and supporting local businesses,” Fulk said. “I think an organization like BAMM is a great way to band together and create fun opportunities within the local marketplace, for both the makers and those who want to keep their money circulating in the local economy.” Fulk started canning as a way to save money in and have high quality food readily available for her family. “I’ve been canning for years and I got accepted into Cornell’s Master Food Preserver Program in 2012,” Fulk said. “I became a certified Master Food Preserver and I started teaching canning classes all WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
over south west Florida in 2013.” Sunshine Canning was born when she decided to start selling all the food she was canning. “One of our main missions at Sunshine Canning is to support local farmers and most of our products are made from local, seasonal produce,” Fulk said. “Our other main focus is teaching people how to preserve their harvest at home. We know that canning can be intimidating, but our classes do a good job of demystifying the process.” One of the more unique vendors at the BAMM pop-up market was Printsicle (www.etsy.com/shop/printsicle), which is owned by husband and wife team, Lena and Adam Wolfe. Lena is an artist and Adam is an engineer. They create custom cookie cutters that are 3-D printed from biodegradable material. “I actually had no idea what 3-D printing was when we first started, but my husband had some experience from his engineering background,” Lena said. “I really had no idea what to expect when we got started with it but it really seemed like a perfect medium to combine both of our talents where I could draw all of our designs to be digitally rendered and modeled by my husband and 3-D printing.” The couple has worked with local bakeries that have used their cutters to create beautiful cookies. They even provide a cookie recipe with every cookie cutter purchase. The Wolfe’s wanted to join BAMM after meeting with Wyler. “I think the most appealing thing about BAMM for us is that it’s really an event for makers, by makers,” Lena said. Adam Wolfe likes that the market shows off the diverse skills of those involved with TBEC. “People are coming together to show off what they can do and to share their passion for making,” Adam said. If you would like to learn more about BAMM or to see when and where their next pop-up market will be, you can visit their Facebook page at www. facebook.com/BayAreaMakersMarket. If you would like to be a vendor at the next popup market, contact Wyler at BAMakers@gmail.com or call 515-724-9376.
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CONDUCTING AG FOOD INCUBATOR STUDY By Jim Frankowiak Online Participation Sought
Business incubators have become important way to foster the development and growth of new endeavors. Most often associated with emerging technological companies there is an initiative underway here in Hillsborough County regarding the establishment of an Ag food incubator. Funded by the county and involving Entrepreneur Collaborative Center Manager Lynn Schultz and Ag Economic Development Manager Simon Bollin, the efforts first step was the engagement of the Greenwood Consulting Group to conduct a feasibility study. “Overall, the Board of County Commissioners is seeking to develop several key industries in the county, and that includes some aspects of the Ag Industry Development Program,” noted Bollin. “The first part of the study is a market survey to determine a number of considerations with respect to the potential incubator,” said Jim Greenwood, a principal of the Greenwood Consulting Group, which is based in Lee County, Florida. He has been engaged in the incubator business since 1984, both as an incubator manager and in helping others form such entities through assistance with feasibility studies, business plans and grant applications. Greenwood is a former member of the National Business Incubator Board of Directors, founding member of the Florida Business Incubation Association (FBIA) and member of its advisory board. Greenwood defines an incubator as a “set of services, programs and facilities that collectively provide a supportive environment in which businesses can growth and prosper. There are almost 1,500 incubators throughout the United States, with a new one opening weekly on average. However, about one incubator fails each month, suggesting that incubators have to be structured and operated appropriately to thrive and serve long term as an economic development tool.” The survey seeks the answers to a variety of questions regarding an ag food incubator. The feasibility study, which is to be completed in approximately three months, will form the basis for a recommendation from Greenwood to the Board of County Commissioners “whether such a business incubator would be successful in Hillsborough County,” said Greenwood. 54
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“Depending on the outcome of the survey, the ag food incubator could contain a commercial kitchen, bakery, packaging line, cold and dry storage, office space and conference room and staging areas for persons interested in or currently operating a food truck, catering service or food processing/packaging operation,” said Bollin. “The survey and study are very market driven,” noted Greenwood. “It is critical to know what potential users preferences are with respect to all of the areas included in the survey,” Those interested in participating in the survey are encouraged to visit: http://tiny.cc/HillsboroughIncubSurvey. Questions can be emailed to Greenwood at: gail-jim@g-jgreenwood. com. “We would appreciate hearing from potential users of an ag/ food incubator and the general community about their interest and support (of lack thereof) for this project,” said Greenwood. “We need to know what those in this market think of this incubator. If food and agricultural businesses ae interested in it, then the project will move forward, but likely will not if they do not express that interest. “I have done more than 50 incubator feasibility studies elsewhere,” said Greenwood. “It is very important that this step be completed before an incubator project goes forward because it helps prevent ill-conceived and unsustainable incubators from being developed. I know of instances where such a feasibility study was not undertaken and resulted in poor outcomes. “Specifically, one county government began a business incubator program in this ill-advised fashion and was spending $500,000 a year on it, but determined after four years and $2 million that the incubator was not viable,” he said. “They wound up spending $2 million on a program that could have been saved if they had spent no more than $30,000 on a feasibility study. “I am pleased that Hillsborough County has wisely decided to conduct a feasibility study for an agricultural incubator, and I look forward to sharing the results of the study with the county and my recommendation with respect to its future.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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PLATINUM BANK IS PROUD TO SERVE
THE PLANT CITY COMMUNITY
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. SHARING EXPERTISE. EMBRACING COMMUNITY. Plant City Area Executive: David Sullivan Plant City Lenders: Matt Buzza, Susan Baggett, Tommy Pollock 1804 James L. Redman Parkway, Plant City, FL | 813-659-1234 | PLATINUMBANK.COM WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Small and Flavorful By Libby Hopkins
Quotation anthologist Terri Guillemets once said, “Greens feed our souls, refresh our minds and nourish our grateful bodies.” Odell Scott would be in agreement with Guillemets because he believes in healthy eating as well. “I’ve always tried to be a healthy eater so over the years, I’ve done quite a bit of study on the proper healthy foods to eat,” Scot said. “During those times of study, I learned how far away some of our foods are shipped and the process used to keep them from going bad in route to us. With this information, I decided to start growing vegetables for my family.” By day, Scott is firefighter paramedic, but on his days off, he “grows to order” microgreens and wheatgrass. So what exactly are microgreens? Microgreens are an umbrella term for a variety of leafy greens picked at a very early stage of growing. According to the website, SFGATE (www.sfgate.com), “Microgreens are most commonly harvested from leafy greens such as kale, arugula, beet greens, onions, radish greens, watercress, chard and bok choy, in addition to herbs such as cilantro, basil, chervil, parsley and chives. The taste of microgreens depends on the original vegetable. This means that cilantro microgreens will still taste of cilantro but in a stronger, more vegetal and condensed format. The nutritional profile of microgreens depends greatly on the type of microgreen you are eating. Leafy greens are a good source of beta-carotene as well as iron and calcium. Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and chard are also high in lutein and zeaxan-
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thin. Because microgreens require only minimal sunlight and space to grow, they can be grown in your kitchen or in a windowsill, allowing you to control the type of microgreens as well as their growing conditions.” Over the years, Scott tried various vegetable growing methods. He tried everything from growing them in the ground to growing them in plastic bags. “We had awesome crops of small delights and other times complete failures,” Scott said. About two years ago, with the help of some family and friends, he built a successful aquaponics system. It turned out to be one of the best growing experiences he ever had. “Within this system, I have grown many varieties of vegetables successfully,” Scott said. “We now keep our vegetables crispers full year around.” The only downfall of his vegetable growing was that his mother refused to eat them. “My mother, a doctor of education and the most educated person in our family has never been able to palate vegetables,” Scott said. “Because of this, I began to look for ways to make foods with hidden nutrients. In other words, I needed to find a way to hide vegetables so she would eat them.” Trying to hide vegetables in his mother’s food was how he came across microgreens. He started researching their nutritional value and how to grow them. “Needless to say, I had found a new project,” Scott said. “As I grew these delicate and very tasty items, they quickly became a favorite in my household.” By the way,
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his mother eats broccoli and kale almost every day now. “This is just unheard of in her circle of friends,” Scott said. Scott’s circle of friends and word of mouth is how he started his SunFresh Microgreens grow to order business. “My wife, my mother and I would take a variety of microgreens to work for our lunches and we all got those looks of ‘what the heck is that’,” Scott said. “With an explanation and tasting the microgreens, they quickly became a hit with our co-workers. They all wanted some for themselves.” He realized there were a lot of people in the community who were looking for an affordable healthy alternative to the produce isle at the grocery store. “Here at SunFresh Microgreens we grow broccoli, kale, radish, arugula, mung bean and sunflower as microgreens by the ounce and wheatgrass by the pound,” Scott said. “They are all grown in a controlled environment with 100 percent organic soil and 100 percent organic, non-GMO seeds.” Scott would like to cater to those who are looking for a more healthy and fresh local product. “These microgreens and the wheatgrass are grown for you, because you are the one placing the order specifically,” Scott said. “When it is time to be harvested, and there is a specific time for this, they are cut, packaged and delivered the same day. Your order does not sit on a truck or shelf for days, your order is fresh as if you grew it in your own back yard.” His wheatgrass can be found at TNT Smoothies and Supplements located in Lithia and also at Chucks Natural Foods in Brandon and Temple Terrace. “We have tastings every second Tuesday of the month at Chuck’s Natural Foods in Brandon,” Scott said. If you would like to learn more about SunFresh Microgreens, you can visit their Facebook page at SunFresh Microgreens/facebook or you can email Scott at sunfreshmicrogreens@gmail.com or call 813-294-7355.
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Monique Frisco will tell you, “I’m nutty but addicted to your happiness.” It even says so on her business cards. She is the owner and creator of Let’s Date. No, she is not trying to find you the perfect mate, she is trying to offer you healthy snacking alternatives. She makes date bars that are packed with organic goodness. “Let’s Date is here as a safe alternative to today sweets,” Frisco said. “We offer your whole family an organic means of satisfaction. You can enjoy with comfort and share with confidence knowing that we are dedicated to your well being and addicted to your happiness.”
nursing, which I didn’t want to do, so removing dairy, corn, soy and eggs from my diet seemed a much more rational option,” Frisco said. “Having this occur with both our children had me concerned and seeking answers.”
By Libby Hopkins
Frisco started making the bar because both of her children suffered from food allergies. “Beginning parenthood with an ill child is not what we as parents expected, however with allergens in our foods things happen,” Frisco said. “My son was born with a food sensitivity, which caused him straight hours of tears, pain and un-healable diaper rash. After chatting with other moms in the park, at church and in the neighborhood I learned of dairy protein sensitivities.” Two years later her daughter was born and by the time she reached four months old, she too developed food allergies. “I was advised to cease 64 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2015
Frisco believes God put good people in her life to help her find the answers as to her children’s food allergies. “One friend recommended dates as an alternative to corn sweeteners, another advised that I soaked my nuts to break down phytic acids and enzymes inhibitors,” Frisco said. “I was even advised on my spices.” Dates are what stuck with Frisco the most out of all the advice she received from her friends. She decided to start experimenting in her kitchen. “I’m Italian and I’m used to mixing a little bit of this and a little bit of that to make things,” Frisco said. “I also don’t know how to do things on a small scale either.” Her kitchen experiment turned out to be the makings of her first date bar. “I made so many that I took them to our co-op for people to try and they really liked them,” Frisco said. “One of my girlfriends even asked me how much I would charge to make her some.” Let’s Date was born. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
She made more bars and took them back to her co-op to sell. They sold out and she made more. “This time when I went back to the co-op I brought a sign-up sheet so people could order them,” Frisco said. “I realized the need to create an actual recipe for my bars and get better packaging as well, so I could sell them as a business.” Frisco thought it was crazy that people were buying her bars, but she was thrilled to be giving her customers a healthy treat. Frisco started doing the local farmer’s market circuit in Tampa. The bars became a hit at the markets too. “The market customers think they are amazing and they love the taste of them,” Frisco said. “They also can’t believe that something that tastes so good is also good for them.” With ingredients like, pecans, dates, cinnamon, coconut oil, and pink Himalayan salt, how can they not be yummy? Frisco feels blessed that her business is growing and more people want to enjoy her healthy treats. Her bars have made their way into Chuck’s Natural Food Marketplace. The bars can be found in the store’s Brandon and Temple Terrace locations. Frisco hopes her business will continue to grow and more people will discover that you can snack healthy. “We are currently revamping our website so you will be able to purchase our bars online,” Frisco said. If you would like to learn more about Let’s Date, you can visit Frisco’s website at www.letsdatebars.com or if you would like to visit her at one of the local farmer’s markets she attends, you can visit her Facebook page at www. facebook.com/pages/Letsdatebars. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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It Pays to Borrow from Farm Credit! “Farm Credit makes it simple to borrow money”
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DIEHL FARMS EVENTS: Farming, Ranching, Quarter
Horses Amid an Unbelievable Setting An Unmatched Texas-Style Special Event Venue By Jim Frankowiak
If you’re looking for a venue that blends farming and ranching with a real western atmosphere, Frank and Ora Diehl have the setting you simply won’t believe for your next event whether it’s a wedding, anniversary, birthday or special gathering. Diehl Farms Events is not the result of a long term plan, but the culmination of a very successful tomato farming operation, a love for cutting horses that led to the establishment of Dunn Diehl Farms with locations in Wimauma and Texas and a granddaughter who asked about using the Wimauma facility for her wedding four years ago. Add to that Ora and Sisterin-law Patti Holloway’s love for “creative, crafty things and the opportunity to be part of someone‘s special day” and you have the ingredients for a truly unique venue and the ‘fixins” for a special event. “All we ask is that you bring your imagination,” said Ora. It all began 40 years ago when Frank began farming in south Hillsborough County with his friend Doug Carter. His first crops were watermelons and squash, followed by some truck farming. He planted his first tomato crop in the early 80s and he was successful. Frank now owns 1,600-acres where he continues his tomato operation that’s bolstered by leased lands. He also owns a successful tomato packing house which began operations in 1984. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Frank moved from the north to Florida at a very early age. While growing up he joined FFA and participated in many of these activities available to members at Manatee High School. “I raised and showed steers at the Manatee County Fair,” he said. His grandfather, Earl Gordon, was heavily involved in the development of the Homestead rodeo grounds and posse and that may explain Frank’s interest in horses, which manifest itself in later years. However, it was his sole decision to become involved in farming in the south county area.
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Ora, who hails from the Parrish area, and Frank were married in 1991. It was the second marriage for both. Three of their sons are involved in the family businesses. J. Cody and Doug work in the tomato operation, while Curry is a trainer with Dunn Diehl Farms. While courting in the late 80s, they attended the Florida State Fair and took in a cutting horse show at the fairgrounds. “We were hooked,” he said. “Our first quarter horse was Dixie Darlin,” noted Ora. “She was buckskin color and with us until she was 34.” Frank and Ora got into cutting and Curry did too along with lessons in other disciplines. That grew into competitions both in and out of Florida and ultimately led to the establishment of Dunn Diehl Farms with ranches in Wimauma and Millsap, Texas where the Diehl’s breed, raise and train quarter horses for participating in cutting events. Millsap is located west of Fort Worth and that’s the genesis for the genuine western feel that’s been “bred” into Diehl Farms Events’ Wimauma venue. Cutting is an equestrian event in the western riding style where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a cow from a cattle herd and keep it away for a short period of time. A cutting horse is an athletic and willing animal that possesses an innate “cow sense” and ability to respond quickly and turn sharply to keep a cow from returning to the herd. The horses involved are typically American Quarter Horses. In the event, the horse and rider select and separate a cow (typically a steer or heifer) out of a small group. The cow then tries to return to its herd, the rider loosens the reins and leaves it entirely to the horse to keep the cow separated, a task the best horses do with style and savvy. “The young horses are raised here and then move on to Texas for further training,” said Ora. There are anywhere from 25
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– 30 horses at the ranch at any given time plus cattle used to help train them. Those cattle are special, too, and they come from Texas or local markets. Ira and Doris Davis were our first trainers and taught us a lot about how cattle tick. They were instrumental into teaching us the cutting game and how to read cattle. Since our first cutting lesson to today, we love this sport because you get to be around both, cattle and horses. “They help train our horses and help hone the skills they need to excel.” The Diehl’s quarter horse stud DealNWithACoolCat is standing in Texas and his offspring are building an impressive and growing record in the cutting world. Son Curry is a full-time trainer with Dunn Diehl Farms, spending time at both locations. Dunn Diehl Farms in Wimauma, which is also home to Diehl Farms Events, was built seven years ago and has six offices and eight suites. “We have visitors from out of the area and state who come to us to look and possibly buy our horses,” said Frank. “Their entertainment lodging and comfort while visiting with us was what we addressed in the design of this facility,” said Frank. The three-story building with elevator comprises 10,000+ square feet and also offers a covered arena, cantina and stables. The Wimauma facility has hosted competitions this past Spring. We train young colts here and are set up to train at this location. The multi-story structure functions as a farming/ranching office, bed and breakfast and Western decorated home. From the moment you drive up to the ranch to the time you spend walking through its elegant, multi-story interior it all says Texas with elegance from the color palette inside and out to the furniture and décor. And that’s what got Frank and Ora’s granddaughter Deana Diehl Sparks to ask if she could have her wedding there. They said “yes” and that set the wheels in motion for Diehl Farms Events. “After hosting our granddaughter’s wedding at the ranch, we decided to share our facility with the public,” said Ora. But there’s more. The Diehl-Sparks’ wedding introduced the Diehl’s to Olympia Catering & Events in Tampa, a third generation, Diaz familyowned business that has been in business since the early 1920s. Services range from staffed events with custom menus, on-site WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
cooking, rental and décor options to a delivery service with an extensive, competitively-priced menu. Olympia is the exclusive caterer for the Museum of fine Arts in St. Petersburg and also operates the museum’s MFA Café, its in-house restaurant. Olympia Catering is the exclusive on-site caterer for Diehl Farms Events, working closely with the Diehl Farms’ staff to “ensure your event is executed with perfection.” “Our wish is to fulfill your dream event,” said Ora. “Our best kept secret is that no two events can be the same. Your vision as to the perfect experience is our mission. Your dreams are our blueprint, and we are pleased to be part of someone’s special day.” Since the Diehl’s decided to make their special facility available to the public, there have been a number of weddings, birthday parties, retirement events and others. “Groups have ranged in size from 30 to about 1,000,” said Holloway, who oversees finances for the various Diehl operations, as well as serving as the primary liaison for groups and individuals seeking to plan and have an event at the facility. “Though we have a very special place for hosting events, we work with the available budget of our clientele,” she said. “Wedding groups have often taken advantage of our lodging either for the main wedding party or out of town guests,” noted Holloway. “Once they arrive, there is no need for them to leave, we have everything here they need.” The Diehl Farms Events venue is available year round. “Late summer can be challenging from a heat and humidity standpoint,” said Holloway. “But the design of our facility is such that we experience continuous breezes and we augment that with fans in our covered arena.” For more information about special events amid sprawling fields and beautiful horses, visit: www.diehlfarmsevents.com or email info@diehlfarmsevents.com. The phone number is 813-634-5455 and the address is 16801 Balm-Wimauma Road. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Hillsborough County to Host
FREE
Agriculture Pesticide Collection April 30 Hillsborough County’s Agriculture Industry Development Program is organizing an Agriculture Pesticide Collection Day on April 30 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at EQ Florida, 7202 E. 8th Ave. in Tampa. The Agriculture Pesticide Collection Day is in partnership with the Hillsborough County Extension Service, and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County. The collection effort is part of an initiative to provide a free pesticide disposal service for Hillsborough County agricultural operations. Pesticide manufacturers and distributors, homeowners, universities and government institutions, including state, county and local government pesticide users, are not eligible to participate. The purpose of the program is to eliminate potential public health and environmental hazards from stored pesticides that are out-of-date, suspended or unusable. The program also further educates agricultural pesticide users on proper handling, storage, and management practices. Funding for the collection has been made available through the Environmental Protection Commission Pollution Recovery Fund. This funding is limited, therefore once it is exhausted the collection will be closed. For more information, contact Simon Bollin, Agriculture Industry Development Program Manager, Hillsborough County Economic Development Department, at (813) 276-2735. 74
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HILLSBOROUGH SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
The Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District is a local committee that increases public awareness and participation in resource conservation. It serves conservation needs at a county level and works in partnership with the federal government, for the most part, within county boundaries by landowner petition based on a need for soil and water conservation and in the interest of public health, safety and welfare. The district includes five volunteer supervisors, three county employees and shares an office as partners with USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Services) in downtown Plant City, Florida. The success of conservation initiatives depends on human behavior. By raising awareness, inspiring concern, building knowledge and skills and creating opportunities for action, education initiatives can prepare local people to fully participate as partners in conservation. One of the main objectives of the District is conservation education among the youth in home, public and private schools in Hillsborough County to include a yearly Land Judging Contest and Speech Contest. The contest provides students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agencies.
LAND JUDGING CONTEST Soil is a basic natural resource used by humans to meet one or more of their needs. It also provides space for cities, highways, recreation, and wildlife. Nothing surrounds us more in our daily lives. But, like so many things important to life, soil goes unnoticed until we learn to appreciate it. Land can be judged much like animals or crops. In judging crops, we look at the size, shape, and quality and determine which the best. In land judging, the major factors affecting how the land can be used must be determined. It provides raw materials, stores water and nutrients, and supports growing plants that produce food and fiber. A knowledge of soil characteristics will help determine the capability of land, the proper use of land, and the conservation practices necessary. Understanding capability classification makes it easier to plan for conservation farming, ranching, or grove management. The contest is for middle and high school 4-H and FFA students. The winning teams are eligible to compete at the State Contest (Association of Florida Conservation Districts), and the state winners compete at the National Contest (National Association of Conservation Districts). The 2014 Annual Land Judging Contest was held on WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
December 16, 2014. Fidel and Hilda Castillo provided the soil judging site. Jennifer Abbey, Juan Vega and Chuck Bailey of USDA-NRCS were key and instrumental in selecting and preparing the site. Mr. Doug Holmberg prepared the food as he has done so faithfully for the past 20 years. The lunch and award ceremony was held at Pam Walden, Agribusiness & Natural Resources Education Supervisor’s office in Plant City Florida. Pam Walden is also the coordinator and sponsor of this event. The following Hillsborough County public schools participated: Randall Middle School, 1st Place for Middle School Buchanan Middle School, 2nd Place for Middle School Turkey Creek Middle School, 3rd Place for Middle School Newsome High School, 1st Place for High School Armwood High School, 2nd Place for High School SPEECH CONTEST This Contest is designed to develop leadership through participation in public speaking activities and stimulate interest in conserving our natural resources, especially as it relates to Agriculture. The 2015 topic is “Hardworking Pollinators – Why Are They Local Heroes?” The act of pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers of the same species by wind or animals. Students 6th – 12th grade (private, public or homeschool) speak on the topic. Students gain a better understanding of the importance of what is a pollination/ pollinator and the importance to us. Local winners advance to the state level (AFCD). The winners at the state level compete at the national level (NACD). The Annual Speech contest was held on Monday, November 17, 2014 at the Hillsborough County Extension Office in Seffner. The speeches were judged by Mark Proctor (newly elected supervisor for the Hillsborough Soil & Water Conservation District and over 20 years connection to the agriculture community); Joyce Lang (Beekeeper for 7-8 years and owner of My Sweet Bees Apiaries); and Stephen Gran (Director of the Hillsborough County Extension Services for UF/IFAS and involved in the agriculture community since 1995). The winners are as follows: District Winners: 1st Place, $100 – Roxanna Storms 2nd Place, $50 - Ojas Kalia 3rd Place, $25 - Kourey Hickman 4th Place, $15 - Gabriella Ramos INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Jim Dorman at Charlie’s Plant Farm, Inc | (813) 601-2540
Can I overcome crop nutrition challenges with AgroLiquid?
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2/26/15 7:56 AM
Not-so-young Rascals reunited, with show coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall. Etc, 2B
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FLORIDA’S BEST NEWSPAPER
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013 | $1
Beach business
Think the hazy, lazy dog days of summer have arrived? Not if you’re in the business of selling bay area beaches. Memorial Day, the official trigger of summer, means Pinellas County’s tourism agency shifts gears to target more locals than out-of-towners. But that doesn’t mean activity slows down.
HIS HOME RUNS POWER RAYS PAST MARLINS Kelly Johnson, signed off the free-agent clearance rack in February, becomes the team’s first to hit two three-run homers in a game. He put the memory in Tampa Bay’s 10-6 Memorial Day win over Miami, writes Gary Shelton. Sports, 1C
2015 Flo The EU lets its lapse, Strawberry rida embargo McCain Festivasvisits alSen.®rebels. Feb.
Spending ideas for Powerball winner Taken as a lump sum, after taxes, someone would have $277.3 million, says a Florida Lottery spokeswoman. What will that buy? Local, 1B
26 – March 8
Greenkeeper’s neat work recalled
Washington Post
Ceremonies at veterans cemeteries draw those who mourn and those appreciative of the sacrifice. Local, 1B
DIRK SHADD | Times
Sparky, a West Highland terrier mix, yawns while relaxing in the lap of his owner, Karen Sellner, 63, of Brandon at Fort De Soto’s dog park area Monday. Sparky, who was part of the Memorial Day crowd, gets to visit the dog beach once a week. “We come every Monday, no matter what,” Sellner said. “This is the place to be with your dog and your family.” STORY, 1B
Chinese hack into U.S. defenses
of those who hit Pinellas County beaches visit between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Big Apple wheels into bike sharing The Citi Bike program launches with 6,000 bicycles in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Daily Briefing, 4A
20th annual St. Pete Beach Corey Area Art & Craft Festival, this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a wide array of art and crafts ranging from as little as $3 to $3,000 set up along Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach.
A story on Wednesday about a $52 million deal for Heritage Property and Casualty Insurance in St. Petersburg incorrectly stated that the company’s president, Richard Widdicombe, previously worked for the director of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The story and an editorial published Thursday also misidentified the former role of Heritage’s vice president of claim operations. Paul Neilson formerly worked on a field inspection program for Citizens that was not connected to a controversial wind mitigation reinspection program. • Several “down” clues were inadvertently omitted from the New York Times crossword puzzle in Sunday’s Perspective. The missing clues to “Benefitting” appear today on 7A. • Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were misidentified in a photo caption Monday.
Sharon Kennedy Wynne, Times staff
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Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Of the 85 kids who have won the National Spelling Bee, only one became Officiaan l Newspaper instant movie star. For the millions who watched back in 1999, her face is frozen in time. She’ll always be the 14-year-old girl from Tampa’s Benito Middle School with the glasses and dark shoulderlength hair, her arms raised while leaping for joy. But that was a half-life ago for Nupur Lala. Like all bee winners, she has since had to deal
4 p.m. 8 p.m. 83° 81°
Briefly, free bird To watch a video of a penguin that got out of its enclosure at SeaWorld’s new attraction, go to Links in today’s Times at tampabay.com.
Crosswords
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with the perks, drawbacks and stereotypes that come with the title — all magnified because she won the year that an Oscar-nominated documentary (released three years later) turned its eye on the competition.
ing up a master’s degree in cancer biology with plans to enroll in the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, having changed course from a career plan that had her researching memory and the brain for three
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Associated Press (1999)
Lala was a 14-year-old student at Benito Middle when she won the bee.
Tony Saladino Jr., 77, has influenced many young lives. BY MARLENE SOKOL
Times Staff Writer
INDEX 4F
Sunsets at Pier 60 is a daily festival on Clearwater Beach that celebrates the end of the day with artisans, crafters, street performers and music. Every Friday and Saturday night, free movies are shown on the beach. This weekend features Mirror Mirror on Friday and Grown Ups on Saturday. See sunsetsatpier60.com for movies and bands.
A new bill makes problem restaurants a higher priority for health inspectors. BY LAURA REILEY
Times Food Critic
The thought of cockroaches in a restaurant’s kitchen might make you queasy, but they may not be what should worry you most. Despite the very strong “yuck factor,” as Marion Nestle, a nationally known nutrition scientist and author of Food Politics, labels our visceral reaction to Florida’s famed creepycrawlies, there are far worse things that will actually, physically make us ill. These include foods stored at the wrong temperatures and the cross-contamination of foods. “I think (cockroaches) are more
Ageless coach shapes WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM a timeless message
tampabay.com
Astrology
When the Rays are out of town, you can watch the team on a big screen on the beach at Rays watch parties behind the Tradewinds’ Guy Harvey Outpost on St. Pete Beach. Upcoming parties are June 23 (New York Yankees), July 23 (Boston Red Sox), Aug. 11 (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Sept. 27 (Toronto Blue Jays) at 6000 Gulf Blvd.
A girl from Tampa’s 1999 winning moment helped make “nerdy” cool.
20% chance of rain More, back page of Sports
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Residents of Tampa Bay counties trump all other metro areas as the biggest feeder market for local beaches. The other top feeder markets are New York, Chicago and Orlando.
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wh Her life after ‘Spellbound’ fameknowChanges may bring o t at Wh cleaner kitchens
TODAY’S WEATHER
Noon 81°
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater spends $1 million to get residents of central and west Florida to visit the Pinellas beaches.
Planning to stay at the beach this summer? Here are some events to consider:
Corrections
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The designs of more than two dozen weapons systems were breached, giving China access to advanced technology. World, 2A
go .
Thousands mark Memorial Day
PARIS — The Obama administration’s go-slow policy on Syria came under renewed pressure Monday as European leaders agreed to allow the lapse of a ban on arms deliveries to Syria’s rebels, and Sen. John McCain slipped into the war-torn country to dramatize what he says is the opposition’s urgent need for direct military aid. The new support for Syria’s embattled opposition came amid high-level diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Secretary of State John Kerry met in Paris with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to explore prospects for a peace conference that would bring together rebels and Syrian government officials. Late in the day, foreign ministers from the 27-nation EU, meeting in the Belgian capital, failed to muster the votes for renewing the arms embargo, which will expire Friday. British Foreign Secretary William Hague declared in a tweet the “arms embargo on Syrian opposition ended,” though there had been no immediate decision to send arms. “Other sanctions remain” in place, he said, including sweeping restrictions on trade with the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Hague, in separate comments, said that the EU decision “sends a very strong message from Europe to the Assad regime,” the
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James “Ace” Kozorra, 62, who knew everyone’s name at the Feather Sound Country Club after 20 years, was walking nearby when hit and killed by a car. Local, 1B
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Arms ban on Syria ends
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BRANDON — He’s a short man, 5-foot4. He has eyes that actually sparkle. He says “knuckle-headed yo-yo” when
Their gym teacher is Tony Saladino Jr. ••• Rumors that Saladino is retiring — we trace this one to his wife, Bertha — are
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Get Ready, Get Set, Go Gardeners. By Shannon P. Mitchell, The Redheaded Gardener Hello again fellow gardeners. It’s been a few months and for my absence from these pages I apologize. My other career in health care marketing was consuming my time. However, I have not forgotten my gardening friends. I’m desperately feeling the spring awakening in Florida and my gardening instincts are starting to kick in again. I’m sure if you are a serious gardener, you know the feeling I’m talking about. It’s the smell in the air, the warmth of the sun and the gentle breezes which begin to blow. Our nights are a bit cool still, but the days are getting steamier. Recently we’ve been getting a few cold snaps - if you can really call them that. Though I worried about my plants getting damaged due to low temps, this year I did not bundle them up in my greenhouse or move them under my carport as I have done in past years. It was a little harder for me to keep up with. A few weeks ago, I broke my wrist from a bad fall and just didn’t have the energy or the motivation. I didn’t even bring in my orchids. I know. It seems counterintuitive for a Florida gardener whose treasures are hard won at local gardening plant fairs and garden sales. I was pleasantly surprised that the majority if not all of my major treasures survived. Many are in full out bloom mode in central Florida now thanks to our confusing weather. Is it cold, is it warm, is it freezing, is it thawing? Mother Nature it seems can’t make up her mind and our plants are sprinting for the finish just in case. The ultimate goal is reproduction. Azaleas are full of blooms, bromeliads are busting out and my salvias are flushing all over with delicate bell blossoms. In particular, I’m enjoying my Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) and its scarlet red flags swishing in the wind. This Mexican native attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Here in Florida it is supposed to be a perennial, but sometimes will succumb to the wet summers. If tended well you can keep it producing. It smells sweetly of pineapples 80
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and can also be used in the kitchen as an herb since both flowers and leaves are edible. Mine loves the sun, but also needs plenty of water to keep it bushy and tall. Look for it to reach a height of about 2’ including the long inflorescences. Keep it trimmed about 1/3 on a frequent basis to encourage new growth and blooms. Another blooming beauty in my garden right now is Skyflower Vine or Thumbergia grandiflora. This periwinkle/sky blue blooming vine is proliferate. It’s the perfect window dressing for a large trellis, chain link or wooden fence. If you need to hide an area in your landscape that is eyesorish, then this is the vine for you. It needs plenty of room to ramble and also does well in shade or light shade. Right now, it is rewarding me with flush after flush of tubular sky blue flowers. Its growth habit is very similar to that of a morning glory vine. It’s been hardy for me but is susceptible to freezing back to the ground. The leaves are elongated hearts and cover structures thickly. I would prune it at least once a year to encourage it to stay healthy and robust. Very low maintenance with lots of reward in a color that is rare in the garden. If I were you I’d plant it just before the summer rains begin in late spring. Mother Nature will help it get established and will reward you with an abundance of beauty with little work.
Happy Gardening!
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green
Paper Roll Shamrock St Patrick’s Day is upon us and ya better not be caught without a little green. Here is a quick little craft that can be done in a pinch and can be altered to any level of creativity your heart desires. Save a few paper rolls that would normally go in the recycle bin and glue together your very own shamrocks.
Suggested Material: Paper Rolls (toilet paper, paper towel) Glue (wood glue, white glue)
Decoration: Colored Sand (suggest GREEN, but rainbows are fun too) Ribbon (shiny is always attractive) Costume Jewels (Shamrocks, like Leprechauns can be magical) Glitter (I recall something about glitter and gold, and ALL Leprechauns like gold) Step 1 Cut the paper rolls into rings Step 2 Fold the paper roll rings into the shape of a heart Step 3 Glue the paper roll rings together to form the petals of the shamrock Step 4 Paper roll rings can be cut and glued in between leaves to form the shamrock stem Step 5 Let the glue dry Step 6 Smear the outside of the shamrock with glue to fasten your decoration
Your shamrock can be hung, planted, or incorporated into another project such as a greeting card or gift box, your imagination is limitless, just like the luck of the Irish and their shamrocks.
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A Closer Look
By Sean Green
Photo credit: Chelyapin Dmitry
3D Insect Traps: The Game Changer
Technician Tony Dickens holds up a 3D printed trap part. (Photo Credit: Joshua Reid Carswell - FDACS)
Technician Tony Dickens attaches a 3-D insect trap to a tree. (Photo Credit: Joshua Reid Carswell - FDACS)
Dr. Trevor Smith demonstrating the 3D printed traps at the International Conference on HLB held last month in Orlando. (Photo Credit: FDACS-DPI)
Technology fuels innovations that can make our lives more productive, more sustainable, and more exciting. You may have heard the buzz about 3D printing technology around the local watering hole, or from a tech savvy acquaintance or perhaps even researching the technology yourself. If you made it out to the 4th International Research Conference on HLB in Orlando last month, you had the opportunity to catch a presentation by the FDACS-DPI, (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services- Division of Plant Industry) that demonstrated the benefits 3D printing technology can offer the Agriculture Industry. Dr Trevor Smith, FDACS chief Methods Development and Biologic Control scientist is leading a team of scientists in research that could result in revolutionary changes in biologic control methods. This month we will take a closer look at the project and how it leverages 3D printing technology to prototype, deploy, and test new trap designs to protect our Florida citrus industry from the devastating effects of citrus greening, a bacterial disease transmitted by the invasive Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri). There is no need to establish the burden our citrus industry suffers at the hand of the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening. The billions in lost revenue and thousands of lost jobs is old news to those of us who live here. Keeping up with the threat by traditional methods is costly and time consuming. In Florida, hundreds of state inspectors routinely install a variety of trap lines through farms and orchards to monitor insects that are being introduced or have been introduced to the state. The sticky trap is the most common monitoring method and consists of a yellow card coated with glue that traps flying adult psyllids. This method is labor intensive, requiring inspectors to make frequent visits to the trap to remove and evaluate the trapped insects. According to Dr Smith, sticky traps do not contain preservatives and consequently require a high collection frequency to gather any useful molecular or genetic research information. The USDA and state of Florida co-fund a project that uses 3D printing technology to build a better psyllid trap. 3D printers output 3D objects by printing successive layers of material until the entire object is formed. Each layer is a thin cross section of the final object, like the thin layers of plywood that make up a thicker board. The benefit of using 3D printing technology to design and test insect traps is the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
speed at which concepts can be designed and tested in the field. Tony Dickens, one of the technicians at FDACS on the team comments, “These printers allow us to design and create the traps right away. There’s less of a lag between an idea and when something is actually made.” The idea behind the project is that scientists can use computer software and a 3D printer to adjust the shape, color, lighting, and chemical characteristics of new trap designs that allow researchers to not only study the insects more efficiently and accurately, but also, prototype new traps that could contribute Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions in the near future. 3D printers can create objects with plastic, wood, metal, epoxy, food, and even living biologic tissue. Though the technology has recently been touted as “new” in the media spotlight, its origins date back to the 1980s, when it was called Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology, a term coined because the process was originally conceived as a faster and more cost effective means of creating prototypes for products intended for full development and production. 3D printing was never intended to become a production process in and of itself, however, it is far less expensive than the traditional manufacturing process and is no longer prohibitively expensive which makes it an ideal means of producing small quantities of custom products such as experimental insect traps. The good news is that leveraging 3D printing technology need not be prohibitively expensive, open source 3D printers are available at prices comparable to that of a standard inkjet or consumer grade laser jet printer and for those with the ambition to take on a DIY project, plans for the builder versions of 3D printers can be downloaded for free. Likewise, the 3D modeling software needed to produce files for 3D printing is available from the open source community at little to no cost. Commercial sources are a little more expensive than open source but still reasonable for consumer grade hardware and software. According to Dr. Smith, the 3D printer they use to make the traps came at a price of about $2300, and each trap costs between $5 and $10 to make. Computers running the latest Windows operating system (Windows 8.1) already have support drivers for common 3D printers making it very easy for the average consumer to participate in 3D printing technology. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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By Ginny Mink
Strawberry Festival Edition When considering what to do this month for our Meet the Minks series it seemed quite obvious that a trip to the Strawberry Festival was in order. You see, my eldest, Jaidyn (aka: J), hadn’t been since he was Hazel’s age (3). Therefore, neither Zeke nor Hazel had been. So, we loaded up to attend on opening day (which just happened to be my birthday as well). From the back seat I could hear Hazel and J discussing the possibilities. Finally she said to him, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Ever the quick witted one, he replied in his monotone sarcasm, “I doubt it.” She laughed and declared, “The strawberry picking festival!” Earlier she’d announced that she wanted to do another strawberry picking Meet the Minks (apparently Mr. Grooms made quite an impression). I informed her that we weren’t going to a strawberry picking festival. However, when she saw the midway out the side window she squealed with elation. I was pleased, thinking I’d done a great job as a mother, taking my kids somewhere they really wanted to go. We waited in line to enter and she mostly complained telling me it was too long and her legs were getting tired. Zeke sat quietly in the stroller playing with a comb and J people-watched. 88
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Finally inside, Hazel started the one question I heard for the next four and half hours, “Can I ride that?” Now, if you don’t know us, we’ve got an odd sense of humor and therefore, whenever my children ask me to do something that I would say “no” to I generally ask them, “Can I poke you in the eye?” Therefore, they answer their own questions with emphatic, “No’s.” However, Hazel and I had a conversation that went like this: Hazel: “Can I ride that?” Me: “Can I poke you in the eye?” Hazel: contemplating, exhaling loudly, “You can poke me in the eye,” pause and then with emphasis, “but not hard!” I’ll tell you I think I lost my mind with laughter over that one. You see, she wanted to ride those mechanical nightmares so desperately that she was willing to get poked in the eye (but not hard)! Sadly, I had to inform her that she didn’t meet the “ride-by-yourself” height requirements and therefore she would be unable to ride them (I have some back trouble, and common sense, so I wasn’t riding them either). J would have stepped in but since he’s only 11 he doesn’t qualify as an adult rider to meet her needs. So in fairness, no one rode anything. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Now, I’m the terrible mom who takes her kids to the Festival but prevents them from doing what they want. I had hoped to assuage the issue with the real intent of our patronage: watching the Robinson’s Racing Pigs. Thankfully, Zeke was at least enthusiastic. He clapped with all the other people cheering the porkers around the ring. He laughed and watched them intently. Hazel mostly danced for the older ladies sitting behind us (of course they seemed to adore her so I guess she made their day). J didn’t say much. At the end, Sharon and Randy Ross, the owners of the show allowed us to take pictures with one of their baby Essex pigs. Zeke got scared once when the wee oinker went to squealing and actually sounding like a crying baby. Hazel was interested in the pig and smiled as she checked it out. Later she told me, “I loved the pigs even when they swimmed!” I asked her if she knew they could swim and she looked at me like I was an absolute idiot, “Of course I did!” She announced, rolling her eyes. I admitted that I didn’t and then I got the extramoron look. I’m so glad I can just laugh at my children! I hadn’t been to the Festival since J was 3 either, so that’s nearly 9 years ago. It was quite nostalgic for me actually, as we stopped at the Plant City High School Strawberry Pie/Cheesecake booth and got a piece of cheesecake (my personal favorite). Hazel declared, “I loved it!” in reference to the cheesecake. I got a chance to encourage the two WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
boys working the booth, having been a band nerd myself. Which, by the way, my friend that was with me found great humor in. “What’s wrong with playing the flute?” I had to ask. She just chuckled admitting she couldn’t see me playing something so “dainty.” I blamed it on the braces I was sporting at that age and we moved on. I found a super cool pair of earrings and was able to chat with some people I’d previously written articles about. In fact, one introduced me to the others in her booth declaring, “She writes a series called Meet the Minks!” I was shocked she knew about it and asked, “You read that?” She admitted that she did and I have to tell you that was awesome because then I got the opportunity to introduce her to my lovelies (who were all apparently grumpy by then). As we were walking out of the Festival Hazel slammed her hands against the sides of her legs and announced, “I didn’t have ANY fun at all because you didn’t let me ride the rides!” J’s face seemed to mirror her emotional break down and Zeke was back to happily entertaining himself with his cup and a bucket ‘o’ fries. So, I guess the Strawberry Festival is only fun for kids if they get to ride the rides. My friend and I, however, had a blast looking at the art and finding out that her Snickers Fudge won a blue ribbon. Yep, it was a good Meet the Minks for me, if not for anyone else. Too bad, it was my birthday anyway! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Photo by: Nanette O’Hare
NEW PESTICIDE REGULATIONS DESIGNED TO PROTECT HONEY BEES AND OTHER POLLINATORS
How We Can Help By Jim Frankowiak
All bees, not just honey bees, need our help and protection. The reason is straightforward: an estimated 1/3 of the food we eat comes from animal pollinated plants. “Here in Florida, more than one-half of the crops produced depend on an insect pollinator,” said Extension Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator Nicole Pinson. Pinson and Master Beekeeper Nancy Ham, who holds an Extension appointment through which she provides information and conducts outreach programs related to all aspects of beekeeping, recently attended a program regarding the minimization of honey bee exposure to pesticides, but the program provided guidance relative to all pollinators in Florida and their importance to sustainable agriculture in the state. “Florida has 317 species of bees,” said Pinson. “Of those species, 311 are solitary bees, one is a honey bee and five are bumble bees. Cucurbits such as squash, melons and cucumbers require pollinators as do blueberries, legumes and mints.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2013 estimated bee pollinated commodities accounted for $20 billion in annual U.S. agricultural production. “Pollinators are important because they help increase fruit set, quality and size, and these benefits can also translate to economic impacts,” said Pinson. “Some native bees are just as good, if not better, pollinators as honey bees,” she said. “This is because some of the native bees are specialists, meaning they feed on certain plants, rather than generalists feeding on many different kinds of plants. Native bees are also more likely to move between rows, promoting cross pollination.” And unlike honey bees, some native bees often forage earlier in the day and they forage in wet, cold, shady or greenhouse environments. To protect these pollinators and their importance to sustaining ag92
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riculture, experts highly recommend the practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a strategy to reduce pesticide use by using a variety of methods such as scouting, proper pest identification, cultural controls, biological control, varying mode of action and selecting and using least toxic products. In other words, achieving maximum benefit with minimum negative impact. “Minimizing pollinator exposure to pesticides is a best management practice (BMP) so pesticide use does not adversely impact bees,” said Pinson, noting a single colony of bees can contain 60,000 bees. Foraging honey bees may fly two to five miles from their colony in any direction, covering up to 80-square miles when collecting pollen and nectar. It had been previously thought fungicides were thought to be harmless to adult bees, but scientists are now finding fungicides in bee hives and additional research is underway to determine if fungicides are having an adverse effect on bee populations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is putting new pesticide regulations in place and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is providing guidance and interpretation of the new pesticide label, containing a “bee box” with the headline: Protection of Pollinators. “The bee box is part of the new Pollinator Protection Language required on labels of some pesticides,” said Pinson. The new labeling contains specific instructions that maximize bee and other pollinating insect safety and include risk-mitigating instructions in their “Directions for Use” section. There are several things we can do help with this overall effort. “Plant diverse gardens and landscapes,” said Pinson. “Bees and other insect pollinators appreciate large, brightly colored flowers, sweet scents, nectar sources and plants with extrafloral nectaries (like passion flower) and varied bloom schedules. Bees need nectar and pollen, both of which are provided by flowers,” she said. “Provide an area for WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
8th Annual 4-H Strawberry U-Pick Rows and rows of ripe luscious strawberries will greet visitors to Fancy Farms on March 21st for the 8th annual 4-H Strawberry U-Pick. Hosts Dee Dee and Carl Grooms are opening their field for the 8th consecutive year for this “must do” event to benefit Hillsborough County 4-H Youth and area Food Banks.
Last year’s event resulted in over 12,000 quarts being picked by the public, with an additional 2,000 plus quarts going to area food banks. According to Carl Grooms, “This is the only day annually that we’re open for U-Pick, and we’re thrilled that our efforts have made it possible to host the annual 4-H banquet, provide scholarships for youth, and provide funding for other events. Carl’s wife Dee Dee added, “We don’t pick these fields right before the U-Pick so we insure a top quality product.” Individuals picking for themselves will pay 50 cents per quart, with containers furnished. There is no limit to the number of quarts that a group may pick, and the fields will be open from 8:30 am until 4pm. Participants are also encouraged to pick, at no charge, for the food banks. “Ever since our first year,” reported 4-H Foundation President Betty Jo Tompkins, “we’ve made it part of the U-Pick to provide for others. Not only do we help community food efforts, but 4-H members will be in the fields to assist elderly and disabled individuals that may want to pick strawberries.” Some past participants even held a birthday party at the U-Pick. The kids picked berries, went home and made jam, and had treats to take with them after the party. Fancy Farms is located on County Line Road (I-4 Exit #25 – just 3 miles south to Rice Road). For further information, call 813.477.8332, email bjt6890@yahoo.com, or visit the 4-H website. ground nesting bees. They like a small patch of sunny, exposed soil with no mulch so they can make their nests. You can plant pollinator-encouraging flowers in your garden, and also provide nesting materials and a water source where the bees can drink and the colony can cool.” When selecting pesticides, match the pesticide to the pest after scouting your garden, read the pesticide label and determine if the active ingredient suggests the product is one of concern. “Whenever possible, use the least toxic methods first, picking pesticides with the lowest toxicity,” said Pinson. You may want to refer to a Pesticide Formulation table available on the web at: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ files/project/pdf/pnw591.pdf. Read the label, especially with regard to environmental hazards and use information, before purchasing the pesticide, again before mixing it, before you apply it and before storing or disposing it. “Make sure you read the Directions for Use on the label and only use the product on sites listed,” said Pinson. “Just because the pesticide has an active ingredient that can be used elsewhere, if the site where you plan to apply it is not listed, you cannot use it.” Pesticides should not be applied when bees are foraging, typically early morning and daylight hours. Use care when applying pesticides around blooming plants or flowering weeds. Your target plant may not be in bloom, but those nearby may be in bloom, attracting bees that could be impacted by the pesticide. Do not apply pesticides to bee-pollinated crops when they are blooming. “You should also avoid weather conditions that favor drift since microencapsulated pesticides, dusts and powders can be taken back to the hive and fed to the brood because they are similar in size to pollen and stock to bee hairs,” noted Pinson. “Drift potential is lowest at wind speeds between three and five miles per hour. Also, consider droplet size when applying pesticides. Large droplets generally decrease drift.”
• Increase Fertilizer Efficiency • Improve Turf Density and Vigor • Reduce Re-treats
Here are several information sources: FDACS Florida Bee Protection: http: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Consumer-Resources?Florida-Bee-Protection Bees of Florida Identification Guide: http:/entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/hallg/melitto/intro.htm UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Land: www.ufhoneybee.com How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/files/project/pdf/pnw591.pdf Minimizing Honey Bee Exposure to Pesticides: http/edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1027 Interpreting Pesticide Label Wording: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi071 Managing Pesticide Drift:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi232 Herbicide Applications: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag259 You can reach Pinson via email at nicolepinson@ufl.edu or by telephone: 813-744-5519, Extension 54145. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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By Jim Frankowiak It has been almost a year and a half since the Walton Group of Companies purchased just over 1,000-acres northeast of Plant City. The property, familiarly known as Cone Ranch, has been designated for future development by Plant City and is part of the Northeast Plant City Master Plan. When Walton purchased the property, which is bordered on the north by Knights Griffin Road and by Charlie Taylor Road to the east, extending southward well beyond Midway Road, city officials said it was a validation of their work with Hillsborough County to plan for anticipated growth in Plant City. Since purchasing the property, Walton has devoted significant resources during the design and planning stages to plan for the eventual development of this master-planned community. “The first stage is conceptual,” said Walton’s General Manager – Florida, Robert Sebesta. “That involves the assembly of our team, including internal and external resources, and their engagement in design charrettes which took place over several multi-day sessions.” These are collaborative sessions in which stakeholders become involved in an intense period of design and planning activity. “We anticipate completion of this stage by year end with actual development to commence as dictated by the market,” he said. Team members involved in this phase include Sebesta, Mark Jacobson, senior planning and development manager, Florida; Marc Newman with Place Alliance and Diane Chadwick with Stantec. “Our design for the community will honor the natural character of the land, while embracing the best of Florida’s classic, rural elements,” said Sebesta. “The process we followed had us closely examine other successful master planned communities, both the well-established and those that are emerging.” Among the group’s precedent studies were Celebration, Baldwin Park, Haile Plantation, Nocatee, Southwood, Fishhawk Ranch and others. Locally know as Cone Ranch, the future community had been referred to by Walton as Harvest Grove, but through the planning process the community has been renamed Varrea, “a derivation of the Finnish word for green,” said Sebesta. The Community Vision which has emerged through Walton’s contemplative process will feature nine traditional neighborhoods; an overall design that encourages a strong sense of community, walkable neighborhoods, diverse home design offerings, stewardship of the land and a distinct sense of place. “Preserving the hometown charm of Plant City is an important element of this process, too,” said Sebesta. The 1,008-acre parcel is land is rich in natural beauty which is consistent with adjacent lands, especially the nature preserve to the north of the community across Knights Griffin Road. “Additionally, the site enjoys many wetlands and a meandering creek, plus strands of mature trees,” said Sebesta. “That pastoral setting and those moss-laden 96
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oaks create a feel that is unique to Old Florida and certainly relates well to the name our team has embraced.” The community design that has emerged will create a vibrant community center with civic uses, shops, cafes and services within walking distance of surrounding neighborhoods. The team also plans to create streetscapes and genial environments that invite walking and biking by pulling homes up close to the street and emphasizing front porches. Housing types will include single family homes with ranging lot sizes, as well as townhomes, detached townhomes and multi-family housing. Civic buildings such as schools, churches and community center activity sites will be centrally located for ease of access and use. Architectural styles will be selected to complement and celebrate the site’s natural beauty, creating a comfortable, Old Florida feel, encouraging a sense of community. Neighborhood styles will offer a mix typically found in rural Florida communities such as Low Country, Farm House, River Camp, Colonial and Craftsman. It is anticipated that the community’s town center with convenience and amenity-based retail and offices will be located along East Knights Griffin Road. Neighborhoods are to be connected by greens, nature trails and waterways. The Walton acquisition included both zoning and entitlements for the site, but the company, through its planning and design process, has determined it would be best to seek rezoning from Community Unit to Planned Development. “This action, if approved, will provide us with added flexibility for when the project moves into the development stage,” said Sebesta. As part of that process, the company recently hosted a community gathering at Midway Baptist Church to introduce Varrea to residents immediately adjacent to the site. Varrea is one of six communities comprising approximately 6,000-acres currently under management by Walton in Florida. The multinational company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, concentrates on the research, acquisition, administration, planning and development of strategically located land in major growth corridors. Currently, the company has nearly 90,000 acres of land under administration including 18 active development projects. In addition to following a deliberative and thoughtful two-step process for the communities it develops, Walton is actively engaged in a range of philanthropic endeavors in those areas where it has a presence. The company was the sole sponsor of the Strawberry Festival’s Grand Parade this year, has provided funding to Give Kids the World, an organization that provides children with life-threatening illnesses and their families incredible experiences and memories to cherish forever. Walton has also supported A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay, Inc. to assist in improving the quality of life for foster children throughout the Tampa Bay community. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
On its Way Out: The Purple Honeycomb Head
By Ginny Mink
We’ve covered a number of endangered animals in the past, so to switch things up a bit this month we went in search of an endangered flower. We’ve just come out of the month of love, whose birthstone (amethyst) happens to be purple (this author’s favorite color), so it seemed obvious that we should be on the lookout for an endangered purple flower. Thusly we landed on the purple honeycomb head (aka: Balduina atropurpurea). According to R.M. Harper, these are the only, “composite flowers with honeycombed receptacles.”¹ It’s a perennial herb that can grow up to four feet tall and can have one, or several stems, each with one large flower. The flowers themselves have 10-20 yellow petals with 3-5 ridges (called teeth) on the edges and the stem has a purple tinted base. There are also disk flowers which are purplish-brown in color.¹ Of course we weren’t sure what disk flowers were, so let us explain. Apparently, they are the tiny tubular flowers that make up the center of the main flower² (that’s why these are called composite flowerscomposed of multiple parts). Continuing on, our research revealed that these plants are fond of wetlands. Specifically, R.M. Harper delineates, “Wet pine flatwoods and savannas, seepage slopes, pitcherplant bogs and wet ditches.”¹ Sadly, there are only seven known populations in Florida.¹ These flowers are known to grow in Clay, Duval, Putnam and Nassau counties³ where they are located in state forests and on timber company land.¹ However, they do grow in Georgia and South Carolina as well, with historic documentation in Alabama and North Carolina (though unconfirmed).¹ Sadly, as we continued our research, we discovered that the purple honeycomb head hasn’t been seen in the Carolinas or Alabama recently at all. They say it is due, for the most part, to a deterioration in its habitat. According to Nature Serve Explorer, most of “its naturally rare wet savannah and bog habitat has been altered or destroyed by fire suppression and by drainage and conversion to agriculture and pine plantations.”⁴ Georgia appears to be the least affected by the change in habitat as it still boasts 45 populations (not that this is sufficient to remove the flower from its current endangered status). When considering the Georgia populations there are between 10,000 and 44,000 plants occurring therein but a vast majority of them are on Fort Stewart, an army base. These flowers are therefore endangered by military vehicle traffic, altered hydrology (wetland drainage and improper fire breaks), as well as the encroachment of woody vegetation. One population seen in 1995 was gone by the very next year⁴. Since the purple honeycomb head flowers in August through early November¹, these are the best times to go on a search for them. Obviously the next question then is how do we prevent further deWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
struction? How do we keep a flower whose population is seeing a long-term trend of 10-90% decline from meeting extinction?⁴ Suggestions include maintaining controlled burns every 2-3 years in order to knock back all the woody vegetation that threatens to encroach on their wetlands.¹ Also, there’s a directive to avoid altering wetlands via drainage, ditches, bedding, clearing, firebreak constructions or any other form of soil disturbance that changes the hydrologic makeup of their habitats. It has also been suggested that hand-thinning shade trees might be of some benefit.⁴ Florida natives (and those of us who consider ourselves thus due to extended years here) are partial to our vast array of wildflowers. In fact, back in 1926 one writer proclaimed that at any time of year he could go out into his yard and collect 25 different kinds of flowers.⁵ Sadly, we have seen a massive decline therein and while many of us recall the supreme joy found in gathering wildflowers (several of which our parents labeled weeds), we may not be offering that same thrill to our own children as we quickly eliminate their life sources. We are so self-centered when it comes to expansion and beautification that we forget the One who beautified it all for us. Let us take a moment to stop taking for granted the flowers (weeds or not) that populate our yards, fields and pastures. Let’s appreciate the small things and do our best to change the deadly future so many of them are facing. By the way, some of the research indicates that the population found in Florida’s panhandle may very well be extirpated already.⁴ In fact, there are no photos available on the FSU site (where we got the pictures) that originate from that area.⁶ Florida’s purple honeycomb heads are on the way out. We’ve got to do something! If you happen to run across anything resembling this flower be sure to contact: The Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium Biology Unit 1, Room 100 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-4370
herbarium@bio.fsu.edu (850) 644 6278 (tel.) (850) 644 0481 (fax)
Sources: http://fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Balduina_atropurpurea.pdf http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disc+flower http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?ID=2621 http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ba lduina+atropurpurea Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 25-30). Photos provided by: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu/search-specimens. php?taxon_rank_sp=balduina+atropurpurea&search=Search&out put_type=Table INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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2nd ANNUAL STRAWBERRY PICKING CHALLENGE RAISES $76,000 FOR REDLANDS CHRISTIAN MIGRANT ASSOCIATION
The 2nd Annual Bright House Networks Strawberry Picking Challenge, hosted by Wish Farms raised $76,000 for Redlands Christian Migrant Association.
About Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA):
The fundraising event, held on Saturday February 7, featured 20 corporate-sponsored teams who competed in relays to earn the title of “Best Harvest Crew.” Some of the crews represented included Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Monte Package Company, Patterson Companies, International Paper, Florida Strawberry Growers Association and Farm Credit of Central Florida. Strawberry growers from around the state were well represented at the event, providing picking instructions and serving as coaches.
Redlands Christian Migrant Association operates 70 child-care centers for Florida’s rural poor, including 18 in the Tampa Bay area. RCMA also runs three charter schools, including two in Wimauma, in south Hillsborough County. Founded in 1965, RCMA has given thousands of children a vital boost toward success in school and life. For more information about RCMA please visit www.rcma.org.
Ultimately, the Monte Package Company, coached by Jacob Hare of Berry Patches and accompanied by former MLB All-Star Fred McGriff, was named the top finisher and recognized for their picking prowess with individual strawberry trophies as well as the coveted ‘Strawberry Joe’ perpetual trophy.
Wish Farms, founded in 1922 and third-generation owned, is one of the largest shippers of strawberries in Florida and has been for over 50 years. Nationally recognized for quality and innovation, Wish Farms is a year round supplier of strawberries and blueberries and seasonal in select vegetables. Wish Farms utilizes How’s My Picking?™, a patented tool for traceability to ensure quality by tying consumer feedback to the harvest time, field location, picker, etc. For more information about Wish Farms, please visit www.wishfarms. com.
In addition to the strawberry picking, the day-long event emceed by InfoMas reporter Melissa Zayas Moreno, featured family-friendly events such as strawberry picking for children, a balloon artist, face painter, games, live music by Clemons Road Band, and special appearances by the Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders and Wish Farms’ Misty the Garden Pixie. Migrant Association, a non-profit organization that operates childcare centers and charter schools for Florida’s rural poor, particularly farm workers’ children. Throughout the state, RCMA operates 70 child-care centers and three charter schools. Wish Farms is a long-time supporter of RCMA. Last year, the inaugural Strawberry Picking Challenge event donated $74,000 to the children of RCMA. “This fun, family event was a great success,” said Gary Wishnatzki, Owner of Wish Farms. “We hope we succeeded in bringing awareness not only to the hard work of our farm workers but also to the outstanding contribution that RCMA makes.” 100
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About Wish Farms:
About Bright House Networks Bright House Networks is the sixth largest owner and operator of cable systems in the U.S. and the second largest in Florida with technologically advanced systems located in five states including Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and California. Bright House Networks serves approximately 2.5 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data, home security and automation and voice services. The company offers a portfolio of customizable, cutting-edge business solutions spanning Internet, MEF-certified Metro Ethernet, WiFi, security, telephony, and video. Bright House Media Strategies, the advertising arm of Bright House Networks, offers businesses advanced targeted advertising solutions. Bright House Networks also owns and operates exclusive local news and sports channels in its Florida markets. For more information about Bright House Networks or our products and services, visit brighthouse.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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A sales person Andres Vicens X-XXX-XXX-XXXX 6942 W Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough 6942 Wwill Hillsboroug Ralph Montoro 11/04/14 10:00 AM 11/04/14 1:00 PM 11/13/14 10:00 AM 11/13/14 1:00 PM a present Licensed Insurance Agent X-XXX-XXX-XXXX be with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings call the phone numbers 6942aW Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough Ralph Montoro Licensed Insurance Agent Tampa, 33634 Tampa, FL 33634 Tampa, FL From 33634 Tampa, Golden Corral Golden Corral Golden Golden CarePlus Sales above. ForFL more information, callManager CarePlus at33634 1-855-846-1685; from 8Tampa, a.m. to 8 p.m., days a week. February 15th toCorral September 30th,FL 33634 Andres Vicens Ralph Montoro Tampa, FL 33634 Tampa, FL FL 7Corral 33634 Tampa, FL health 33634 CarePlus Sales Manager (813) 295-5528 Keeping the HEALTH in care. we are open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users should call 711. 6942a295-5528 W Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough 6942 W Hillsborough Ralph Montoro (813) Keeping the HEALTH in health care. 813-466-4885 Licensed Insurance Agent CarePlus Sales Manager 813-466-4885 Keeping the www.careplushealthplans.com HEALTH in health H1019_MKFNPR467G Accepted Tampa, FL 33634 Sales Tampa, FL 33634 Tampa, FL 33634 Tampa,care. FL 33634 CarePlus Manager AGENT/BROKER NAME 813-466-4885 (813) 295-5528 Keeping the HEALTH in health care. AGENT/BROKER NAME South and North Florida, Tampa and Orlando Area, Treasure and Space Coast. CarePlus is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. En 813-466-4885 uth and NorthSouth Florida, Tampa andTampa Orlando Area, Treasure and Space Coast. 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For Aaccommodation ofanswering persons with special needs atsales sales meetings the phone numbers and may change one year to the next. sales will be the phone and will respond to any questions. sales person will X-XXX-XXX-XXXX above. For more information, call CarePlus at 1-855-846-1685; from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. From February 15th to September 30th, For more information, callatCarePlus at 1-855-846-1685; from 8with a.m. to 8 p.m., 7atdays a February week. From February 15th to Septemb ove. Forabove. more information, call CarePlus 1-855-846-1685; from 8 a.m. tocall 8 p.m., 7special days aneeds week. From 15th September Ralph Montoro bewe present with information and applications. accommodation of persons sales meetings call theto phone numbers30th, Ralph areMontoro open Monday –Friday Friday from 88 a.m. toFor8to p.m. TTY users should 711. call we are open Monday – from a.m. 8 p.m. TTY users should 711. e are openabove. Monday –CarePlus Friday from 8call a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users should For more information, CarePlus at 1-855-846-1685; from 8call a.m.711. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. From February 15th to September 30th, Sales Manager Ralph Montoro www.careplushealthplans.com H1019_MKFNPR467G Accepted CarePlus Sales Manager we are open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users should call 711. Keeping the www.careplushealthplans.c HEALTH health care. H1019_MKFNPR467G Accepted Keeping the HEALTH in health in care. www.careplushealthplans.com 1019_MKFNPR467G Accepted CarePlus Sales Manager 813-466-4885 813-466-4885 Keeping the www.careplushealthplans.com HEALTH in health care. H1019_MKFNPR467G Accepted 813-466-4885 South and North Florida, Tampa and Orlando Area, Treasure and Space Coast. CarePlus is anwith HMO plan withcontract. a Medicare contract. Enr h and North Florida,Tampa and Orlando Area,Treasure and Space Coast. CarePlus is an HMO plan a Medicare Enrollment South and North Florida, Tampa and Orlando Area, Treasure and Space Coast. CarePlus is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated ePlus depends renewal. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year e CarePlus_INTHEFIELD.indd 1 AM WWW. INTon HEFcontract IELDMAGAZINE.COM INrating THEFIELD MAGAZINE M arch 20153/10/15 each9:52 103 in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star system. Star Ratings are calculated year and may change from one year to the next. A sales person will be answering the phone and will respond to any questions. A sales may change fromchange one year toone theyear next. A sales person will bewill answering thethe phone and will respond toany anyquestions. questions. A sales person will pe and may from to the next. A sales person be answering phone and will respond to A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings call the phone n
John Deere Quality your wallet will find them irresistible...
5075M Tractor
Serving our customers with 12 Locations At Everglades Farm Equipment we take pride in working with those who work with the land. With superior customer support through leasing, rentals, in-field service support, technology, the best parts availability, and loyalty programs just to name a few, we’re ready to be your equipment partner for the long haul.
Plant City
2805 SR. 60 West Plant City, FL 33567
Leesburg
1800 US HWY. 441 Leesburg, FL 34748
813-737-1660
352-315-1016
Odessa
2240 Success Drive Odessa, FL 33556
Okeechobee
727-842-8618
820 US Hwy. 98, North Okeechobee, FL 34972
Clearwater
863-763-1921
5090 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL 33760
727-828-8200
Fort Pierce
6150 Orange Ave. Ft. Pierce, FL 34947
Palmetto
772-461-5568
906 US HWY 301 North Palmetto, FL 34221
941-722-3281
Loxahatchee
13295 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470
Fort Myers
Give us a call today.
561-784-4000
9501 State Road 82 Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-332-5045
Belle Glade
Corporate Headquarters
Immokalee
775 E. Main St. Immokalee , FL 34142
239-657-4413
2017 N. W. 16TH Belle Glade, FL 33430
Naples
561-996-6531
1945 Pine Ridge Road Naples , FL 34109
239-260-8800
www.EvergladesFarmEquipment.com
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2015
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