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“Paladin® gave me about a 20% yield increase over last year.” Cecil Howell, H&R Farms, Immokalee, FL
Cecil had heard about Paladin® soil fumigant’s higher yields and its effectiveness on weeds and soilborne diseases. So he made the switch, treating 110 acres of peppers with a tank mix of 79:21 Paladin® soil fumigant and chloropicrin with a pre-emergent herbicide. “I was tickled to death with the yield. Especially going through all the cold weather and rain,” said Cecil. “And it was definitely cheaper than previous treatments.” He got the quick nutsedge control he was looking for, too. “Within a week, it was already brown. It was the quickest thing I had ever seen.” Plant size also lived up to his expectations. “They were bigger and looked great. I was really pleased,” says Cecil. Cecil’s 20% higher yield translated to 1,800 boxes of peppers per acre. He smiled when asked if he plans on using Paladin® again. “It worked so good.” Paladin® soil fumigant is a restricted-use pesticide. Always refer to and follow the federal label requirements for crops, specific use rates and application directions. Paladin is a registered trademark of Arkema
Cecil Howell
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Winter Strawberry Capital
VOL. 11 • ISSUE 1
page 70
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, Fl. Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813.685.5673 Member Services: 813.685.9121
Frank DeVane family packing shed 1918/1920.
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Contents NOVEMBER 2015
Business Up Front
Page 10
Florida AG Expo
Florida Pears
Friends of Extension
Jack Payne
HCFB Board Members
Page 35
Page 75
Page 14
Page 42
Adam Putnam
Greenbelt
Fishing Hot Spots
Recipes
Page 48
A Closer Look
Rocking Chair Chatter
Literary Time Machine
FSGA Marketing
BioNova
Tax Exemptions
Endangered Species
Plant City Farmers Market
Page 16 Page 18 Page 22 Page 26 Page 28
Harvest Awards
Page 32
Page 46
Page 54 Page 58 Page 64
Meet the Minks
Page 74
Page 78-79 Activity
Page 84 Page 85 Page 88
Plant City EDC
Page 92
Kenneth Parker....................President Will Womack................Vice President James Tew..........................Treasurer Michelle Williamson.............Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2015 - 2016 Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Jim Frankowiak, Gleen Harrell, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Erin Nesmith, Buddy Coleman, Jake Raburn ,Marty Tanner, James Tew, Ron Wetherington, Brantley Ferguson, and Vincent Tort
Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813.685.9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents Valrico Office 813.685.5673
100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Juile Carlson, John McGuire
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
1302 S. Collins St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Bill Williams
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
13103 W. Linebaugh Ave. Tampa, FL.33626 Greg Harrell, Jeff Harper, Ralph Russo
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AGENCY MANAGER Tommy Hale INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
November 2015
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IN NTHEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE
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Letter from the Editor
STAFF
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry
I hope everyone has been enjoying the glorious fall weather. Cooler morning temperatures and lower humidity days make this the best time to live in Florida. Oh, except for this year! Record heat and stifling humidity welcomed the month of November with open arms. Many locations in Florida are rewriting the record books with historic high temperatures. In Tampa record setting heat on November 4 hit the 92 degree mark. It remains to be seen as to what the rest of the month has in store for us. As a child I can remember my parents and grandparents talking about how quickly time flies by when you get older. I never understood that. How can time go faster? Isn’t it the same for everyone? I get it now. It seems like only yesterday we were ringing in the new year of 2015 and now we are ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. Before you pick up your fork to indulge in your meal, take a moment and look around at the things you have to be grateful for. Count your blessings, and not just the food. Family and friends are some of our greatest blessings. If you know someone who may be spending the holiday alone, invite him or her to join you. If that doesn’t work, take them a plate of food. And remember to eat another slice of pumpkin pie. Good food is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. Be sure to check out next months issue for more great articles including a wrap up of the FFA National Convention. Until Next Month
Office Manager Bob Hughens Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Nolan Lewis 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 Nick Chapman Vanessa Caceres Contributing Writers Woody Gore Les McDowell John Dicks
Sarah The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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IN INTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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100 South Mulrennan Road • Valrico, FL 33594 • 813-685-9121
A Special Thanks to Several Special People Dear Readers: Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a special time of the year for families, the holiday season. This year, in addition to being thankful for all that we have as citizens of our great country, I ask that you join with me in expressing gratitude to three individuals for the contributions they each have made to our industry and to our community. Dennis Carlton, Dr. Chip Hinton and Lisa Hinton each were recently recognized by Commissioner Adam Putnam of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, for their varied and critical contributions to agriculture and its future in Florida. Dennis was named a recipient of the state’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership award for his innovative and environmentally sensitive farming practices which Commissioner Putnam characterized as “a commitment to improving Florida’s environment and conserving our natural resources, especially water.”
We all are truly blessed to have special people such as Dennis, Dr. Chip and Lisa as our neighbors and active members of our industry and our community. They each epitomize excellence as involved members of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. If your family does not belong to Farm Bureau, please consider membership. The fee associated with family membership in Farm Bureau is modest and your active involvement will be beneficial to your family and our industry. If your family is already part of our Farm Bureau family, please consider suggesting membership to your friends and don’t hesitate to get involved in our policymaking process. To learn more, please visit: http://hcfarmbureau. org or call 813/685-9121 for more information. My sincere best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!
Kenneth Parker Kenneth Parker - President
Dr. Hinton has been named an honoree of the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame for 2016. He is one of four inductees and “each has made outstanding contributions to Florida’s agriculture industry and mentored future leaders in this field,” said Putnam. “Through his strong leadership on numerous committees and councils for all segments of agriculture, including research, labor, environment and outreach, Dr. Hinton’s guidance led to many advances across Florida agriculture.” 2015 Woman of the Year in Agriculture, Lisa “has dedicated herself to the advancement of Florida agriculture, agriculture education and youth programs,” said Commissioner Putnam. “The programs she has implemented and the individuals she has inspired will have a lasting impact on our industry for generations to come.”
Board of Directors
Kenneth Parker, President; Will Womack, Vice-President; Ray Wood, Treasure; Michelle Williamson, Secretary; Member-at-large; Bill Burnette; Board memebers: Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Jim Frankowiak, Glenn Harrell, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Greg Lehman, Erin Nesmith, Buddy Coleman, Jake Raburn ,Marty Tanner, James Tew, Ron Wetherington, Brantley Ferguson, and Vincent Tort Judi Whitson, Executive Director 8 8
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Stay To the ER You Trust
The ER You’ve Always Depended On No matter how serious your emergency, you want an ER you can trust. From minor injuries like broken bones, cuts or scrapes to more serious issues such as heart attacks or strokes, the Redman Emergency Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital delivers health care for adults and children. Also, because our Emergency Center is attached to a hospital, we can take patients into surgery or provide additional medical care right away if needed.
For more information: PlantCityEmergency.org
For all of life’s minor and major emergencies, choose the Redman Emergency Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE BC1507355-1015
November 2015 9 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City
Business Up Front By Vanessa Caceres
Lakeland area recycling business wants YOUR cardboard, paper, and plastics
It’s hard sometimes to know what to do with your cardboard or paper. Do you throw it away with the regular trash? Put it in recycling? A new Polk County business is about to make things easier. ibuycardboard.com, located on Highway 60 in Mulberry, accepts cardboard as well as office paper, newspaper, and plastic for recycling, says owner Kevin Darnell.
come to take their paper, cardboard, or plastic to ibuycardboard.com. Darnell and other staff members at ibuycardboard.com take a comprehensive approach to waste disposal and recycling. “Customers have the option to deliver materials to us, or they can utilize our service to collect it from them,” he says. However, without a substantial amount of material there may be a charge for the pick-up service; customers can still save money on their disposal bills, and that’s cash in their pockets. The staff at ibuycardboard.com will also do warehouse clean outs, during which, naturally, much of the trash is cardboard, paper, and other recyclables. “We have assisted companies in clearing out entire warehouses full of obsolete cardboard boxes and assorted plastics,” Darnell says. A number of the firm’s customers are farmers who want to recycle instead of using the dumpster or burning trash, Darnell says. Dumpster customers often have to pay a fee to use it; with ibuycardboard.com, they can sometimes get money back for their recycled materials and save on their disposal bills. Common materials that farmers will have for the business include plastic produce crates, plant pots, and cardboards.
Darnell opened his business last year after spending 30-plus years in the waste and recycling industry. When a company with a recycling plant in Lakeland closed, it left a hole in the market. That’s when Darnell decided to open ibuycardboard.com. Although many of the clients are commercial businesses, anyone is wel10
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ibuycardboard.com’s clients also include mid-sized and large businesses looking to reduce their waste bills and receive a revenue return, according to the company website. “We work with our clients to reduce or reclaim spent resources in daily operations,” the company website reports. “From mid-range to Fortune 500 companies, we have aided businesses in effectively identifying, efficiently collecting and processing recyclable cardboard and other material.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
By using ibuycardboard.com, businesses and residents can reduce the waste footprint that is currently clogging up landfills. What Happens When You Recycle? Once the recyclable material reaches Darnell’s business, the plastics are sorted and packaged. Many of the plastics are exported, he says. The cardboard needs to be packaged in a certain way, after which it is often shipped to paper mills. Darnell describes his business as family-oriented and one that provides local solutions to local businesses waste and recycling needs. He hopes to eventually pass the business on to his children. He also believes it’s important to support locally-based businesses, such as ibuycardboard. com. He welcomes potential clients to stop by and visit ibuycardboard. “We want the opportunity to earn their business and preserve our natural resources through recycling,” he says. Find out more by calling 863-425-0422 or by visiting their website, www.ibuycardboard.com.
Benefits of cardboard recycling
1. Recycling cardboard takes only 75% of the energy needed to make new cardboard. 2. Recycling 1 ton of cardboard saves 46 gallons of oil. 3. More than 90% of all products shipped in the U.S. are shipped in corrugated boxes, which totals more than 400 billion square feet of cardboard. 4. Nearly 80% of all retailers and grocers recycle their cardboard. Source: Recycle Across America (www.recycleacrossamerica.org)
Facts About Paper Recycling
1. Around 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S. 2. To produce each week’s Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down. 3. Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. 4. One million tons of recovered paper is enough to fill more than 14,000 railroad cars. Source: RecyclingFacts.org
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Nctober ovember 2015 O 2015
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Celebrating a most fruitful relationship between Florida Strawberry Growers and International Paper.
1979
Together we’re sure to enjoy many more years of sweet success.
711 E. Lancaster Rd Orlando, FL 32809 (407) 855-2121
1996
2402 Police Center Dr Plant City, FL 33566 (813) 717-9100 6706 N. 53rd St Tampa, FL 33610 (813) 744-2220 Sales: Ray Reteneller (813) 230-4216 or Mike Sanders (813) 240-7316
2001
2003
Present
©2015 International Paper Company. All rights reserved.
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A Retrospective Look on the Occasion of its 10th Anniversary Florida Ag Expo, a major annual gathering for fruit and vegetable growers, celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this month at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Balm. Where did the idea come from for this annual gathering, who was responsible for its development and why has it grown? Before answering those questions, let’s define Florida Ag Expo. It is the only show offering Florida fruit and vegetable growers the opportunity to receive the latest information on new product trends and techniques, sample new varieties and participate in field trials. And that all happens at one place, over one day. Producers of tomato, strawberry, pepper, cucurbits and more have the opportunity each year to discover new ideas for increasing their yields and bolstering their business. This year’s Ag Expo has included updates on new varieties, diseases, crop inputs, weeds, marketing, protected agriculture and more. It also has featured again an expansive exhibit area with industry suppliers featuring the latest products, equipment and service innovations. This 10th anniversary event also featured a presentation by Chef David Bearl teaching growers how to make their produce attractive to local restaurants and how to take advantage of the “buy local” movement. The inspiration for Florida Ag Expo came 12 or 13 years ago from then Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) Chairman Tony DiMare and FFVA Vice-Chairman Jay Taylor, who were exposed to a similar event held at Culiacan, Mexico. That city is in western Mexico about 600 miles south of Nogales, Arizona. DiMare is vice president of DiMare Company while Taylor had been president of Taylor Fulton Packing at the time of that trip to Mexico. The Culiacan gathering is an annual event that brings in growers from across Mexico, representing a variety of crops. “Jay and I felt an event like the one we attended in Mexico had potential in this country,” said DiMare. “At the grand opening of the GCREC at Balm in 2005, we floated the idea with Dr. Jack Rechcigl, Director of the Center and Dr. Jimmy Cheek, at the time UF’s Senior 14
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Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Our suggestion caught Jack’s attention, so we filled him in on what Mexico was doing to display its agriculture and educate its producers,” said DiMare. “At the time, both Jay and Tony were on our advisory committee,” said Rechcigl. “They told me they thought it would be a nice event to have at our Center, since it would be different from a traditional university field day, incorporating a variety of educational programs in the auditorium as well as field demonstrations and vendor booths.” The inaugural event offered educational programs covering farming in the regulatory environment, food safety in the vegetable industry, methyl bromide Critical Use Exemptions updates, costs of labor and the impact they will have on the vegetable industry and how to survive a WPS audit. There were also programs detailing Best Management Practices, irrigation, pest management, fertilizer management and disease updates for both vegetables and strawberries. Field activities included precision agriculture demonstrations, the effectiveness of labeled herbicides and more. “Growers have always asked us to do large scale demonstrations that are more typical of their operations,” said Rechcigl. Equipment was not only on display, but also able to be demonstrated. There were many different opportunities for hands-on experiences with new equipment and technology. “At times, there were suggestions to expand Ag-Expo to more than a single day event,” noted DiMare, “but we found that a one-day Ag Expo worked best as the early November timing for the event is a very busy time for growers.” He also noted Ag Expo is set in the midst of many other gatherings for growers. “Some of those events are geared to a single commodity, while others focus on specific challenges many of the growers are facing from labor and regulatory matters to competition. The team that works diligently to keep the ideas and issues fresh for Ag-Expo has done WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
a great job with regard to growers’ interests and separating our event and its agenda from the others taking place at just about the same time. We can’t forget the important role of our partners at Meister Media and their success in promoting Ag Expo and attracting vendors. That support is critical as it enables us to offer this highly beneficial day of activity at no cost to our growers.” Florida Ag Expo is a presentation of Florida Grower, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Florida Food and Vegetable Association, Florida Strawberry Growers Association and Florida Tomatoes. This year’s event had 44 sponsors at varying levels of support.
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Tony DiMare “The show has steadily grown over the years,” said Frank Giles of Meister Media. “In the past few years, we’ve had very strong turnouts in the 700-plus people range. This year was no exception. I think the quality program and the ability to see crops in the field during the field tours have distinguished the Florida Ag Expo over the years. And, of course, the opportunity for growers to network with other growers and allied industry members.” A special thanks to Jay Taylor and Tony DiMare for sharing their experience at Culiacan and suggesting Ag Expo.
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The Time for Bold Water Policy is Now
Protect Our
Resources Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam
local data on temperature and rainfall to make more informed decisions about the use of resources. Because of the best management practices and new technologies adopted over the last decade, Florida agriculture is saving 33 million gallons of water per day or 12 billion gallons of water per year. At the same time, the implementation of best management practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area resulted in a 79% phosphorous reduction. Water is the biggest long-term challenge facing Florida. And that is exactly why I have implored all Floridians, including the general public, legislators and the media, to take seriously the more than one-billion-gallon-perday shortfall Florida will face by 2030 if we do nothing. This legislative session, I am working with the Legislature to develop and implement comprehensive water policy that will help ensure we have a healthy and abundant supply of water. The ideal time to accomplish this goal is when we are not in a reactionary mode to an active hurricane season or a particularly severe drought, but rather to move forward at a time when we can make the best possible decision in a non-reactionary, thoughtful way. Fortunately, in relatively recent years, Florida has built a strong foundation in law for the protection and management of our precious water resources. From the Water Resources Act of 1972, which established our five water management districts, to the Water Protection and Sustainability Act of 2005, we’ve made measurable improvements to the health and supply of our water. The agriculture industry has implemented best management practices and invested in new technologies to reduce consumption of precious water resources. We’ve replaced inefficient irrigation systems with more precise methods, like subsurface drip irrigation. We use real time, 16
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Not just agriculture, but all sectors of water users in Florida are making strides to protect our water resources. Through water conservation, as well as the development of alternative water sources, we have reduced our overall consumption of water. Per capita water consumption in Florida fell from 123 gallons in 1995 to 89 gallons in 2010. Much more remains to be done, though, if we want to ensure we have a healthy and adequate supply to meet our future needs. Our springs have played second fiddle to South Florida’s complex and expensive plumbing issues for too long. These first magnitude springs are a global treasure and the original tourist destinations. The St. Johns River, Apalachicola Bay and Northern Everglades all face their own unique challenges. This is truly a statewide concern, and the time to act is now. If we take care of our natural systems, we are taking care of our urban water supply needs. If we restore our springs, we are supporting tourism and forestry and the many jobs that benefit from healthy ecosystems and a high quality of life. Water is Florida’s “golden goose.” It is vital to every industry in every corner of our state. We need to put the policy in place to do this right, and we need to do it now. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
JOIN THE “FRESH
FROM FLORIDA”
PROGRAM “Fresh From Florida” is a program administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is designed to connect distributors and retail buyers with Florida growers to increase sales of Florida products. To learn more about the program benefits, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/Join or call 850-617-7399.
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Fishing Tampa Bay November 2015 Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
November is a great time to get out of the house and when you do grab your tackle and go fishing. The temperatures have cooled, there is less humidity, and the water temperatures have dropped considerably. What all this means is there should be more catching and less fishing.
Fishing Tampa Bay
There is live bait all over Tampa Bay. Almost every grass flat is covered with scaled sardines and small threadfins. So, throwing a ¼ inch net should do the trick, but you can expect to get a mixed bag of prime greenbacks along with smaller threadfins. Many are the perfect three to four inch size for this time of year, but of course you’ll still get plenty of stickers. So make sure you pick them out before putting that net away or you’ll definitely hate throwing it on your next trip.
Snook, Redfish and Trout are found all over Tampa Bay. They’re eating everything in the water, but always seem partial to a fresh greenbacks, pinfish, shrimp, or cut bait like ladyfish or mullet. Check around the passes separating the Mangrove islands and remember, never crowd the fish. If you do they will move or stop feeding.
I often write about artificial lures and you can probably tell they are one of my all time favorites when it comes to fishing. So, if you’re not into artificial lures, again, the fall and winter seasons are great times to check out an entirely new concept, especially if you’re a die hard live-baiter. Fishing artificial lures is actually not new, in fact it’s been around for centuries and what I find most interesting is fooling the fish into eating a non-natural food source. To become skilled in this different fishing concept forces you to learn and understand more about the environments fish live in and how specific species behave during different seasons. Familiarizing yourself with this information will allow you to select the correct lures for a particular species. Artificial’s come in all shapes, sizes and styles but most importantly they are designed to imitate the real thing and with a little practice you’ll be fishing them like a pro. Once you start, stay with it because, as we’ve been told since childhood, great things take patience and practice. In the beginning, it’s so easy to become discouraged, simply because you may not catch as many fish and sometimes none at all, but you’re still fishing and that’s half the fun.
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Snook, Redfish & Spotted Sea Trout:
Free-lined greenbacks, small pinfish and shrimp in sandy potholes may produce some nice Trout, redfish or the occasional flounder. Reports indicate some good Trout catches in the deeper grass flats (two - three foot depth). On incoming and outgoing tides keep watch for moving schools of Redfish who are also notorious for hanging around large mullet schools.
Mackerel seem to be all around the bay. We’re catching plenty on every trip. These mackerel are huge and plenty of fun on light tackle. Don’t kid yourself about catching them, they are tremendous fighters and great eating whether you smoke, grill or fry em’ up. They are eating greenbacks and when they start feeding, its game on, seems like it’s a fish on every cast. If you’re interested in some extra excitement… match the hatch and use a fly rod. Mangrove Snapper are found on every rock pile or structure around Tampa Bay and are fairly easy to catch. A small knocker rig with a #1 or 1/0 hook should produce a nice meal. They’re really partial to the small greenbacks and shrimp. When you find them and get a good bite going, it seems like they wise up shortly after you start catching them using one bait or the other. I always take both with me and when that happens I’ll switch around. WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
Cobia are often found cruising the flats, around range markers,
channel markers and bridges during November. Toss them a pinfish or a nice sized greenback and hold on.
“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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Need a memory boost? The anthocyanins in strawberries have been shown to increase short term memory by 100 percent in eight weeks. Well-maintained trees and shrubs can increase property value by up to 14%. The ancient Romans thought strawberries could cure bad breath and chronic fainting. Over the course of its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide. Split a double strawberry in half, share it with the opposite sex, and you’ll find love (at least according to legend). The shade and wind buffering provided by trees reduces annual heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars. Indians called strawberries “heart-seed berries” and pounded them into their traditional corn-meal bread. One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles. Fresh juice from sieved strawberry pulp has a cooling effect on feverish patients.
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Weight Loss My wife and three daughters are always working on losing weight. Daughter number two, Lori, has had some remarkable results with her program. She said the other day that she didn’t want to brag or make anyone jealous, but she can still fit into the earrings she wore in high school. While millions are always dieting, they lose sight of the health benefits of being over weight. A recent report states that being over weight is not as harmful to the body as is commonly believed. They say being 10 to 15 pounds over weight could protect people from ailments ranging from TB to Alzheimer’s disease. Those carrying 20 to 25 pounds are better able to recover from such adverse conditions such as emphysema, pneumonia and other injuries and infections, states the report. Thirty to forty pounds of extra weight could help fend off breast, kidney, pancreatic, prostate and colon cancer. And even an extra 40 pounds may improve eyesight, reverse baldness, cure the common cold, and reduce global warming. Over all, the study concludes, over weight people are happier, more successful in business, smarter and friendlier. This study was funded by a research grant from McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Domino’s, Starbucks, Haagen Dazs, Sara Lee and Krispy Kreme. I am a firm believer if you drink a diet Coke with a Hershey candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are canceled out by the diet Coke. Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something sweet. Examples are peanut butter on a knife making a sandwich and ice cream on a spoon making a sundae. Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. Examples are spinach and pistachio ice cream, mushrooms and white chocolate, pink grapefruit and ham. REMEMBER chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color you want. Also, chocolate is a vegetable, and chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, and beans are vegetables. I am sure a number of you reading this article have at one time or another has joined Weight Watchers. This is a worldwide organization. One Weight Watchers group in Sweden a few years back went in for a weigh in only to have the floor beneath them collapse. One member said, “It felt like an earthquake, and as we tried to abandon the room everything fell thru to the first floor. Evidently we didn’t lose enough weight, so they changed our menu for the rest of the month.” 22
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According to a study by researchers at a couple of universities, your credit card could be making you fat. It has been known for a while that we are more likely to spend more when we are paying by card than by cash, the study results found that paying with plastic also has disastrous results for your waistline, as people are more likely to buy junk food and “bad for you” products – which tend to be impulse purchases – when paying by credit card. To keep off the pounds and save yourself some money, draw out enough cash for the day and then leave your cards at home. Recently I read a story about a 44-year old British man that weighed 980 pounds. He supposedly had emotional issues and turned to eating for comfort. He died of pneumonia after undergoing a gastric sleeve operation that removed three-quarters of his stomach. In a newspaper article it was stated that his mother fed and bathed him regularly. He purportedly consumed around 20,000 calories a day in a diet that included six-egg fried breakfasts, lunches and dinners with pizza, kebabs and take out food including about 12 Big Macs. He also reportedly consumed 3.5 liters of coffee and 2 liters of carbonated drinks every day. Some countries, such as Switzerland and the UK, have facilities for cremation for obese people. However, this is not the case in Austria. When a 440-pound woman was being cremated it caused the oven to over heat and almost burn the facility down. When the temperature reached 572 degrees Fahrenheit, officials realized there was problem when thick black smoke started coming out of the building. Firemen said that after reports of similar problems at other crematoriums, officials are now considering a ban on larger bodies. Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely. God asked Adam what was wrong. Adam said he didn’t have anyone to talk to, so God decided he would give him a companion and it would be a woman. God told Adam that the woman would cook for him, wash his clothes, and always agree with every decision he made. She would bear his children and never ask him to getup in the middle of the night to take care of them. She would not nag him and would always be the first to admit she was wrong during a disagreement. She would never have a headache, and would freely give him love and compassion whenever needed. Adam asked God what a woman like this would cost him. God told him, “An arm and a leg.” Adam replied, “What can I get for just a rib?” The rest is history. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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BioNova USA offers organic alternatives for crop control and nutrition By Vanessa Caceres
Florida farmers always need more tools in their armamentarium to fight against pests, viruses, and disease. A Miami-based company has begun to offer a mix of natural products that can help farmers with that fight. BioNova USA offers customers a novel line of environmentally safe products to use in the field, says Jorge Cepeda Sr., president of BioNova and ExcelAg Corp. USA. The range of products offered by BioNova can be classified as organic, which includes plant products and botanicals; and biorationals, a newer term for products that the federal government recognizes as products that are safer and more natural in origin. “Our products are very safe, and the methods we use are as effective as [other pesticides and insecticides], with minimal impact on the environment, Cepeda says. The company’s biorational products do not harm other non-target insects, such as honeybees, which are an essential part of the ecosystem. There are other pesticides and insecticides that attract honeybees, Cepeda says. The products sold by BioNova are certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute, a Eugene, Oregon-based independent organization that evaluates organic products to ensure they are meeting certain standards. In addition to its pesticides and insecticides, BioNova also makes nutritional products such as fertilizers, organic surfactants, and nematicides, the latter of which fights against nematodes. The company is working to develop a product to fight against viruses that affect crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucurbits. Although it can be difficult to develop such products due to the variety of viruses out there, the company hopes to have something ready by next year. The products sold by BioNova are quick-acting, Cepeda says.
BioNova also offers recommendations for growers. “Growers generally get a lot of information from one sector, but they need information in a wider scope,” Cepeda says. BioNova can offer advice from a bigger-picture perspective. Staff members at BioNova will help growers focus on premium, customized nutrition for crops. “You can use a lot of fertilizer, but that doesn’t mean you are getting the right nutrition,” he says. “If you apply proper nutrition, then it’s easier to fight off pests. That’s our philosophy.” Cepeda is quick to point out that the products he sells likely are not the only ones that a grower will use against pests. “We feel our products can add value and be perceived as a rotational option,” he says. For example, there can be times before harvest when growers can’t use chemicals but still may be hit by pests. That would be an ideal time for products from BioNova, he says. Products from ExcelAg are available around the globe, with a large presence in Latin America, the U.K., and India. For more information, to request a brochure, or to make orders, visit BioNova’s website (wwww.bionovausa. com—the website is slated to be ready this month) or email sales@bionovausa.com. You can also find out more about the products on the ExcelAg website (www.excelag.com).
Benefits of BioNova Products
1. Minimize the world’s pesticide footprint 2. Create sustainable innovation 3. Provide nutrition effectively 4. Enhance crop life 5. Enrich your harvest 6. Enable healthier plant life 7. Offer safe, organic protection 8. Deliver safe and high-quality products Source: ExcelAg website 26
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A Sampling of Products Offered by BioNova
--Saeta Gold, a water-soluble fertilizer --Aramite, an organic aramicide and insecticide with a natural blend of plant oils --Evergreen, a systemic nutritional complex and biostimulant --Seed Soak, a systemic nutritional seed treatment WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
provides a full line of
Organic Products and Systemic Nutritionals for the Strawberry Industry.
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A Not So Big Bad Wolf:
Florida’s Endangered Red Wolf They inspire fear in the hearts of children and grown-ups alike. They have been the antagonists of children’s fairy tales and the fiendish counterparts to vampires and the like. Wolves. Their presence on agricultural land, particularly pasture land is frowned upon and for that reason the red wolves of Florida were declared “extinct in the wild” back in 1980. However, they had entered the endangered list 13 years earlier. Thankfully, careful modes of restoration and protection have enabled a return to the wild for these gorgeous creatures. Yet, they are still considered federally endangered and therefore they are protected here. The red wolf, canis rufus, is often confused with the coyote and can mate successfully with various other breeds of wolf, coyote and domestic canines. It is indeed one of the most endangered species in the world and is the most endangered of the canid family. Although a shy species, the red wolf was once one of the kings of predation in the southern parts of the US. The red wolf gets its name from the cinnamon tone of its mostly yellow-black fur. The red-ish areas are centered on its legs, neck and behind its ears. With large ears, it’s easily confused with coyotes but its almond shaped eyes, wide nose pad and broad muzzle are more in line with its cousin the grey wolf. In truth, the red wolf is somewhere between the coyote and the grey wolf when it comes to size. Red wolves are slightly larger than the coyote but a tad smaller than the grey wolf. On average they reach a height of 26 inches, a length of five feet and only weigh between 4580 lbs. It is hard to distinguish these animals as there are some that are larger or smaller than usual. Red wolves generally hunt alone or in small family packs as the alpha male and his mate typically bond for life. They are carnivores, subsisting on rabbits, rodents, white tailed deer and raccoons. They make their dens in hollowed out tree trunks, sand hills and stream banks. They’re nocturnal, hunting at night or in the wee hours of dusk and dawn. While they might choose to hunt together (though that is an irregularity) they most notably eat alone. The mating season lasts only a few short months, from January through March and the gestation period is equally short-lived: 60-63 days. They will then be blessed with a litter of up to 12 pups. Most often the mating pair only produces one litter a year but may move from den to den. Their life span is only 7-8 years unless in captivity where they might reach 15 years of age. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of three years although considerably younger breeding has been documented. The only truly wild population in existence is a reintroduced group in the northeastern part of North Carolina, although a breeding pair was released on St. Vincent Island in Florida as well. However, history shows that they existed all the way north to Pennsylvania, west to Texas and south into Florida. They lived in the wetlands, lowlands and mountainous regions of those areas. Their preferences appear to be forests, swamps and coastal prairies. 28
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By Ginny Mink
This precious creature has been endangered due to the fact fearful men hunted them to the brink of complete extinction. Still they are in danger from illegal hunting and our constant need to expand our developments. We take away their habitats because we think we need bigger houses and more shopping malls. It’s pretty sad really, when you think about it. What’s the answer? That’s a great question. The most obvious of course, is to stop hunting them illegally. Yes, they can damage your cattle and livestock if allowed in, but there are so many new innovations in fencing and electric options that we feel pretty confident that you can keep them out and your animals in. Additionally, we need to take note of their natural habitats and when tempted to encroach on their sphere of travel, we should reconsider our goals and motivations for decimating their homes. There are some organizations dedicated solely to the revival of the wolves. These groups welcome your support and active participation. Consider looking into: • The Endangered Wolf Center: They offer an adopt a wolf pack option. http://www.endangeredwolfcenter.org/educational-resources/ red-wolf/# • Return of the Red Wolf: Tails from the Swamp- This is a blog about the red wolves of today. It’s updated regularly by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services. http://trackthepack.blogspot.com/ • Wolf Haven International: You can support their efforts as a sanctuary for displaced and captive-born wolves. They offer a “symbolic” adoption program. http://wolfhaven.org/ • WolfQuest: This is an interactive video game that will help you learn about wolf ecology. Maybe the kids would like a go at this? http://www.wolfquest.org/ Listen, we live on a planet designed by a supreme Creator. We need to be thankful for what we have and be good stewards of the earth. There’s a reason each and every species is here even if it doesn’t make sense to us. Let’s do our part to protect those without a voice. Resources: http://www.gator-woman.com/redwolf.html http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/ http://www.floridiannature.com/RedWolves.htm http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/mammals/redwolf/ http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/wolvesandcoyotes.html http://www.npca.org/protecting-our-parks/wildlife_facts/redwolf. html?adwords=1&category=wildlife&gclid=Cj0KEQjw5MGxBR DiuZm2icXX2-sBEiQA619bq2SFQf_YGh5MjqyPsk3MOBQ3r7egnIR2Fe-_RonY0TwaAg3B8P8HAQ?referrer=https://www.google. com/ WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Lifetime Achievement in Agriculture Award presented to Robert “Bob” Morris by Richard Joyner
Urban Agriculturist of the Year Lynn Barber and Deputy County Administrator Greg Horwedel
Preserving Hillsborough County’s Ag History
By Jim Frankowiak
Opening day of the annual Hillsborough County Fair is also a special time for agriculture in Hillsborough County. That is the day of the Harvest Awards luncheon, an opportunity for the community to recognize individuals, organizations, corporations and other entities that have made significant contributions to the fabric of Hillsborough County. The first award of the luncheon recognized Lynn Barber as Urban Agriculturist of the Year. The honor, presented by former Plant City Manager Greg Horwedel, who is now deputy Hillsborough County administrator, recognized Barber’s lifelong commitment to gardening. Barber, an Extension faculty member who oversees the FloridaFriendly Landscaping™ Program in the county, was honored for her ongoing and diversified efforts in support of Florida-Friendly gardening initiatives throughout the county. Former Tampa City Councilman and Hillsborough County Commissioner Reverend Thomas Scott presented the Outstanding Public & Community Service to representatives of the Progress Village Community Garden, which has been “providing multiple benefits to the community for 55 years,” he noted. “The garden provides food to more than 1,000 members of the community each year and also serves to educate youth by showing them where food comes from and how to follow a healthy lifestyle.” Robert “Bob” Morris was presented the Lifetime Achievement in Agriculture Award by Richard Joyner. Morris, who has been referred to as the “banker in muddy boots” was honored for his career-long service to agriculture in the area through his hands on approach to the provision of financial services to the industry. Joyner also noted Morris’ ongoing commitment to 4-H, FFA and groups that support both farming and ranching. Former Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Earl Lennard then presented the Farm Family of the Year honor to the Alvin Futch 32
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Family “for the many contributions the family has and continues to make to agriculture,” he said. Those contributions have included active membership in FFA, Farm Bureau and the state Forestry Board. Futch and his son, Carson, were instrumental in the innovative planting and harvesting of trees and preservation of the former Cone Ranch in northeastern Hillsborough County. The family has also been involved in cattle, citrus and lumber operations. Most recently, agritourism has been a focus of the Futch family, helping to tell the story of agriculture through special events at the family’s east county ranch. Vincent Tort, general manager of Sun City Tree Farm, was then recognized by Hillsborough County Commissioner Dr. Stacy White for “his contributions and those of his family to agriculture in Hillsborough County through active membership in several industry groups, Farm Bureau and Best Management Practices that minimize environmental impacts. Vincent and his family are leaders, stewards of the land, good business managers able to withstand the difficult economic challenges we have faced in the recent past.” White concluded his remarks by repeating a proclamation passed by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners that “recognized the impact and importance of agriculture” in the county as celebrated at the family-oriented Hillsborough County Fair. The proclamation encouraged all residents of the county to attend the fair and help celebrate the area’s rich agricultural heritage. Lennard, who served as the event’s master of ceremonies, expressed his thanks to his fellow Harvest Awards committee members: Kathy Curry, Richard Joyner, Mike McKinney, Christine Smith, Michelle Williamson, Stephen Gran, Wesley Joyner, Yvette Lewis, George Parker, Ronda Storms, Dr. White and Tom Umiker. Attendees were then invited to enjoy a luncheon sponsored by the Mosaic Company. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Young Farmer/Rancher/Nurseryman of the Year – Vincent Tort
Outstanding Public & Community Service Award – Progress Village Community Garden
Harvest Award 2015
Farm Family of the Year – The Alvin Futch Family
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Florida
Pears
By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Did you know that pears are in same family of plants as roses? Other members of the diverse Rosaceae family include apples, cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, quinces, strawberries and almonds. Sweet, juicy, and low in acid, pears are prized for their delicious juiciness. Pears can also be canned, juiced, or dried. While you may see plenty of Bartlett pears in grocery stores, other types of pears grow well in Florida. The Hood, Pineapple, and Flordahome pears are delicious for eating. Pear trees are more often grown in the northern parts of Florida because they require a period of dormancy and an accompanied chilling at 45 degrees or less to bear fruit. Hood pears are good for eating out-of-hand as well as for cooking. They are golden yellow with a soft, buttery flesh and a slightly tangy flavor, much like Bartlett pears. Pineapple pears are hard and used mostly for canning. Flordahome pears are sweet, juicy, and savory and good for eating raw.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
This super-juicy fruit is a fantastic source of vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber, riboflavin, and potassium. The outer peel is entirely edible and contains most of the fiber in the fruit. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one medium pear (178 g) contains 101 calories, 0.6 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 27 g of carbohydrate, and 5.5 g of fiber. It also provides 22% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for dietary fiber, 17% for copper, 10% for vitamin C, and 9% for vitamin K. Pears also contain significant amounts of potassium, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and many of the B vitamins.
FIBER: DON’T PEEL THE FRUIT!
Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber binds to the cholesterol-containing bile salts, and helps to excrete them out of the body. It also promotes bowel regularity and increases satiety levels, which can aid in weight control. In addition to the effects of fiber on regularity, other compounds in pears promote healthy digestive functioning and offer protection from colon cancer. Pears are one of the top foods for high fiber. Antioxidants: Eat your vitamins! Florida pears are bursting with disease-fighting antioxidants, which neutralize destructive free radicals in the body. The vitamin C and vitamin A in pears, as well as other compounds, have antioxidant qualities. Copper also supports the function of antioxidants, sweeping up free radicals. When healthy cells are damaged, they are more susceptible to disease and certain types of cancer, and antioxidants may help slow the progression of conditions like asthma, arthritis, and colon cancer. Diets that contain fruits high in antioxidants are WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and multiple types of cancer. Pears also contain flavonoids that improve insulin sensitivity, a key factor that can help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
VITAMIN C: BEAUTY, HEALTH & MORE!
In addition to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C has many important functions in the body. Eating foods like pears that are high in vitamin C significantly raises the amount of iron your body absorbs, which helps prevent anemia. In its most famous role, vitamin C supports the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses, and may possibly shorten the duration and intensity of a cold. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple.
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE Choose pears that are free of blemishes or bruises and feel heavy and firm for their size. Pears ripen from the inside out. To judge ripeness, gently squeeze the neck of the pear near the stem. If it yields to gentle pressure, the pear is ripe, even if the body still feels firm. The stem area will also yield a fragrant smell if the pear is ripe. If the neck is firm, allow the pear to ripen at room temperature over the next few days. Ripe pears can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Rinse under cool running water before eating or preparing.
HOW TO ENJOY
Ripe, juicy, sweet pears are delicious eaten out-of-hand. Pears can also be cooked, poached, made into jam or jelly, or incorporated into salads and desserts. Other ways to enjoy fresh pears include: • Slice pears and toss with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and walnuts for a delicious salad. • Dice pears and mix with other fruits in a fruit salad. • Serve pears with goat or bleu cheese for a simple appetizer or dessert. • Add chopped pears, ginger and honey to oatmeal for a breakfast treat. • Core pears, and poach in apple juice or wine. • Thinly slice pears and top a freshly baked cake. • Pear juice or pulp can be used to marinate meat, as seen in Korean Bulgogi sauce. • Add thin slices of pear to peanut butter or grilled cheese sandwiches. Enjoy sweet and juicy Florida pears today. It’s a delicious way to get plenty of fiber and other nutrients.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.ifas.ufl.edu http://www.whfoods.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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A Baby Boomers Path to America’s First Frontier
By Les McDowell Photo by Linda Constant
Some kids grow up liking model airplanes from my baby boomer era. For me it was westerns and western sets. I never out grew my childhood passion from being a saddle pal of Hoppy, Gene and Roy. Some fifty years later that built in passion came out of me as Dry Creek, America’s First Frontier. I remember as a boy standing in front of my family’s old RCA television as Gun Smoke came on drawing against Matt Dillon. Never did beat him. Dad would take me to Corrigan Ville in Simi, CA where they filmed many of the westerns of the 50’s. Shows like Rin Tin Tin and about any of them that had the big rocks along the trail. I was able to meet Hugh O’Brien who played Bat Masterson and other heroes of my childhood. I had two encounters with Roy Rogers in my life. I was an eight year old boy who idolized Roy Rogers. On a family drive in the station wagon my dad took us kids to Roy Rogers Ranch near Apple Valley, California. Dad had driven by it on his way to work and one day surprised us all. He loaded us up and off we went. Across the driveway it said Roy Rogers. Dad took Mom aside and said, “What’s he going to do, arrest us if we drive on down the drive?”
with him by contacting his museum. I told him the story and he acted like he remembered. My first phone call I took from a listener to Roy wasn’t a good one. The man sounded drunk and stumbled around his words and finally asked him a question, that Dale Evans that wife of yours, a she’s an idiot! Went to commercial break hoping that Roy had not heard this man. He did and when we came back from break he said, “That guy doesn’t know my wife, Dale, and if I was there I’d hit him in the nose.” It’s been a long road to Dry Creek the television series. I would never trade the journey for anything. Tune in to Dry Creek on Dish Network and Bright House. Saturday’s at 7:30 pm. I bet you see a lot of the influences that came out from a little boy of eight years old. “Everybody knows where Dry Creek is....cause it’s inside each and everyone of us.”
Down the driveway our station wagon went with a little eight-yearold boy’s nose pressed against the window. We were met by a little Chevrolet convertible sports car and it stopped at my dad’s window. It was Roy Rogers!!!! As he talked to my dad I studied him up and down. He climbed up and sat on the back of his drivers seat and I finally got a word out. I said, “Are you really Roy Rogers?” He said yes and patted the seat of his car and said, “Ya, and this is my horse. “ He said he was on his way to UCLA to give a talk and we were welcome to drive down to the barn and around the circular drive of the house. He pointed to the pasture and Trigger out in it. Bullet, his dog was laying in the driveway and Nelliebell, the jeep, was covered up with a tarp near the house. The second time I talked to him was years later when I was on talk radio at KVEN in Ventura, California. I set up a phone interview 38
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Representative Jake Raburn By Jack Payne
UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones
Representative Jake Raburn has a strategy for getting what he wants in Tallahassee. Only ask for what you need most. “With so many causes competing for resources, you have to speak with a clear voice,” Raburn told us at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “You’ve got to pick the things that are really important to you. The last few years I have really focused on IFAS funding.” Florida agriculture, Hillsborough County and UF/IFAS have all benefited from Raburn’s focus. For that, UF/IFAS recently honored Raburn as our legislator of the year. Our legislative affairs director talks about the time Rep. Raburn, then vice chair of the Education Appropriations Subcommittee, stayed late into the night in his chairman’s office at budget decision time, waiting for his opportunity. “I wanted to be in the room so I could support IFAS,” Raburn said. We got the funding we needed that year in part thanks to him. This year he continued his tireless work on behalf of agriculture in helping us secure the state investment that will allow us to hire dozens of new researchers. Now we can do more to fight citrus greening, get a better handle on the successive waves of pests that come into state, and breed new tropical fruits and vegetables. The funding increase will also allow us to bring on Extension water specialists who will help the state’s growers to more efficiently use water and protect our natural resources.
Most members in Tallahassee don’t understand agriculture so well, Raburn explained, because it’s not their background. They’re from cities, away from the fields and ranches. They work in health care, real estate, insurance, law, small business, construction. “What I helped them understand is that especially when we’ve seen economic downturns, agriculture is always one of the pillars of our economy,” Raburn said. While tourism and construction suffered through the recession, agriculture was steady. Raburn’s effectiveness in communicating farming’s value to his colleagues has earned him what I call the grand slam of legislator-ofthe-year awards from the agriculture community. Last year the Florida Farm Bureau and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association named him their top lawmaker. The Florida Forestry Association did so this year, and UF/IFAS completed the slam in September. We’re also proud that Rep. Raburn is a Gator. He grew up farming, he told the audience in Gainesville when we honored him at our Dinner of Distinction. UF was the only school he applied to, so he could enroll in our College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. He graduated with a degree in agricultural education and communication and a minor in food and resource economics. So we like to think we had a hand in helping a farm boy grow into an eloquent spokesman for all of agriculture, and ultimately, among the best leaders the state legislature has to offer.
I’ve long argued that because IFAS is the research and innovation arm of what is now a $148 billion-a-year industry in Florida, investment in UF/IFAS is a booster shot for the economy. Raburn agrees. “I understand IFAS. I understand the importance of what they do for the industry and the economy of Florida,” Rayburn said. The family business he works for is a beneficiary of IFAS research on strawberries and other commodities, for example. Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS 42
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Jim Dorman at Charlie’s Plant Farm, Inc | (813) 601-2540 librate Kaalibrate
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Early Season
Kalibrate applied at planting time or side-dress is taken up from the soil along the length of young roots, particularly by root hairs. Potassium moves to leaves and fruit via the phloem and xylem, and is transported in all directions between plant organs in response to metabolic demand.
Mid-Late Season
Sure-K as a foliar application or fertigation enables the flexibility to provide available potassium, which is actively taken up by plant tissues. Sure-K enters the plant more effectively than conventional potassium fertilizers and has excellent crop safety. Once in the plant, Sure-K is rapidly transported and redistributed to areas of greatest metabolic demand. Sure-K can also be mixed with crop protection products, reducing the number of passes on the field.
Learn more: agroliquid.com/kchallenge
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Fuel your growing season with propane. Irrigation Incentives Available Now
Florida Propane Gas Safety Education & Research Council For more information, visit www.oridapropane.org/peff-incentives/irrigation/ or email info@FloridaGas.org
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Focus On Filing And Ag Use Details For Greenbelt Tax Benefits by John Dicks
One of the great tax benefits that Florida farmers enjoy comes by way of the “Greenbelt” law. It’s what keeps our real estate taxes lower and helps make farming a bit more economical, particularly in those areas where land values are starting to increase. It’s been estimated that in Hillsborough County alone, there are about 130,000 acres which have been designated with the Greenbelt classification. While we typically speak of it as the “Greenbelt” law, there is no such terminology listed in the actual law itself, which can be found in Florida Statutes 193.461. Instead, it refers to the matter as a classification and assessment and is rather specific with its details and rules. The Florida Legislature first passed the “Greenbelt” law some 60 years ago. It emphasized how important agriculture is to our state, both historically and in planning for a functioning future. Most historians indicate that Florida was only the second state in the Country to prescribe the agriculture classification. What we get through the law is not an exemption per se, but rather a particular agricultural classification, allowing the land to be assessed, and thus taxed, by its use-value versus its market value or potential development value.
automatically get the benefit just by buying it. Thus, as a new owner, to qualify for the Greenbelt benefit, make certain that you have the property in agricultural operation on January 1 and certainly file for the classification before March 1. This would also be true if you were to give the property to your children. The transfer of title to the property requires a new filing for Greenbelt classification. If you are the owner of the land and prefer to lease it to someone rather than farming it yourself, you can still qualify for the Greenbelt benefit. You’ll want to include a copy of your lease with your filing for Greenbelt; and while there is no set amount of rent required for you to qualify, your lessee must run a bona fide agricultural operation on your property. The property appraiser’s office in Hillsborough County notes that once your property is granted the Greenbelt classification it is then annually inspected; and if its agricultural use is not questioned, it will be renewed automatically. Obviously, this make the matter of a receiving a lower tax bill on the land a bit more convenient.
The actual assessment on the land is determined by the county property appraiser based on what appraisers statewide call an “income approach.” It has essentially nothing to do with the market value of the property and since it is based on the income potential, it can result in a different valuation per acre dependent upon the particular use of the land. For example, 10 acres of pasture land may well have an entirely different valuation than 10 acres of strawberry fields adjacent to it, while both are receiving the agricultural classification. There have been, from time to time, proposals introduced in the Florida Legislature that would change things, but mostly the “Greenbelt” law has remained largely intact since it was first enacted. The important thing is for farmers is to understand the rules and make certain that the filing deadlines are met on any new property that you may happen to acquire. The special agricultural assessment is not just applied automatically. Each County Property Appraiser is charged with the responsibility of identifying and permitting the classification, but the state law specifies that the property must be being used for a bona fide agricultural purpose as of the very beginning of the year, or January 1. Sometimes, property owners confuse this requirement with the filing deadline, which is March 1. Miss either of the two dates and the “Greenbelt” classification will generally be lost at least until the next year. If you are buying property before the end of the year, it is important to recognize that the Greenbelt classification is provided to the owner, rather than attached to the land. If, for example, you are buying an active farm this year which already has Greenbelt status, you don’t 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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Recipes Fresh Strawberry Cake Courtesy of Chef Whitney Miller
In parts of the South, it’s either the end of winter or spring that brings row after row of bright red strawberries beckoning enticingly from farmers’ fields and roadside fruit stands. It also brings an abundance of strawberry desserts. My great-aunt Ilene always makes her famous strawberry cake with strawberry gelatin and fresh strawberries, covered in a deliciously rich homemade strawberry frosting. Each bite is rich with fresh strawberry taste. It doesn’t last long. Inspired, I decided to splurge on a full flat of strawberries, plenty to make my own strawberry cake, and a few extra for eating on the ride home. I’ve replaced the gelatin with natural strawberry spread and lightened up the cake by beating and folding in the egg whites.
Ingredients Fresh Strawberry Cake
2/3 cup butter, softened 1 3/4 cups pure cane sugar 2 large eggs, separated 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup natural strawberry fruit spread 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/4 cups buttermilk 1/2 cup diced strawberries
Strawberry Icing
1 cup butter, softened 7 1/2 cups powdered sugar 3/4 cup finely chopped strawberries 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, optional
DIRECTIONS
To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans.
10 minutes in the pans, then remove from the pans, and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate the cakes until ready to use.
Place the butter in a large mixing bowl, and beat with a hand mixer on high speed until creamy. Beat in the sugar until combined. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and fruit spread.
To make the icing, place the butter in a large mixing bowl, and beat with a hand mixer on high speed until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and strawberries, mixing after each addition until combined. Fold in the pecans and coconut.
Sift the flour and baking soda into a medium bowl.
To assemble, place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate. Spread a generous amount of icing on top of the cake. Place a second cake layer on top of the icing, and spread another generous amount of icing on the top. Place the third cake layer on top of the icing, and spread and swirl the remaining icing on the top layer of cake. Do not ice the sides. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the egg mixture, beating on medium speed just until incorporated. Fold in the diced strawberries. Clean the beaters and dry completely. Place the egg whites in a medium bowl, and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter. Divide the batter among the cake pans. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 48
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Makes 10 to 12 servings.
Note: Make sure you sift and then measure the all-purpose flour in this recipe. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Strawberry Salad “I am going to take you to a pizza place, but I am taking you there to eat a really good strawberry salad,” said my friend Brian, who served as our tour guide on my first trip to Plant City, Florida. Okay, I thought to myself, that’s a bit unusual. Once I had sampled it for myself, though, I understood, and the race to re-create it began. My version gets its intense strawberry flavor from not only the strawberries in the salad but also from the creamy vinaigrette. Even my dad, a ranch dressing guy, fell in love with this creamy strawberry dressing.
Vinaigrette
1 cup chopped strawberries 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons honey Pinch of fine sea salt 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salad
1/2 cup pecan halves 1/8 teaspoon coarse sea salt 7 cups loosely packed kale or mustard greens, torn into small pieces 3/4 cup or more sliced strawberries 3 tablespoons crumbled feta or goat cheese
Strawberry Refrigerator Preserves
Plant City, Florida, is the home of the Strawberry Festival as well as many strawberry farms. For a strawberry lover like me, visiting was pure heaven. During the festival I tasted strawberry cookies, strawberry milkshakes, and the area’s famous strawberry shortcakes. Returning home with strawberry fever, I got to work creating my recipe for fresh and easy strawberry preserves. Light in sugar, these preserves have a remarkable fresh strawberry taste. Divine on toast or with biscuits, the preserves are light enough to serve with dessert; just don’t forget the homemade whipped cream.
Ingredients
2 cups chopped fresh strawberries (1/2- inch pieces) 1/2 cup white grape juice 1/2 cup 100 percent pear juice To make the vinaigrette, place the chopped strawberries, red wine vin1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice egar, honey, and salt in a blender jar, and process until smooth. With the 4 tablespoons honey blender running on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until emulsified. 1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon Sure-Jell No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. To make the salad, place the pecans on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the salt over the pecans, and bake for about 5 minutes, until toasted. Let cool, and then roughly chop into pieces. Place the kale in a large bowl, drizzle some of the vinaigrette over the kale, and lightly toss until just coated.
DIRECTIONS
Combine the strawberries, grape juice, pear juice, lemon juice, and honey in a medium saucepan. Stir well. Cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in the Sure-Jell.
To serve, divide the salad among 4 plates. Top each salad with the pecans, sliced strawberries, and feta or goat cheese. Serve remaining vinaigrette on the side.
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat, and spoon off any foam from the top. Spoon the preserves into two clean 1⁄2-pint jars. Secure with lids. Let cool to room temperature. Store the preserves in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Makes 4 servings.
Makes two 1/2-pint jars.
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Part 14 By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida This October we celebrated another time machine adventure: Back to the Future’s voyage into time actually came to pass on October 21st. That was a thirty year jump into the future. However, on our Literary Time Machine we travel backwards to 1926. When last we left Mr. Simpson, he was sharing his advice on orchids and bromeliads. This month we’ll learn about Climate; Protection. Obviously climate has a lot to do with what grows and what doesn’t. Simpson sees the necessity to discuss Florida’s climate here. He says, “The wind in our state, especially during the cool season, usually swings around the compass in the same direction as do the hands of a clock.”¹ We’re not quite sure how he determined the direction of the wind for the whole of the state, but it would be interesting to find out. Do any of you know? If so, make sure to shoot us an email and educate us on the methodology, please! He then makes a hugely obvious and quite amusing statement, “Whenever the cooler part of the year gets into the northwest there is a decided lowering of the temperature…”¹ We chuckled upon reading that. He continues, “…it usually blows from this direction for about three days and then shifts to the northeast. During these “Northers” as they are called, frost may occur in any part of Florida, even to the lowermost keys.”¹ Apparently the wind and weather were quite predictable in 1926. Certainly that was before El Niño messed everything up. Here’s probably one of the funniest things we’ve seen in his book thus far. He states, “I am aware that this statement may be contradicted by some who are residents of this region.” It’s funny because we were just talking about his propensity for blanket statements. Yet he feels vindicated in so making them because he explains, “In the latter part of December, 1906, a severe and protracted norther visited Florida lasting eight days and doing great damage to tender vegetation. This swept over Cuba, extending to the south part of the island, and near Cienfuegos it wrought great destruction to the sugar cane at the Soledad Plantation.” We were interested to see if there was anything else that might back Mr. Simpson’s description of the Norther of 1906. We found sites that quoted his book² but nothing specific to the Norther. However, we did locate in The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer paper, Vol. XXXVI. No. 3, the following statement, “If this report be correct- and most of the planters of prominence believe it is…Should Congress not adjourn until June, then all the apprehension felt by planters and their agents north will have vanished, and the year 1906 go down into sugar history as one of phenomenal yield.”³ That was written in January, prior to Mr. Simpson’s revelation of the great and destructive norther. He further elaborates on the topic, “I was informed by Mr. Hughes, the manager, that ice formed on ponds and still water, and at the beautiful home of the Cabadas near that city I saw many trees which I was told the freeze had killed outright.” It seems perchance, then, that even if Congress didn’t adjourn until June, there wasn’t as bumper a crop as had been initially predicted by the planters of prominence. 54
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Herein, Mr. Simpson gets a bit indignant, “No doubt I shall be condemned for making these statements but I am simply telling the truth which ought to be known by every one who intends making a home and growing plants in this state. No matter what part of it one may settle he should be prepared for occasional frosts and should know all that is known about protecting against them.”¹ His dedication to the wellbeing of the native and non-native plants utilized by Floridians of that time is admirable. He calls the northern inland area of the state “warm temperate”¹ and adds that the winter nights are cool enough to need a fire for comfort. Then he states, “In the lower part the winter temperature is usually from 65˚ to 70˚ at sunrise except during northers, with a midday temperature of 70˚ to 78˚, and the vegetation is largely tropical.” We wanted to compare that data with today’s numbers. So, according to the US Climate Data site, Fort Lauderdale’s lows range from 57˚-66˚ in the winter months with the highs ranging between 75˚ and 78˚.³ We assumed that Fort Lauderdale would be included in the lower part of the state and we note that the lows are cooler than he describes although the highs seem the same. Maybe El Niño is just an urban legend? He goes on to discuss the fact that northern plants don’t do well in the southern parts of the state and vice versa. Then he shares the regularity of the rains but asserts, “It must not be supposed that the rainy season is a period of continual wet. Showers, often quite heavy, are likely to fall during the afternoon while the rest of the day is clear or nearly so. There is rarely any rain or cloudiness at night…the average precipitation over the state may be two or more inches a month and this is sufficient to keep plants in good shape. Long droughts are rare. The annual rainfall varies from about forty inches on the Lower Keys to sixty-five in the western part of the state and slightly over that just north of Miami.”¹ That same US Climate Data site proved Mr. Simpson’s accuracy with Key West getting an average of 39.75 inches of rain annually. Additionally, Fort Lauderdale (which is just north of Miami) saw an average of 66.49 inches. It was hard to determine where he was referring to as the western part of the state but we opted for Clearwater with an annual rainfall of 54.73 inches.³ That was apparently the only place he was off. Pretty impressive since he couldn’t just look that informativon up online like we just did! A discussion of Florida’s climate would not be complete without a comment about hurricanes. Therefore, Mr. Simpson adds, “Hurricanes visit Florida occasionally, usually from August to October, coming up from the West Indies…they may visit any part of the state, the wind blowing at from fifty to perhaps a hundred miles an hour, generally with heavy rain and they last from a few hours to several days. These do a great deal of damage, sometimes destroying buildings, breaking off trees and occasionally entirely whipping off nearly all the leaves in the hammocks and gardens.” He moves then into methods of plant protection. He says, “…as my experience goes we can do but little in the way of protection where there is a really severe freeze…we have had one or more blizzards here…Almost any kind of thin covering will ward off a light frost but in case of hard freezing it will be better if possible to bend small stuff over and cover it with earth…If water from an ordinary well which has a temperature of say 75˚ can be thrown on vegetation during a moderate frost it will save it but in case of a freeze it may be a damage…It is claimed that if water is sprayed over frozen plants in the open early in the morning it will save them but I have never had WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
much success with this plan.”¹ We suspect he never met strawberry farmers! He also recommends burning stuff to create a sort of cloud cover to ward off frost so long as the area is not too windy at the time. He closes the chapter by sharing one more piece of Florida history, “The winter of 1916-17 was very warm, with abundant rainfall, so that in January everything was in full growth. Then on the third of February there came a terrible freeze which wrought the greatest damage I have ever seen in twenty-seven years’ experience in Southern Florida. Every tender thing almost without exception was cut down if not killed.” He concludes, “No contrivance that I know of could have saved most of the stuff on that dreadful night. The mounding up if thoroughly done will save anything against any such a freeze but all that is above the earth will probably be killed.” By the way, there is information on that freeze as it apparently did great damage to the citrus crops.⁴ Mr. Simpson’s main recommendation is to bank dirt up around the trunks of valued plants. Try it out this winter and let us know how it goes! Resources: 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. 70-74) ²This site quotes Simpson’s book about the Norther of 1906- http:// chestofbooks.com/gardening-horticulture/Ornamental/Climate-Protection-Of-Plants.html#.Vi_GUn6rTIU ³https://books.google.com/books?id=M71KAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3 9&lpg=PA39&dq=1906+Norther+soledad+plantation&source= bl&ots=JwMjUQzYGs&sig=Mixsp7FbIMVun4pJ3Pvo6XSCQZ8 &hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC0Q6AEwA2oVChMI6a_axKfjyAIVRC seCh2tHAx7#v=onepage&q=1906%20Norther%20soledad%20 plantation&f=false ⁴https://books.google.com/books?id=pptIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA26 &lpg=PA26&dq=freeze+of+1916&source=bl&ots=4wnKINhbt7 &sig=UThBA4jB6C6fnWYbplB4CQmZi3o&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0 CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI-sjU_rLjyAIVCFweCh1VcA5_#v=onepage &q=freeze%20of%201916&f=false WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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UF/IFAS researchers get $2 million grant to study organic strawberry production By Brad Buck
Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will address production constraints for organic strawberry producers, thanks to a new $2 million federal grant. The grant comes from the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) program, which is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The research focuses on strawberry production systems, rather than just one part of the production process, said Mickie Swisher, associate professor of sustainable agriculture in the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences. “Controlling weeds is a significant cost for all strawberry producers, not just organic producers,” Swisher said. “The project examines the effectiveness of cover crops as a supplementary weed management technique, used in conjunction with plastic mulch.” Cover crops are grown for the protection and improvement of the soil. Legume cover crops, such as southern peas, can be used as green manure to provide fertility for a subsequent crop. But the research doesn’t stop with comparing cover crops to other weed management techniques, she said. The UF/IFAS team also will examine how using cover crops affects other considerations like soil quality, nutrient availability and soil-borne plant pathogenic nematodes. In addition, a horticulturist will assess how different strawberry cultivars respond to the use of cover crops, searching for the cultivars that will adapt best to the system. An entomologist will focus on the systems’ influence on beneficial insects and on the management of key pests such as spotted wing drosophila and twospotted spider mites. Team leader Carlene Chase, UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences, said farmers need to know how changes in one practice can affect other parts of a system to decide whether a change will work for them. This can make it safer for farmers to try alternatives and be able to adopt money-saving and environmentally sound practices more quickly. “This is critical in today’s highly competitive marketing system, where international competition continually pressures U.S. producers,” Swisher said. Part of the key to success is getting good advice from growers — organic and conventional — and acting on their recommendations during the research project, not after it is over, Swisher said. “Early meetings with Florida producers, before any research was 56 56
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conducted, provided key concepts that are part of this project today,” she said. “That input continued throughout the two years of research funded by the Walmart Foundation. Farmers and technical advisors participated in field assessments of the research plots and made important recommendations for improving both the science and the practicality of the research.” In the first season of strawberry production (2013-14), farmers who assessed the research plots made two key suggestions. They convinced researchers that the high-tunnel system should focus on colder producing regions. As a result, the high-tunnel work continued only at UF’s partner institution, North Carolina A&T State University in the second year (2014-15). The new OREI grant will allow NCAT to explore the utility of low tunnels and high and low tunnel combinations for organic strawberry production in the cooler regions of the southeastern US. Due to interest in organic strawberry production among North Florida producers, Florida A&M University will use the results of the previous research in this project to understand if low-cost tunnel systems are a good alternative for areas in Florida with cooler winter temperatures than southwest Florida, where the majority of Florida strawberries are grown. Growers also recommended adding a treatment that would consist of several cover crops in a “mix.” Their idea was that a mixture of cover crops in the same field might provide more cropping system benefits than a single species. The team adopted this recommendation and will continue to work on it for this project. The project enjoys the continued support of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, which is critical to the success of this project, Swisher said. Their members will continue to be important collaborators in the farm trials, which help researchers and farmers who perform the field research assessments see how the different practices hold up under a range of soil types, micro-climatic conditions and pest pressures. Florida Organic Growers and Consumers Inc. will contribute by coordinating outreach activities during the final year of the grant. Driscoll Strawberry Associates is another strong partner involved with the project’s advisory panel, Swisher said. “As the largest berry distributor in the nation, their experience and expertise is critical to understanding how the biological factors affect marketability from the distributor’s perspective,” she said. “Their input is particularly important for this project. Consumer preferences for the marketable strawberries that each set of practices creates are, after all, the ultimate test of the quality of the product.” WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEF FIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
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FARMERS AND RANCHERS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS By Jim Frankowiak
Farmers and ranchers in Florida are being reminded and encouraged to take advantage of several new tax savings with the beginning of the state’s new fiscal year this past July 1. HB 33, which was passed by the legislature during the special session and signed by Governor Rick Scott, was a legislative priority of Florida Farm Bureau. The legislation, which “will protect and strengthen Florida’s agriculture community and position our farmers and ranchers for future success,” according to Florida Farm Bureau, originated from bills filed during the regular legislative session by Rep. Jake Raburn (RLithia) and Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland). Rep. Ben Albritton (RBartow) and Sen. Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) sponsored identical legislation in 2014. “I introduced this legislation to benefit Florida’s family farms and to elevate Florida lawmakers’ commitment to the agriculture industry by implementing a significant $13 million tax cut,” said Rep. Raburn.
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• Provides an exemption for irrigation parts and repairs that will help encourage farmers to retrofit old irrigation systems to become more efficient • Expands the current exemption for power farm equipment to include the parts and repair for power farm equipment, helping to reduce fixed costs for Florida farmers and keeping business in the state • Expands power farm equipment exemption equipment used to store raw products on the farm after harvest • Provides for an exemption for most trailers used in agriculture production so long as they are used exclusively on the farm and weigh less than 12,000-pounds. The exemption applies up to $20,000. • Provides an exemption for stakes used in plant production such as tomatoes, nursery crops, etc. The Florida Department of Revenue has additional information and forms related to each of these new sales tax provisions on its website: www.myflorida. com/dor or by calling toll free Monday – Friday, excluding holidays: 800-3523671. Written responses to questions may be secured by writing: Florida Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services, MS 3-2000, 5050 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0112.
“Agriculture is vitally important and a huge economic driver for our state,” said Sen. Stargel. “It provides countless jobs and it supplies the food for our tables. We must ensure that the agriculture industry continues to be productive. These tax incentives show our state’s support for this industry.” 58
The new legislation with estimated tax savings potential of up to $13 million has five major provisions:
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Giving back to our communities is
Mike Bennett, Supply Chain Operator, Florida phosphate operations
As a DeSoto County resident and operator in Mosaic’s supply chain team, I help ensure our phosphate crop nutrients get to farmers in America and all over the world. At Mosaic, we share our passion for agriculture and environmental stewardship with the next generation of local farmers and ranchers. In fact, I’m one of hundreds of Mosaic employees who volunteer annually with youth agriculture organizations and at county fairs. For me, giving back is more than a job. It’s about nourishing the communities where we all live, work and play.
®
We help the world grow the food it needs.
mosaicco.com/florida
© 2015 The Mosaic Company
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Local Yum Plant City Local Harvest Farmer’s Market
Love is a wonderful thing... F
inding the best place to get local produce can be a challenge (or cost you for parking). Additionally, looking for local artisan creations while having to wait for the next craft show can get a little frustrating. Sure, there are a number of businesses that offer space to those crafty people but sometimes the size and price exceeds their ability to display their wares. Therefore, Plant City has chosen to offer another alternative. The Plant City Local Harvest Farmer’s Market (PCFM) is back! It is up and running on Thursday evenings from 4-8 pm during the months of October through May. This is your chance to get local produce and peruse the wares created by local craftsmen and women. If Show that sounds exciting totaking you, him thenormake sure to show up at McCall your pet your love by her to Timberlane Pet in Hospital & ResortPlant for allCity their care. Park downtown on Thursday night. wide range of services is offered to keepdecided your petsto looking WeAfeeling heard about the market and takeand a family outing to their best. check it out. On Thursday we showed up at around 7pm so many of Examinations the• Health earlierExaminations visitors had long• Behavior gone. There were &about 8 to 10 booths. Medicine Consultations We• Preventative noted the soap lady first (mostly because I make homemade natu• State-of-the-Art Diagnostics • Boarding & Grooming ral • Dentistry soaps). &Then we visited• Doggie with the lady at the Funny Face booth. Oral Surgery Daycare She raises angora rabbits and utilizes their fur. and much, much more
By Ginny Mink On a side note, we’re hoping to pair up with her for a future Meet the Minks so we didn’t spend too much time there as to not taint the kids’ future experience. However, they were offering photos with a super cute and rather large rabbit that Zeke (our 2 year old) just couldn’t get enough of! Then we visited with the ladies making crocheted tchotchkes and various other artistic elements. Actually, the one lady had some pretty nifty fused glass and mosaic stuff. She’d forgotten her cord so she couldn’t show us how cool the bottles were that lit up. Things happen. There was another guy with light up stuff, although he was using the battery powered tea lights. His business, Gourd Almighty, was interesting if nothing else. Perfect for those of you who like the October festivities. The highlight of our evening though was spent with the people of Bakehouse47 and Red Roof Farm. Bakehouse47 sells baked goods (fudge, graham cookies and giant cinnamon rolls) and they’re hoping to get their 1947 RV renovated to create a super cool, and we do mean super cool, food truck for your tasting pleasure. The lady at Red Roof Farms was equally hospitable and we are also excited about a potential Meet the Minks with her and the apiary on her property. We purchased some honey from her, but in an unfortunate turn of
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They were left at the shelter, in the middle of the night, together, in a crate. They were both underweight and needed some TLC. So, we stepped in and they are now in a foster home together. However, they do not need to be adopted together. We believe they will do just fine as they are both very social with other dogs, house trained, leash trained, good with children and adults. We can’t be sure about kitty cats, though! These dogs have been through so much, but now are healthy and ready for a home of their own. Chyna is around 4 years old, a petite
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45 pounds and loves to play fetch! Mister was originally adopted from Hillsborough County Animal Services through the ADOPT program, so he has received his Canine Good Citizen Certificate! Mister was chosen because he looks so much like Chyna – a matched set! Mister loves his tennis ball. He is around 4 years old and a nice 45 pounds. Mister and Chyna deserve a happy ending. If you are interested in learning more about this dynamic duo, please contact Second Chance Boxer Rescue/Second Chance Friends at www.saveaboxer.org. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
events it somehow got left and now I’m missing my gallberry honey. Trust me that was a travesty. We headed over to Krazy Kup after the adventure and the employees shared with us the fact that they had seen an increase in patronage due to the Thursday night Farmer’s Market. That is marvelous news as local businesses are certainly hoping to benefit from the installation of this market. Downtown Plant City is so nostalgic and peaceful that there’s plenty of reason to come out on Thursday night even if you don’t spend money. We noted, by the way, that there was only one lady selling produce and her stand was the busiest! We didn’t get the chance to talk to her as we didn’t want to interrupt her sales opportunities. However, we suspect that as this market grows she will find herself having some competition. We’ll have to go back and see what her avocados and other lush produce goes for. If you’re interested in participating as a vendor, this is the place for you. The ins and outs of the set up include an application and booth fee. These rules and regulations can be retrieved by contacting Patricia Rogers at: (813) 754-1567 or parinteriors@verizon.net. She’ll gladly provide you with all the information you need to move forward. The application reveals: “The mission of the Plant City Local Harvest Farmer’s Market (herein after referred to as PCFM) is to showcase the talents, work, and diversity of local growers and artisans. The PCFM provides an exciting downtown venue to serve all segments of our community.” We think they are doing a tremendous job accomplishing that mission and we hope that more people will take advantage of this awesome opportunity. Conceptually all vendors share the cost of marketing which breaks the cost down to $30/mth per vendor. That’s a great deal for those who travel for craft shows. They do require you to carry your own general liability insurance prior to being allowed to set up in a 10x10 space at the market. That information is necessary for completion of the application you’ll receive from Patricia. Finally, the application reveals that artisans will make up 20% of the market, so there will certainly be a need for speed if that’s your area of expertise. On the other hand, 70% of the market is supposed to be dedicated to produce vendors so bring out your homegrown products and participate in this amazing venue!
Hope to see you out there Thursday! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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By Jim Frankowiak
Parkesdale stand in 1969. The roadside stand was built in 1968.
I
t didn’t happen overnight and would not have happened at all if it weren’t for New England businessman Henry Plant. The “it” is the title of Winter Strawberry Capital of the World and it was Plant’s extension of his railroad to Tampa from Kissimmee through the small town of Itchepuckesassa, which later became known as Plant City after being incorporated as such January 10, 1885,that made it all happen. It took decades before the Plant City – Dover area became the global focus of winter strawberries, but without Plant’s railroad chances are that would not have happened. Back then at the time of incorporation, Plant City had a population of somewhere around 350 people with 13 stores, two hotels, a single frame schoolhouse and two churches – one Baptist and one Methodist. Agriculture was the primary business in the area, but starting out times were tough. There was a malaria epidemic in 1887 and one of the coldest winders recorded took place over 1894 into 1895. Local farmers were hit hard. The first strawberries came to the Plant City area in the early 1880s from Shannon, Mississippi. The sandy soil in the Plant City-Dover area was a great match for berries, producing some of the sweetest and most luscious strawberries imaginable. Plant’s railroad was a big help, too. It not only opened sunny Florida to northerners for vacations in the sunshine, but also opened new markets for Florida produce, including those sweet and delicious strawberries. 70
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Strawberry growers were quick to recognize consumers in the north would pay a premium for mid-winter Florida strawberries, which were originally packed in ice in large wooden crates called ponies. Buyers would inspect the strawberries at the Berry Yard as they were brought to the Farmer’s Market by berry growers in wooden ponies. Though much has changed during the more than 100 years since that took place, the close relationship between the local community and strawberries has been constant and unchanged. That family-like relationship between community and commodity is so close because the whole community has often been needed to provide the resources needed to make strawberry farming possible. When temperatures dropped and a freeze was threatened, everyone went to the fields to cover the plants with pine straw or cypress boughs. Just about everybody without a job in town picked strawberries. Matter of fact until 1954 eastern Hillsborough County Schools operated during the summer so farm family children could help in the fields during the winter. “Strawberry Schools” are part of this community’s history and alumni still gather annually to reminisce and no doubt embellish tales of that period. The Plant City – Dover area has grown substantially over the years. The strawberry industry has undergone changes, as well. Shipping berries north in wooden boxes covered with ice has given way to refrigerated tractor-trailers. Once consumed primarily in the northWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
DeVane family strawberry farm.
Farmers market 1955 with crates of berries
Parkesdale Farms strawberry field Rita Knox packing house in 1959 in December 1960.
Parkesdale Farms berries, Parkesdale stand in 1969. The Feb. 1963 roadside stand was built in 1968.
east, winter strawberries are now a treat throughout the world. Farms have gotten larger and mechanized. However, the Plant City – Dover areas remain the winter home of the sweetest and most luscious strawberries and still the commodity that made this community one, large family. Our Annual Challenge Getting and keeping the title of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World hasn’t come easy. Achieving the goal of making Florida strawberries the best-looking, best tasting and available to anyone, anywhere takes a lot of hard work and planning every year. Strawberry fields are fallow during the summer when farmers in other parts of the U.S. are busy growing food. The attractive subtropical climate that brings people to the Sunshine State in the winter brings us monsoons in the summer, tropical storms, plus enough humidity to take the curl out of the curliest hair. All of that makes growing strawberries in the summer simply out of the question. And even though strawberries are perennials, they are treated as annuals and new ones are planted every year. While strawberries are not grown during the summer, a cover crop is sown to reduce weeds and increase organic matter in the soil. Early each August, the cover crop is cut, incorporating the organic matter into the soil. Once that has been completed, the fields are leveled and rows are marked. These rows are typically 48-inches apart with 13 rows to an irrigation lateral. The beds that form the rows are raised by a piece of equipment called a superbedder, which forms a compact, 8- to 10-inch table for the plants to reside on. Those beds are sterilized by a fumigant and a film of plastic then covers the beds. While fumigating the beds, a drip irrigation tube is placed directly under the plastic and usually in the center of the bed. Contemporary strawberry production has benefitted significantly from advances in technology. One is the use of plastic film, called plastic mulch, which retains the soil moisture and acts as a barrier against pests, diseases and weed seeds. The black color of the mulch inhibits weed seed germination and warms the bed during the cool winter production cycle. Drip irrigation permits the grower to reduce WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Simmons farms planting strawberry plants
McDonalds packing shed circa 1935
water consumption by 50 percent and allows precise nutrient delivery directly to the plant’s root system. Two to three weeks after the beds have been prepared and fumigated, the tractor returns with a hole punch, which provides a precise spacing for the placement of the strawberry plants. Our hot humid summers are not ideal for growing delicate strawberry plants. So, most growers buy plants from nurseries in Canada, Nova Scotia, North Carolina and California where hardy plants are established during the cool summer months and shipped to Florida for transplanting in the fall. Bare root plants are set by hand every 12- to 16-inches apart, two rows to a bed. From late September through the first of October, more than 200-million plants are set in this manner. Timing for the plant setting depends upon the variety used. The plants are established with liberal water and the first flat of berries is typically picked at the end of November with the harvest taking place from Thanksgiving through Easter. As the New Year approaches, the strawberry harvest is in full swing. Farm workers hand harvest from the same fields every 3- to 4-days, grading and packing the berries into flats for the wholesale markets. The strawberries are collected at packing sheds in the fields, placed on pallets and driven to a nearby cooler for sale and delivery to market. Because of the perishable nature of strawberries, timing is critical. Usually within two hours of harvest, berries are air-cooled to 32- to 36-degrees Fahrenheit and then placed in refrigerated storage until shipped later that same day. The trip to the ultimate consumer may be just around the corner or across the world. Most Florida strawberries are shipped by refrigerated truck across the U.S. Shipments to overseas markets have become more feasible with new cooling techniques and frequent flights. This process is ongoing throughout the Florida growing season which normally ends around Easter. A special thanks to the Florida Strawberry Growers Association for the information provided in this article. Also, a special thanks to the Plant City Photo Archive for use of the historical photos. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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By Ginny Mink
CornFusion
The last few Meet the Minks have been a wee bit disappointing in that we set out to do great things and it seems those were just not to be. Last month we tried to feed the ducks and couldn’t find any so we bought three for a dear friend. Sadly, one of them died. However, the other two are doing marvelously and have been moved off the porch into their own pens near the pond. That’s great news at least. This month my daughter, Hazel, who’s 4, was supposed to go to a corn maze with her school but we decided to incorporate that first into our Meet the Minks’ adventures. Therefore, we took a gander at CornFusion in Lakeland. Donna Smith and family were gracious enough to let us check out the set up on opening day. In return, Jaidyn (otherwise known as J, my 12 year old) was gracious enough to bust their bounce pillow. I’m not so sure she’ll want us back, but we had a great time nonetheless! Actually, she was quite kind about the mishap and we feel horribly about it. We arrived at the gorgeous property with eager anticipation. The kids weren’t sure what to expect, but they were hugely enthusiastic about getting out of the van (Seffner to Lakeland is a ride when you’re young). They got super excited when they were able to put on the armbands, as if they’d been given free jewelry. When we passed by the giant horned cows (someone told me what they were but I have since forgotten – three kids does something to your brain) our first stop was restroom duty since the two-year-old, Zeke, is potty trained, praise God! J was instantly drawn to the air cannons while my husband, Chris, made a beeline to the food. He got a cheeseburger (and later a sausage, pepper and onion hoagie) and we went to shoot the water bottles at far away targets. Hazel was chicken at first but then she was perfectly happy to take Chris’ two free turns. Zeke shot it, too, and later J went back with his own money to shoot it some more. I’m not gonna lie, I shot the cannon as well (J has the pictures to prove it) and really, it was a lot of fun! We then headed to the maze itself. Chris led us deep into the crop maze (they planted wheat instead of corn this year). We hit several dead ends and Zeke begged us to “carry me up,” as he got tired of wandering around. I suspect we were in there at least twenty minutes before some kind strangers pointed us back toward the exit. Eagerly we tromped through the paths, pushing hanging wheat out of our faces like we were trapped in a jungle. You’d have thought we’d been in there for hours given the complaints from the wee-ones. J was disappointed that we’d gotten help and wanted to go back in later by himself (but after he busted their bounce pillow I wasn’t letting him outta my sight). The enthusiasm for the crop maze was short lived by the young ones but J and Chris seemed to have a marvelous time. We played a little corn hole then, and Hazel and Zeke took their first go rounds on a seesaw, that was pretty funny. I can tell you though that there was not much that amused Zeke more than the rubber duck races. J dared me to a race and when I was almost done totally stomping him with my mad water pumping skills, he knocked my 74
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duck over so that it got stuck (cheater). He still didn’t win because he was too far behind (and his was stuck in the turnaround). Zeke stayed there for quite some time while Chris polished off that sausage hoagie I mentioned earlier. It was so cute watching Zeke pump away at those old school water spigots. He was truly enamored by the way the water just gushed out in bursts. We take this instant gratification stuff for granted until we see a kid appreciating the results of his labor. And then there was Big Alice! We all rode that giant monster of a tractor. We rode over cars, up hills and into mud puddles. Hazel giggled in a way I cannot form words to describe; it was a constant glee unlike any I’d seen in her before. Zeke’s eyes were huge and totally focused on the giant tire directly in front of and below him. He clapped and laughed. Yeah, Big Alice was worth the $5 per person (little ones were free). I suspect that’s an experience they will not soon forget. Hazel tells me that riding Big Alice was, “GREAT!” I had hoped her vocabulary was bigger but I guess that will suffice. They rode the tractor train as well and even J got himself into one of those little cars (I saw parents ride it too so he wasn’t too big). The driver was happy to pull them around at “warp” speed since they were the only ones on the ride at the time. Huge smiles all around as Chris and I watched from the sidelines trying to get great pictures. Unfortunately, moving targets aren’t exactly agreeable. They finished there and wanted to do it again but we were nearing closing time and I didn’t want to miss the hay ride. We got stopped at the corn pit and I can’t explain how amazed I am by the draw that corn had for them. Chris buried them both in the corn and they didn’t want to leave even when the last call for the hay ride was made. We forced them out of the corn though and off we all went (corn dust and all) to take a ride around the property to feed the cows and visit the pumpkin patch. Zeke has an affinity for cows. One of his favorite movies these days is Barnyard stating, “I wan watch cows.” He’s also been known to declare that he wants to ride cows, so you can imagine the thrill for him when he was given the opportunity to feed them. Hazel on the other hand preferred discussing the scent of fresh cut hay with the lady narrating the ride. They had fun on the hay ride but were both demanding that they be given the opportunity to return to the corn pit. Sadly, by the time we finished the ride, closing time had arrived. J’s still bragging about winning a snow cone for his air cannon accuracy. Whenever his head gets too big about that I just remind him he broke the bounce pillow. We feel horrible about that, I’ll tell you again, and I hope Donna won’t hold it against us (for long anyway). We are quite thankful for the experience. The kids can now say they got lost in a crop maze, raced rubber duckies, played in a pit of corn and shot an air cannon. Not to mention the fact that they rode on a monster tractor! Yep, that’s a pretty great adventure; especially since we did it as a family! CornFusion is a corn maze worthy of your future attendance. Remember it for next year’s fall planning. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Farm Credit’s Ron O’Connor named National Friend of Extension
By Ginny Mink During the recent October 2015 National Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) Conference in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, Florida’s Ron O’Connor was named a National Friend of Extension for Epsilon Sigma Phi. Each year, ESP recognizes up to four volunteers from across the country - business leaders, volunteers or public servants - that go above and beyond in their assistance to Extension professionals. Extension is the National system of delivering research-based programs and information to the people from Land-Grant Universities. Sumter County Agent Martha Maddox originally nominated Mr. O’Connor for this recognition, which was endorsed by Florida ESP and UF/IFAS Extension. Florida’s Alpha Delta Chapter of ESP, made up of faculty from the University of Florida/IFAS and Florida A&M University, recommended Mr. O’Connor for this national award. A native Floridian and graduate of the University of Florida, Ron O’Connor is deeply devoted to the Extension family and plays a vital role in supporting the total Extension program. Ron said, “I was honored to receive this award at the National level. I accepted this award on behalf of the three Florida Farm Credit Associations and the hard working, resilient, member-borrowers. They provide me the resources that allow me to work with the wonderful professionals in UF/IFAS Extension at both the state and county levels.” He began his career with Farm Credit of Central Florida in 1987 as Marketing Manager and was named National Farm Credit Marketer of the Year in 1997. During his tenure at Farm Credit, the association’s marketing and advertising programs have earned four Crystal Biostar Awards, symbolizing the Farm Credit systems best program in that category. He also chairs the statewide marketing committee, which combines resources of all three Florida Farm Credit Associations to achieve maximum exposure for Farm Credit at Florida’s premier agricultural events. He currently serves as Director of Marketing and Governmental Affairs, where he is charged with coordinating advertising and marketing programs to enhance awareness of the Farm Credit Advantage. Additionally, he tracks legislative and regulatory issues affecting the association and communicates with appropriate organizations and individuals on behalf of Farm Credit as directed by their Directors and President. If there is an UF/IFAS Extension or agriculture event going on in Florida, you will probably see Ron O’Connor there, whether it’s an industry event, Extension, 4-H or FFA, Ron is usually in attendance, and is generally taking pictures to memorialize the event, which he shares openly. Ron serves as a Board member and primary photographer for the Florida Ag Hall of Fame, is a member and Past President of The Florida Agriculture Institute, is Past Vice President of the Florida Citrus Showcase and serves on the Florida FFA Foundation board. Additionally he is a member of the Florida Council of Cooperatives, Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and FNGLA’s Allied Committee, and has received an Honorary FFA Membership and Degree. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Ron has been responsible for providing numerous sponsorships for Extension and 4-H Youth activities throughout his 25 plus years with the Florida Farm Credit System. The sponsorships Ron helps provide through Farm Credit assist in reducing the costs of conducting these educational programs and helps reduce the fees that would otherwise be passed to participating Extension clientele. Through Ron’s efforts, Farm Credit sponsors the annual Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents Young Professional Award, which includes not only a plaque but a monetary award as well; the agent recipients use these funds for local programming or for expanded professional development training. Ron was instrumental in securing a $20,000 sponsorship from the National Farm Credit Council Services for the 2012 NAE4HA conference held in Orlando, which made Farm Credit the biggest sponsor of this conference, and helped reduced the registration cost for Extension agents attending that professional development event. Ron has served in numerous advisory and support roles for Extension groups and activities over the course of his career with Farm Credit. He serves on local 4-H and Extension Advisory committees, as well as area and state wide committees. He is one of the Stakeholder Advisory and Planning Committee members of the Extension Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference. This is the major state wide annual conference for small and alternative farmers. He has not only secured sponsorship funds for this conference from Farm Credit, but serves in the planning advisory capacity for the conference as well. Ron is one of the Extension supporters we can truly always count on for support whether monetarily, advisory or in lobbying efforts on Extensions behalf. Epsilon Sigma Phi is professional fraternity of Extension Educators across the US. It leads the Extension System in providing and facilitating professional development that focuses on the Extension organization and the Extension professional.
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SUCCESSFULLY BRIDGING THE SOUTH TAMPA – PLANT CITY GAP By Jim Frankowiak
Lawrence McClure, one of the new Hillsborough County
Farm Bureau board members, is especially busy these days. He just married Courtney Newsome at Lone Oak Baptist Church. He spends a good deal of time in Tallahassee helping to move forward productive actions relative to the state-funded program that addresses petroleum tanks and ways to help prevent them from negatively impacting the environment. As a vice president at Streamline Environmental in Tampa, he has responsibility for programs and projects under the aegis of the state program referenced earlier. He became a partner at Streamline Environmental in 2014, just eight years after he began with the firm as a summer intern. Courtney is also involved in agriculture, working for Astin Farms. In his free time, McClure likes to hunt, fish and play golf. Born and raised in south Tampa, McClure has successfully blended urban lifestyle characteristics with those closely associated with eastern Hillsborough County where agriculture is the prime focus. That transition for a young man who played soccer and football for H. B. Plant High School was fostered by a relative who also made that transition to become one of the leading agriculturists not only in the county but the State of Florida. That is “Uncle Dennis” to McClure and C. Dennis Carlton to others. Carlton was 2014 Florida Farmer of the Year. Carlton, too, was raised in Tampa and mentored by his cousin, Doyle Carlton, a rancher and state senator. He started farming on his own by renting 55-acres and buying 19 cows in 1974. That was the same year he started in real estate with revenue generated from his real estate brokerage and land sales enabling him to expand his agricultural operations. His operation now includes two large ranches. Carlton & Carlton Ranch has cattle in five counties, while Audubon Ranch has cattle in two counties. Carlton’s pastures cover more than 34,600- acres across six counties with 359-acres of irrigated citrus and 183-acresof irrigated strawberry fields leased out. 78
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“I spent a good deal of time in Hardee County where I have many great memories and where I also learned a good deal of life lessons through my association with my uncle and his diversified agricultural interests,” said McClure. “There was a lot to learn, but that opportunity gave me the whole package from the type of work ethic needed to succeed to the absence of a time clock. You simply do the work when it has to be done without regard for the day or time of day.” “That was a very special opportunity for me,” noted McClure and it came with a few knocks along the way from his relatives and their friends referring to him as “the south Tampa kid trying to play cowboy.” Those experiences coupled with his environmental business activities set a natural stage for McClure to take advantage of the opportunity to join the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. “In addition to the deep appreciation I have developed for agriculture, my environmental work involves the same type of outreach agriculture has with lawmakers these days and our mutual concern for protecting the lands where we live and work. I would like to share my learning experiences with the people who live in south Tampa and other, non-ag areas of the county. They need to better understand contemporary agriculture, both its challenges and opportunities. Becoming a member of the Farm Bureau provides a great opportunity to do that. I see no reason why we can’t bring the story of agriculture into the city. Frankly, I see some substantial opportunities for Farm Bureau to grow its membership in those parts of the county that are unfamiliar with our industry. That will be mutually beneficial.” Welcome aboard Lawrence and we look forward to taking the story of agriculture to south Tampa and other parts of Hillsborough County. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
TONY LOPEZ AND THE FARM BUREAU BOARD: A Good Fit By Jim Frankowiak
Tony Lopez is neither a farmer nor a rancher, but there are a
Ag Operations Management from the University of Florida (UF) while he also became proficient in milking cows through a work-study program at the UF dairy. He continued his education earning a Master of Agribusiness, also from UF.
One is his professional career, with nearly 14 years of service helping farmers and ranchers with their financing needs. He is a Senior Relationship Manager and Team Leader with Rabo AgriFinance, part of the Rabobank Group, founded in the 1890s by farmers as a small cooperative of banks serving their rural communities. Since its founding, Rabobank Group, which currently operates in 48 countries, has become a leading global financial services provider serving more than 10-million customers worldwide. The North American headquarters are located in St. Louis while their international headquarters are in the Netherlands.
Two more reasons for his new relationship with Farm Bureau came about through his selection to participate in the Wedgworth Leadership Institute at UF. Founded in 1989, the institute develops and refines the leadership capabilities of those involved in agriculture and natural resources in Florida, outside of the state and in other countries during a 22-month period. “Through my travels my class and I were able to visit our international headquarters in the Netherlands during our international trip,” said Lopez.
number of good reasons for him to have been selected to join the board of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau.
Lopez’s office in Plant City is one of 50 Rabo AgriFinance offices across the U.S. Their offices are located in rural towns, agricultural centers and farming regions. The clients he and his colleagues serve are located throughout Florida. “Our office locations are where our clients live and work, helping us to understand their businesses through changing economic and agricultural cycles,” said Lopez. “Even though our company has grown significantly over the years, it has remained a cooperative organization, operating on the same principles and with the same dedication it had from the very beginning. Agricultural finance is all we do – it is our sole focus.” Born in Denver and raised in Winter Haven, Lopez has two sisters that live in Denver and two sisters living in Winter Haven. He was involved with sports in high school, primarily football and wrestling. Sports played a big part in his life, but his interest in agriculture came about at an early age when he would visit his grandparents who worked at Adams Packing in Auburndale. “I remember being treated to a glass of Florida OJ with each visit,” said Lopez. Following graduation from Winter Haven High School, Lopez earned an undergraduate degree in WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“Part of the Wedgworth Program was the preparation of a letter to myself, outlining initiatives I would take in the future to enhance and develop my leadership skills,” noted Lopez. “In my letter, I detailed becoming more actively involved in agriculture and becoming more aware of the challenges facing our industry. Becoming involved with Farm Bureau will help me in that regard.” Additionally, one of Lopez’s Wedgworth classmates was Will Womack, vice president of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, who nominated Lopez for consideration as a new board member and encouraged his participation in various Farm Bureau outreach programs over the last few years. Lopez resides in Lakeland with his wife Angela and their three children – Layla, Luke and Levi – just across the county line from the Springhead area of Plant City. In his limited free time, he enjoys fishing and playing golf with his regular golf partner Womack. For more information about Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and its service to agriculture and the community, visit: www.hcfarmbureau.org. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green Photo by Jennifer Pohlhaus
Bushcraft Fishing Pole The Pole:
Nature provides some amazing natural resources to humanity. This month we will make our own fishing pole from natural resources that are indigenous to Florida.
River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) can be found in the pine forests of central Florida as a component of the understory or midstory that offers soil that is saturated or prone to frequent flooding.
Material:
River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) – for fishing pole
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Cut a straight piece of cane about 10 feet long; cut the wider bottom end close to a joint (culm) so the bottom end remains sealed.
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Trim the leaves off as close as possible to the cane stem. Smooth rough edges with sandpaper Hang the pole by the thin tip of the pole and allow it to dry for several weeks (should change to a tan color) *If the pole begins to warp, attach a heavy object to the bottom of the pole to force it to dry straight.
The Line: The long leaves of the Spanish Bayonet (Yucca filamentosa) contain the strongest natural fibers of any plant native to North America. Most commonly found in full sun, welldrained sandy soils, such as beach scrub and dunes, but can also be found as an understory component in pine barrens and dry prairies. The correct species will be characterized by white filaments along the edges of the leaf, similar to that which is found on saw palmetto.
Spanish Bayonet (Yucca filamentosa) – for fishing line
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) – for fish hook
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Gather four or five leaves from the base of the plant. Please do not gather more than you need. Split the leaf into thinner strips that are easy to work with (½ to ¼ inch strips) Grab each end of the strip and gently roll and twist the leaf between your fingers (as if winding thread) to separate the fibers of the leaf. You should end up with a large pile of hair like fibers.
The Hook:
If you hike much in Florida, you may have seen trees with monster thorns on them, and maybe even thought, “That would make a good weapon or fish hook.” The Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) has robust thorns that can reach 10cm in length and have a history of use as nails on ships, spikes on fish traps, and fish hooks. You can find The Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) in the moist soil of river valleys, cypress swamps and flood plains, Harvest the red thorns, they are the strongest. Choose a large thorn that has one or more smaller barbs growing out of it, they will already be shaped like a fish hook, the smaller thorns on the side will be what hooks the fish.
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Trim the bottom of the thorn where it was attached to the tree, to smooth it out.
Using the Pole:
Unlike conventional fishing, this method is used for catching fish you intend to eat. The design and nature of the hook will probably kill the fish. The principle is to get the fish to swallow the hook so it lodges into the stomach or esophagus enough to land fish you intended to consume. 84
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fiber into groups of 3 or 4 strands per 4 Separate group. (More strands for thicker cordage) the fibers is a two step process in 5 Twisting which two groups of fibers are twisted in one
direction, then both groups are twisted together in the opposite direction causing tension that will keep the cordage from unraveling.
two groups of 3 or 4 strands clockwise 6 Twist (INDIVIDUALLY) (Twist A) the two groups that were made in Twist 7 Twist A together counterclockwise (Twist B) to form your finished cord.
you are an inch or two from the end of 8 When the fibers, you will need to add more fibers to
make the cordage longer. The new fibers can be added to lengthen the group by twisting in the (Twist A) direction.
the process until you have a length of 9 Repeat cordage a foot or two longer than your pole.
There are a few ways to attach the thorn hook to the fishing line.
i) If you are not using cordage that was made from natural materials and are using very thin monofilament, you can gently scratch a groove in the top of the thorn for the monofilament to ride in when you tie the thorn to the fishing line. ii) Natural fiber cordage is often much thicker than manmade monofilament and is easier to attach by creating a loop n the cordage and running the bottom barbs through the fibers in each side of the loop. After piercing the cordage with the thorn barbs, unravel a portion of the cordage enough to slip the long shank of the thorn through it and re-tighten the cordage around the shank and into the grove. iii)Some thorns will be large enough that you can drill a hole through the top to create an eye for the fishing line.
Bait is typically used for this type of fishing pole and would depend on the resources available, try checking under logs for worms and grubs and along river beds for frogs, snails, lizards, and various insects. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
A Closer Look
by Sean Green
A Brief History of Florida Citrus - Part 1 Citrus has played a dominant role in Florida’s history and economic development. Our subtropical environment accommodates citrus cultivation so well that it’s hard to regard citrus as an exotic species, but oddly enough, there is not one species of citrus that is native to America. The introduction of citrus to the Americas is widely credited in the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and his 15th century expeditions that lead to discovery of the new world. It is not by chance that citrus was soon cultivated in the new world and specifically in Florida with early Spanish explorers and colonists. A closer look at the historic roots of citrus fruit may shed light on how this jewel of the orient became the Sunshine State’s most important agribusiness and why modern threats such as citrus greening are a big concern. It is widely acknowledged that all citrus species are native to Southeast Asia where they are found uncultivated in the wild. Authorities now have molecular evidence to confirm that every citrus cultivar is ultimately derived from four ancestral species: • The Citron (Citrus medica) is believed to be the purest of the four and highly fragrant with a dry pulp and thick rind. • The Pomelo (Citrus maxima) is as large or larger than a grapefruit but not as bitter. • The Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) resembles common oranges but is smaller, less spherical, and sweeter. • The Papeda has been classified as a subgenus of Citrus, although the fruit is bitter, this subgenus is an important rootstock for breeding disease resistant and frost tolerant citrus hybrids. From historic evidence we know that citrus has been cultivated and perfected in China for thousands of years, long before its introduction to European civilizations and probably well before written history. Some sources mention finding seeds from the citron (Citrus medica) in Mesopotamian excavations dating back to 4000 B.C. From the ancient Treatise of Theophrastus, successor to Aristotle and widely considered the “father of botany”, we have documented evidence that the Citron (Citrus medica) and Lemon (Citrus × limon), were known by the early Greeks and Romans; furthermore, the Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, described Citron (Citrus medica) in his Natural History, published around 77 A.D. Consistently, these ancient writers revered the citrus for its use in protecting cloth from moths, as a poison antidote, a perfume, and numerous uses in medicine. The Silk Road is the ancient caravan trade route connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. It was critical in the economic, political and cultural exchanges between the Orient and the West. Initially, it functioned to transport silk, and spices, but quickly matured to include the trade of Indian cottons, Arabian coffee and African ivory. Because goods had to pass through many traders along the Silk Road, each of them making a small profit, by the time the goods reached Europe, they became exceedingly more expensive than the price that was paid at its origin. In addition to the land route, the Tang dynasty (618 – 907) also developed the maritime Silk Route through the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Persia, Mesopotamia (via the Euphrates River), Arabia, Egypt, Aksum, and around the Horn of Africa. The maritime routes made the trade of Chinas advanced agriculture more practical and during the Muslim conquests that began in the 7th century hybrid crops such as the sour orange (Citrus × aurantium) were introduced to Europe. By the end of the 12th century, the sour orange was cultivated in the area of Seville, Spain, and remained the only citrus fruit in Europe for the next 500 years. A 12th century Chinese manuscript, Han Yen-Chih’s Chu lu, regarded as the oldest surviving book on oranges, describes 27 cultivars (varieties) of both sweet and sour oranges, references citrons and kumquats, and describes nursery methods, grove management, and diseases, some of the most popular cultivars such as the hybrid Sweet Orange (Citrus × sinensis) and the non-hybrid Nanfengmiju (Citrus reticulata Blanco) were traded later along new trade routes.
its trade route. The Ottomans’ levied high trade taxes on European goods heading east. Europeans began looking for alternate maritime routes directly to India and Asia. Portuguese explorers had already dominated a route through the Indian Ocean that provided a direct connection between Europe and India, leaving Spanish explorers with but one option, to sail West in search of a direct route to Asia to open the door to the spice trade for the Spanish Crown. Christopher Columbus thought he had found the shores of the East Indies (South and Southeast Asia) in 1492 when he made landfall on an island in the Bahamas that he later named San Salvador.” Columbus continued to explore Northern Cuba and then the island of Hispaniola (Haiti), and attempted to establish a settlement, La Navidad, before returning to Spain. After returning to Spain for a year, Columbus sailed back to Hispaniola (Haiti), accompanied by Ponce de León and other explorers. Seventeen ships in total transported seed, livestock, explorers and thousands of colonists that would establish the first permanent European settlement in the New World. Chronicles such as Historia de Las Indias by historian Bartolomé de las Casas describe the first decades of colonization in Hispaniola and the West Indies (Caribbean Basin) and include the mention of three types of citrus; “oranges, lemons, and citrons,” that were brought with Columbus on the second voyage in 1493. The native Taino in Hispaniola were exploited as slave labor for Spanish crops, livestock, and gold mining enterprises. These new revenue streams for the Spanish crown stimulated slave expeditions throughout the Bahamas and possibly parts of Florida from the first year of settlement. By 1514 citrus cultivation, in particular, had become successful in Santo Domingo, Hispaniola as the naturalist Oviedo y Valdéz testifies: “Orange trees from Castile were brought to this island of Hispaniola [Haiti], and they have multiplied so abundantly that now they are past counting; the fruit is very good, both the sweet and the sour. “ The 1513 expeditions of Juan Ponce de León led him to the shores of Florida near what is now known as St Augustine. The settlement was officially established in 1565 and in a correspondence to the Audiencia (Royal Court) of Santo Domingo dated April 2, 1579, Pedro Menéndez Márquez, then governor of Florida confirms the success of cultivating Spanish crops in Florida; “There are beginning to be many of the fruits of Spain, such as figs, pomegranates, oranges, grapes in great quantity; ...” In parts of New Spain, which include Florida and Mexico, the oranges that were brought to the Americas appear to have become naturalized. José de Acosta, a Spanish 16thcentury Jesuit missionary and naturalist in Latin America, archives his observations that “those trees that have most aboundantly fructified, be orange trees, limons, citrons, and others of that sort.” and that “there are at this day, as it were, whole woods and forests of orange trees.” Acosta makes it clear that the orange trees were not planted in the woods, but rather “ it did come by chaunce, for that oranges being fallen to the ground, and rotten, their seeds did spring, and of those which the water had carried away into diverse partes, these woods grew so thicke.” For the next 150 years or so Florida settlements grew slowly and cultivated oranges were generally household gardens, small community farms or wild stands.
When the Turks of the Ottoman Empire overtook Constantinople in 1453, they gained control over the Middle East and portions of WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving From Our Family to Yours
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FLORIDA STRAWBERRY GROWERS UNVEIL DIVERSE MARKETING PROGRAM Social Media and More, Much More By Jim Frankowia The Plant City – Dover area is well known as the “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World,” a title that didn’t come easy and one that’s not kept by standing still. With that in mind, the board of directors of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, which represents the majority of strawberry growers in the area, recently signed off on a new multi-faceted marketing program designed to keep that title exactly as it is for the foreseeable future. One of the major emphasis areas of the program is a blend of digital, social media and experiential marketing under the aegis of Isabel Laessig, perhaps known better as Family Foodie, and her mission to bring back Sunday supper around the family table in every home. Sunday Supper is her web-based and trademarked approach to re-establish this tradition of weekly family gathering. She is accomplishing this via the web and a team of bloggers, web log authors, who share her desire. It’s an established program that enjoys the involvement and support of countless, major brands in this country. And now, the FSGA and strawberries from the area are part of that overall initiative, which by the way reaches multi-millions through a variety of web-based messaging annually. Laessig and her team are involved in a variety of activities on behalf of area strawberry growers. Digitally, the group will develop and oversee custom contests to create excitement and awareness, a blogger industry tour, media day and tour, restaurant partnerships, varied strategies to enhance consumer strawberry purchases and thereby eat healthy, the provision and distribution of strawberry feature articles and recipes. In addition, the group will oversee, manage and continually the FSGA’s diversified presence on the web. 88
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“Traditional advertising was somewhat of a shotgun approach to marketing,” said the FSGA’s Marketing Manager Sue Harrell, also known as Strawberry Sue. “The web has helped us rifle shot information about Plant City strawberries directly to current berry customers and those with the potential of regular buyers. That’s an environment that changes daily and Isabel and her colleagues will help us stay abreast of new and emerging opportunities and keeping our information both topical and up-to-date. In other words, our marketing is now firmly in the big leagues.” The FSGA will also “be on the air” through the In Store Audio Network, a broadcast service that plays a pre-recorded message to consumers while they are food shopping. “We will be using this service for two, one-week campaigns at 800 different food markets to support our growers during the season. Potential buyers will be hearing about Florida strawberries while they are food shopping,” said Harrell. Another part of the FSGA’s new marketing initiative is a partnership with the Florida Strawberry Festival on a new, high end strawberry recipe book. This 160-page, hard cover book, often referred to as a coffee table-type book, will retail for $24.95 and it will include more than 75 recipes and full-page, color photos that will illustrate recipes. But there’s more, and it just took place at Kissimmee where strawberries from the Plant City-Dover area were part of the 2015 World Food Championships as an infused ingredient in the dessert category. “The World Food Championships coincides with the November kick-off WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
of our picking season for strawberries and is a perfect venue for giving consumers creative and innovative ideas for using our berries in dessert creations.” Part of the judging panel for desserts at the event included Harrell and FSGA Executive Director Kenneth Parker. Celebrity Chef Laurie Figone also showcased her strawberry daiquiri truffle with rum and spiced whipped cream at the World Food Championships and has included that recipe in her latest cookbook. Strawberry Sue and her team continue their travel to trade shows and other gatherings where there’s potential for reaching consumers and expanding the retail footprint for strawberries grown in the Plant CityDover area. “We take our title very seriously and will do whatever it takes to keep it -- not only in marketing but in ongoing support of research that continues to help our growers meet the challenges they face through their commitment to producing the best and most delicious strawberries in the world,” said Parker. For more information about Florida strawberries, including recipes; visit: www.flastrawberry.com.
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Smokin’ WE’RE
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“Farm Credit is easy to work with and meets our needs.” — Shad and Billy Simmons
Shad and Billy Simmons grow strawberries on land Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 — both are past presidents of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.
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NEW PLANT CITY EDC PRESIDENT BRINGS EXPERTISE AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO HIS POST By Jim Frankowiak
Jake Austin
H
e may be the new president of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), but Jake Austin knows the territory. A native of Lakeland, he spent nearly two years based in Plant City as the project manager for the economic development program introduced in 2012 as part of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. He also supervised Adam Myers during his recent stint in Plant City as part of that same program. In addition to managing that effort, he was part of the team of state and local partners that helped to create755 new jobs and nearly $164 million in capital investment through support of various expansion and attraction projects. While the new Plant City EDC is barely three months old, it has and continues to move with surprising speed. Funded in part by the City of Plant City with the balance of the EDC’s funds coming from the private sector, “It is our plan to become self-sustaining as quickly as possible and not depend upon any city funding going forward,” said the Plant City EDC Chairman and former Mayor Randy Larson. The new entity formed very quickly as a result of a 20-member exploratory committee that worked tirelessly from this past June until the new EDC’s by-laws were approved in late September. “This was a diverse and committed group of 20 that met in person every two weeks to explore the feasibility of such an organization for Plant City,” said Larson. “Many things were considered from the economy, emerging infrastructure enhancements, area interest plus good counsel from Jeff Chamberlain and Steve Scruggs with the Lakeland EDC. Our success to date in generating interest and engagement is remarkable.” Thus far, 32 businesses have joined the EDC as board members with annual commitments of $5,000 each, while 10 other entities have become general members, each agreeing to pay $2,500 annually. It should be noted that level of membership has taken place with minimal organized membership outreach and no EDC employees, strictly the efforts of the organizing committee and initial members. The organization’s executive committee, chaired by Larson, includes nine voting members: Larson, chairman; Vice-Chairman David Sullivan of Platinum Bank; Secretary/Treasurer Keith Smith with Trinkle, Redman, Coton, Davis & Smith, P.A. and At-Large members Bob Appleyard of Lakeside Station Logistics Park, Yvonne Fry of Fryed Egg Productions, Steve Hurley of Stingray Chevrolet, Karen Kerr with South Florida Baptist Hospital, Nate Kilton of Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth Management, LLC and Jeff Lucas of Central Florida Development. Plant City Mayor Rick Lott and City Manager Mike Herr are ex officio members of the committee able to participate in discussions, but not vote. “We have reached our immediate goal to identify and hire a full-time director of the EDC who will become its president,” said Larson. “We had hoped to have that position filled before the end of the year, 92
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but were fortunate to find and hire Jake is less time.” Austin, who holds an undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship from Western Kentucky University (WKU), is a six year U.S. Air Force veteran and was deployed several times to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was an economic development intern with the Bowling Green, Kentucky Area Chamber of Commerce while at WKU. Upon graduation he became a Workforce Development Specialist for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but quickly rejoined the Bowling Green Chamber where he was promoted to Associate Project Manager with a year. Those varied roles provide him with hands-on experience with job growth initiatives, business development activities, development of research, calculations and other inputs for chamber responses to Requests for Information and Requests for Proposals. He was also involved in site and community visit preparation, coordination and execution. Most recently with the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation Austin was director of business retention and expansion with primary focus on quality job generation and capital investment for Tampa and Hillsborough County. In this role, Austin led a team of business development managers, including the former Plant City focused manager, Adam Myers, who remains employed at the EDC within the business recruitment department. During his term as director, 13 expansions-- including eight headquarters operations-- were announced and are expected to generate more than 3,200 jobs and nearly $170-million in capital investment. Austin’s department is the single point of contact connecting Hillsborough County companies to the various organizations and individuals that support economic development within the community. His additional responsibilities maintaining critical relationships with public and private sector partners, as well as those organizations and individuals who invest annually in the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. “Jake’s experiences and achievements in Kentucky and with the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation have prepared him well for his new post here in Plant City,” said Larson. “We are fortunate to have been able to identify such a well-qualified individual who is also very familiar with the Plant City area, what it has to offer and the potential this area holds for existing and new businesses.” Larson wants it known that the new EDC is not a replacement for development efforts of Hillsborough County or the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. “The city will continue its membership in the Tampa Hillsborough EDC and the chamber will proceed with its support of community growth. The new EDC will focus on growth of both existing businesses and businesses that will come to the areas as a result of EDC initiatives. This is a broad-based effort keyed to growth that will include matching our assets with the growth needs of organizations within and outside the Plant City area. “Growth, whether of companies already established in Plant City or WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
those who relocate here, helps us all,” said Larson. “I believe everyone would agree that growth is a far better option than raising taxes to help fund city government.” The EDC’s initial appraisal of Plant City’s growth assets includes logistics, transportation and infrastructure. “We want to determine what can and must be done to foster growth and build support from among those companies and entities that can enhance out assets and attractiveness.
We Help Your Business
GROW.
“We have no singular industry focus for our efforts. Our mantra has been a rising tide floats all boats and that is so true of growth. It has the potential to help all of us, not just business or local government, but residents as well,” said Larson. “As companies grow they need more employees and that translates to jobs. Those employees and their interests also have to be considered as we look to foster growth. Their education and their interests outside of work have to be part of what we have to offer.” “Many of today’s high demand positions include the creative class,” noted Fry, a member of the exploratory and executive committees. “We are reaching out to the existing creative resources locally and are engaging them in this overall effort. While those positions are vital, creative class activities such as the arts are appealing to many and must be an integral part of our effort.”
Web Design Graphic Design Lead Generation Online Marketing Content Development Branding
“We will work to engage our local educational resources so they, too, will be part of our offering,” said Larson. “Instructional programs that help prepare our residents, regardless of their age, for careers that match the needs of local businesses and those we hope to attract to our area are essential. “Success for the EDC is beneficial to all and we plan to take whatever steps are necessary to help make our goals reality,” said Larson. For more information about the new Plant City Economic Development Corporation, contact Jake Austin at 863-712-0655 or via email at jaustin@plantcityedc.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
exocreative.com 929.500.1396 301 S. Collins Street, Plant City
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