Fresh Take

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 1 of FOG’s Food Safety for Farmers Podcast Series, Dr. Keith Schneider, Professor and Extension Specialist in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, discusses microbiology concepts that help farmers better understand how to produce food safely.  Tune in to learn about:  The Produce Safety Rule  Problematic foodborne pathogens  The...

Send us Fan Mail Aviva Asher and Daniel Robleto are founders and owners of Nicoya Farm, a family fruit and vegetable farm located in Gainesville, Florida. In 2015 they began Nicoya Farm on leased land in South Florida and transitioned the farm to collectively owned land in SE Gainesville.    In this episode, hear about:  - How Aviva and Daniel got started farming  - Their shift from leasing to pur...

Send us Fan Mail Fleet Farming is a non-profit urban agriculture program of IDEAS For Us located in Orlando, Florida. With a mission to empower all generations to grow food to increase local food accessibility, Fleet Farming transforms the average American lawn into a bio-verse, productive micro farms and edible gardens.   In this episode, Fleet Farming Program Manager Caroline Chomanics, tells us...

Send us Fan Mail The use of technology to solve challenges in organic agriculture is increasing. Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs at The Organic Center, joins us for a conversation about agricultural technology in organic farming and the upcoming Hack@Organic event.  In this episode, hear about:  - Challenges that sustainable and organic farmers often face when growing crops  - How Hack...

Send us Fan Mail The Sustainable Living Project (SLP) is an urban farm and education center located in Tampa, Florida. Georgea Snyder, Director of SLP, speaks about her experience and how current programs at the farm are helping educate the community.   In this episode, hear about:  - Educational opportunities that the Sustainable Living Project offers  - Implementing “learning by doing” strategie...

Send us Fan Mail Aaron and Derek, Founders and Owners of Handsome Harvest Farm, discuss their experience starting a farm and share thoughts on how to become more knowledgeable in organic and sustainable farming practices.  In this episode, hear about:  - How Derek and Aaron got into sustainable agriculture  - Ways to get started and develop experience in organic farming  - Considerations when scal...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh Take welcomes Wendy Wesley, Registered Dietician and Nutritionist, for a conversation about how to be healthier with food in the New Year.  In this episode, Wendy shares with us:   - Reprioritizing time for healthier “shopping, chopping and eating”  - Foods we should add to our diets  - What to look for when shopping for groceries  - The importance of connecting with our foo...

Send us Fan Mail The holidays are here! This season, more consumers are looking for sustainable, organic and local gifts. Jillian Childs, Founder of Florida Farm Finder, and Juan Carlos Rodriguez give us some ideas on how to find and support local growers and businesses through gift-giving this holiday season.  In this episode, hear about:  - How Florida Farm Finder is connecting farmers and local...

Send us Fan Mail Quality Certification Services (QCS) is the certification program of Florida Organic Growers (FOG), which began certifying organic growers in 1989 and received its USDA accreditation in 2001. QCS has grown to provide a variety of quality certification and verification options that can help companies market their products as certified organic, promote sustainability as well as enha...

Send us Fan Mail The Florida Farmers’ Market Association (FFMA) was established in 2019 with the mission to connect the vast array of farmers markets in Florida into one membership-driven network and provide training and resources for vendors, market managers, and consumers. Since then, FFMA has grown its membership and offerings.  In this episode, hear about:  - The history of FFMA and its origin...

Send us Fan Mail Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Inc. (FOG) was established in 1987 with the mission to support and promote organic, regenerative, and sustainable agriculture. Since then, FOG’s staff and programs have grown greatly.   In this episode, hear from FOG staff members Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Andi Emrich and Kyndra Love, as they discuss the history of FOG and some of i...

Send us Fan Mail Grow Next Door launched in April 2020 with a mission to create opportunities of access to farming and to support creating a sustainable planet through intentional agriculture. The Grow Next Door platform helps South Florida residents connect directly with local farmers to buy organic and sustainably grown produce. Jonathan Cox, Founder and CEO, talks with us about his journey and...

Send us Fan Mail Florida is historically and still currently an agricultural state. However, with rapid urbanization, the food systems landscape is changing. Currently, 44 of the 67 counties are classified as “urban” by the USDA, and over 87 percent of residents now live in urban areas.  In this episode, learn about:  - How urban agriculture is defined  - What urban farming looks like in Florida ...

Send us Fan Mail Zion Farms & Market started in 2016 on a 20-acre farm in Apopka, Florida, with a mission to establish urban farms throughout Central Florida and be an affordable source of organic produce and education to the community at large. Registered as a 501(c)(3) organization, through collaboration with other urban farmers in the Central Florida area the alliance was able to break grou...

Send us Fan Mail Interest in local food systems has been steadily increasing as shown by the growing supply of and demand for local foods. Some evidence of this growth includes the number of farmers’ markets that have nearly tripled, and the initiation of thousands of farm-to-school programs across the U.S. Additionally, local foods have often topped consumer and food professional surveys of food...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, hear about two unique farms in South Florida that are providing support for their communities: Empower farms, a certified organic and eco-friendly farm for people of all abilities, and Aloha Redland, a female-led farm blending art and nutrition for a more vibrant local community.    Learn about:  - How their CSA programs were started and how they have evolved  - T...

Send us Fan Mail Frog Song Organics, located in Alachua County, started in 2011 with a mission to provide nutritious foods to the local community through sustainable farming. One way they do this is through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.   In this episode, hear about:  - What led Frog Song to start their CSA  - How their CSA model has evolved over time  - Tips for farmers who...

Send us Fan Mail Community supported agriculture is one model through which producers and consumers can be more connected. We sat down with Rick Martinez, Founder of Sweetwater Organic Farm, which is thought to be the first CSA in Florida, to talk about his experience with this food systems model.  In this episode, hear about:  - The history of the CSA model at Sweetwater Organic Farm  - Challenge...

Send us Fan Mail Every day, there are millions of children and adults who do not get the meals they need to thrive. According to Feeding America, Florida is 3rd in the nation with the highest number of people living in food-insecure households—over 2,500,000 people.   In this episode, Katie Delaney, Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) Co-Manager, and Andi Emrich, Florida Farmers Market Association Coordinato...

Send us Fan Mail In our 50th episode, hear from Elizabeth Whitlow and Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez as they discuss Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC™) and how this form of regenerative agriculture may be one solution to the climate crisis.    Tune in to learn about:  - Regenerative agriculture’s place in organic and sustainable agriculture systems  - Ways that regenerative organic agriculture can...

Send us Fan Mail Agriculture has an enormous impact on global ecosystems. As effects from climate change become more visible, it is important to address agriculture’s impact and the potential solutions that come from implementing organic and sustainable production methods.  In this episode, Dr. Shade and Dr. Rodriguez discuss:    - How organic agriculture can mitigate climate change problems  - Co...

Send us Fan Mail There is a lot of misinformation surrounding climate change. In this episode, Mary-Elizabeth Estrada and Dr. Ram Balasubramanian discuss three climate myths:   Myth 1 - Beef consumption is bad for climate change.   Meat and dairy specifically account for around 14.5% of global greenhouse emissions. By using sustainable practices when producing meat and dairy products, greenhouse e...

Send us Fan Mail There are a lot of myths surrounding food safety. In this episode, our guest speaker Dr. Schneider breaks down the truth about these often-heard food safety suggestions:    -  Always wash your fruits and vegetables, even when pre-washed. - Wash raw chicken before cooking.  - Freezing food kills harmful bacteria.  - It’s okay to thaw meat on the counter.  - Check if your meat is do...

Send us Fan Mail Gardening in summer can be a challenge, especially with the Florida heat. But if you have plan, growing a summer garden is possible.  In this episode, our guest speaker Dr. Rodriguez discusses:  - starting a garden in summer,  - what to grow in your garden,  - purchasing seeds and seedlings,   - and methods for growing in different areas.  When creating a plan for your garden, sta...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Tatiana Sanchez about strategies for keeping organic gardens healthy.  Dr. Sanchez gives tips on: - understanding and maintaining soil health, - strategies for preventing disease, - managing pests in your soil,  - and how to correctly manage plant nutrients in your garden. When starting your garden, it’s important to begin with a so...