Networking and Resources

Moving towards a more sustainable food system requires stakeholders in the agricultural community work together. A focal point of the Florida SARE program is to broaden the network of partners that identify with sustainable agriculture and participate in SARE funded activities. We encourage and facilitate collaboration between UF, FAMU, extension services, local service providers, producers, state agencies, and processing and distribution facilities. Become a part of the Florida sustainable agriculture network by sending your information to Kelly Monaghan, kmon913@ufl.edu.

Networking Contacts by County:

Resources

Florida agriculture offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities not found in many other states. Here you will find educational resources -some tailored specifically to Florida, and some from other regions that contain information that may be applied in Florida. Resources for extension or other educational programs are also available. Submit additional resources to Kelly Monaghan, kmon913@ufl.edu.

• Solutions for Your Life: University of Florida/IFAS Extension website. This website offers users the latest information about various topics relevant to their daily lives, all free. 
• College of Engineering Sciences Technology and Agriculture: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's Extension website. Here you will find useful publications and information about upcoming Extension programs.
• Florida Department of Agriculture: Your comprehensive guide to Florida agriculture.
• Florida Chef: Find recipes centered around Florida grown foods and learn about the different food groups.
• Fresh from Florida Kids: Kid-Friendly recipes and age appropriate nutrition information.
• Farmer’s Markets: Find a Farmer's Market near you.
• Marketing and Small Farm Outreach: FAMU’s Marketing and Small Farm Outreach program.
• MarketMaker: Connecting willing markets and quality sources of food from farm and fisheries to fork in Florida.
• USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass: This online resource is a multi-media narrative with stories, pictures and video about USDA's support for local and regional food systems. It includes an interactive map of USDA-supported local and regional food activities in all 50 states. 
• Map the Meal Gap: Check out Feeding America's interactive map to learn more about community level hunger across America and the food banks that serve them.  This map reflects 2009 data but will be  updated with recently released 2010 USDA and Census Bureau data in early 2012. 
• Plant Hardiness Zone Map: This updated zoning map uses better weather data and more interactive technology, the online map has 26 zones that are searchable by zip code.
• Food Environment Atlas: This atlas assembles statistics on food environment indicators to stimulate research on the determinants of food choices and diet quality, and provides a spatial overview of a community's ability to access healthy food and its success in doing so.
• Moving Food Along the Value Chain: Innovations in Regional Food Distribution: This USDA report highlights eight food distributors/food hubs around the country.
• eXtension: eXtension is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America.
• SARE 2011/2012 Report from the Field: This biennial report highlight's SARE's recent cream-of-the-crop grantees and their work. It relates stories of innovation from every corner of the US in key areas of American agriculture. 
• eXtension Webinars: Free webinars are offered daily through eXtension.org and recorded for later viewing if you can’t make it live.
• Sweetpotato Production for Kentucky: This resource comes from the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Kentucky and was funded by a Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grant. While the guide is written specifically for Kentucky, there’s plenty of great information that is transferable to Florida.

Local Food Guides:

• Sarasota County Local and Organic Food Guide (PDF)
• Coming Soon! Orlando Local Food Resource Guide
• FarmPlate: catalogs more than 30,000 businesses nationwide that subscribe to sustainable and eco-conscious practices

Florida Grown Availability Charts:

• FreshPoint

Agriculture News Updates:

• AgClips: Provides short articles featuring agriculture news, rural development news, and federal and international policy issues.
• AgriFeeds: Allows you to filter agriculture news and events from multiple sources to get the information you want.
• FarmPolicy: Summarizes farm policy news.
• Research & Extension Highlights: Designed to bring you the latest in sustainable ag research and extension programs around Florida.

Resource Guides:

• Cutting through the red tape: A resource guide for local food policy practitioners and organizers: This guide offers policies and tools related to production, processing, distribution, consumption, and food waste recovery. Toolkits were created by various non-profits and universities to guide city-level food system planning through policy and zoning. Pilot projects are also presented as examples.
• Land Use Planning: Basics to Big Picture: This web site has been created to provide a centralized location for the dissemination of information related to growth management and land use planning, with a specific focus on how to incorporate concepts of sustainability into the planning process. The site offers four modules intended to serve as an educational resource for planners, local elected officials, NGOs,state agencies, and any other interested citizens and stakeholders.
• Green for Greens: Finding public funding for healthy food retail: This resource from the National Policy and Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity, Public Health and Law Policy provides informaiton about how to find resources at the local, state, and federal level to assist with economic development through food retailing. 
• The potential for urban agriculture in New York City: Growing capacity, food security, and green infrastructure: This study out of Columbia University is a comprehensive assessment of the potential for urban agriculture in NYC. They specifically look at the capacity of NYC for urban crop production and the potential benefits of urban agriculture.
• Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget: This family-friendly resource is available in English and Spanish from Sesame Street. It is a multimedia program designed to help support families who have children between the ages of 2 and 8 and are coping with uncertain or limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Parents and caregivers can also get tips for teaching their children healthy eating habits. There are also resources available for providers working with families who need help getting healthy food.
• Local Food for Local Government -Considerations in Giving Preference to Locally Grown Food: This repor from Public Health Law and Policy looks at when and how agencies that are using tax dollars to purchase goods can give preference to locally grown food. It addresses state and local laws, funding restrictions, and other considerations.
• Food Hub Resource Guide: The guide is an extensive collection of information and resources, providing background on everything needed to develop or participate in a regional food hub. The guide highlights economic contributions food hubs make to local communities and the role they play in expanding regional food systems. It also outlines funding opportunities, support resources, best practices, strategies to address challenges and more.

Alachua County:     

Alachua County Extension Services
2800 NE 39 Aveainesville, FL 32609
352-955-2402
alachua@ifas.ufl.edu
http://alachua.ifas.ufl.edu/

UF/IFAS Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program
Entomology and Nematology Department
Norman C. Leppla
P.O. Box 110620
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
352-273-3951 (office)
ncleppla@ufl.edu
http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Conservation District
5709 NW 13 St
Gainesville, FL 32653
352-376-7414

Baker County:

Baker County Extension Services
1025 West Macclenny Ave
Macclenny, FL 32063
904-259-3520
baker@ifas.ufl.edu
http://baker.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA- Farm Service Agency, NRCS
260 US Highway 301 N
Baldwin, FL 32234
904-266-0088

Bay County:

Bay County Extension Services
2728 E 14 St
Panama City, FL 32401
850-784-6105
bay@ifas.ufl.edu
http://bay.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA- Farm Service Agency, NRCS
1424 Jackson Ave
Chipley, FL 32428
850-638-1982

Bradford COunty:

Bradford County Extension Services
2266 North Temple Ave
Starke, FL 32091
904-966-6224
bradford@ifas.ufl.edu
http://bradford.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA- Farm Service Agency, NRCS
5709 NW 13 St
Gainesville, FL 32653
352-376-7414

Brevard County:

Brevard County Extension Service
3695 Lake Drive
Cocoa, FL 32926
321-633-1702, ext 235
habeels@ufl.edu
http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu

Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN)
Cammie Donaldson, Executive Director
P.O. Box 972
Melbourne, FL 32902-0972
321-917-1960
http://www.FloridaNativeNurseries.org
The Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN) is the largest native nursery association in the United States. We support the preservation and conservation of native plants in their natural habitats and encourage the planting of native species in landscaping

Broward County:

Broward County Extension Services
3245 College Ave
Davie, FL 33314
954-357-5270
eremillet@broward.org
http://www.broward.org/parks/extension

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Rural Development
420 S State Road 7
Royal Palm Beach, FL
561-792-2727

Calhoun County:

Calhoun County Extension Services
207816 Central Ave East, Suite 1
Blountstown, FL 32424
850-674-8323
calhoun@ifas.ufl.edu
http://calhoun.ifas.ufl.edu

USDA - Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Conservation District
17413 NW Leonard St
Blountstown, FL 32424
850-674-8388

Charlotte County:

Charlotte County Extension Services
25550 Harbor View Rd, Suite 3
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
941-764-4340
charlotte@ifas.ufl.edu
http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Rural Development
3434 Hancock Bridge Pkwy
Ft Myers, FL 33903
239-997-7331

Worden Farm 
Eva and Chris Worden
34900 County Road 74
Punta Gorda, FL 33982-2516
941-637-4874
http://www.wordenfarm.com
Worden Farm is a certified organic farm. The Worden's frequently offer educational programs and collaborate with UF/IFAS on regional events and workshops.

Citrus County:

Citrus County Extension Services
3650 West Sovereign Path, Suite 1
Lecanto, FL 34461
352-527-5700
joan.bradshaw@bocc.citrus.fl.us
http://citrus.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA -Farm Service Agency
7620 SR 471 , Suite 3
Bushnell, FL 33513
352-793-2651

USDA -NRCS, Rural Development
2441 NE 3 St, Suite 204
Ocala, FL 34470
352-732-7534

Clay County:

Clay County Extension Services
2463 SR 16 West
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
904-284-6355
clay@ifas.ufl.edu
http://clay.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS
111 Yelvington Rd, Suite 3
East Palatka, FL 32131
386-328-5051

Collier County:

Collier County Extension Services
14700 Immokalee Rd
Naples, FL 34120
239-353-4244
collier@ifas.ufl.edu
http://collier.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA -NRCS, Conservation District
14700 Immokalee Rd
Naples, FL 34120
239-455-4100

USDA -Farm Service Agency, Rural Development
3434 Hancock Bridge Pkwy
Ft Myers, FL 33903
239-997-7331

Columbia County:

Columbia County Extension Services
164 SW Mary Ethel Ln
Lake City, FL 32025
386-752-5384
columbia@ifas.ufl.edu
http://columbia.ifas.ufl.edu

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Conservation District
2304 SW Main Blvd, Suite 103
Lake City, FL 32025
386-752-8447

DeSoto County:

DeSoto County Extension Services
2150 NE Roan St
Arcadia, FL 34266
863-993-4846
desoto@ifas.ufl.edu
http://desoto.ifas.ufl.edu

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Conservation District
316 N 7 Ave
Wauchula, FL 33873
863-773-4764

Dixie County:

Dixie County Extension Services
99 NE 121 St
Cross City, FL 32628
352-498-1237
hvh@ufl.edu
http://dixie.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA -NRCS, Conservation District
625 N Hathaway Ave
Bronson, FL 32621
352-486-2125

USDA -Farm Service Agency
723 E Wade St
Trenton, FL 32693
352-463-2358

Duval County:

Duval County Extension Services
1010 N McDuff Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32254
904-255-7450
duval@ifas.ufl.edu
http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/

Small Business Development Center
University of North Florida (SBDC at UNF)
Marice Hague
12000 Alumni Dr.
Jacksonville, FL  32224
904-620-2476
smallbiz@unf.edu
http://www.sbdc.unf.edu
The SBDC at UNF provides assistance through management advice and technical training and can help small farmers become more successful and meet the challenges of tomorrow. The SBDC at UNF can assist small farmers with starting a farm, buying or selling an existing operation or growing their farm to the next level.

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Conervation District
260 US Highway 301 N
Baldwin, FL 32234
904-266-0088

Escambia County:

Escambia County Extension Services
3740 Stefani Rd
Cantonment, FL 32533
850-475-5230
escambia@ifas.ufl.edu
http://escambia.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Conservation District
151 Hwy 97
Molino, FL 32577
850-587-5345

Flagler County:

Flagler County Extension Services
150 Sawgrass Rd
Bunnell, FL 32110
386-437-7464
flagler@ifas.ufl.edu
http://flaglercounty.org/index.aspx?nid=110

USDA -Farm Service Agency
111 Yelvington Rd, Suite 3
East Palatka, FL 32131
386-328-5051

USDA -NRCS, Conservation District
101 Heavensgate Rd
Deland, FL 32720
386-985-4037

Franklin County:

Franklin County Extension Services
66 Fourth St
Apalachicola, FL 32320
850-653-9337
franklin@ifas.ufl.edu
http://franklin.ifas.ufl.edu/

USDA -Farm Service Agency, NRCS
17413 NW Leonard St
Blountstown, FL 32424
850-674-8388

Gilchrist County:

Gilchrist County Extension Services
125 East Wade St
Trenton, FL 32693
352-463-3174
gilchrist@ifas.ufl.edu
http://gilchrist.ifas.ufl.edu/

Hernando County:

Rabbits, Etc./ BestBuy Worms
Our Farm CSA
Mike & Dee Blaha
16362 Wilson Blvd.
Masaryktown, FL 34604-7335
352-796-0459 
info@rabbitsetc.us or info@bestbuyworms.com
http://www.rabbitsetc.us or http://www.bestbuyworms.com
Organic, meats, eggs, vegetables, strawberries,farm tours, compost, worm castings/manure an composting and fishing worms.

Indian River County:
                    
Nature Farms, Inc.
Mark Dellerman
9150 N. US 1
Wabasso, FL
Naturefarmsinc@yahoo.com 

Jefferson County:

Charles Brasher
brasher.charles6@gmail.com 
Former county agent in Jefferson County

Golden Acres Ranch,LLC.
Bobbie Golden, Managing Partner
Monticello, FL
http://www.goldenacresranchflorida.com
bobbie.golden@gmail.com
850-997-6599 Office/Home
Livestock - Sheep & Goat - Katahdin Sheep, Tennessee Fainting Goats, Spanish Goats and Cross Breed Goats Commercial Herd.

Lee County:

Merchant Source
18069 Laurel Valley Road
Ft Myers, FL 33967
800-313-5198 (work)
239-246-7732 (mobile)
KimL@merchantsource.com
Free services for wireless Farmers' Market EBT, credit and debit card program. 

Leon County:

Small Fruit Research& Outreach Program
Center for Viticulture & Small Fruit Research
College of Engineering Sciences, Technology & Agriculture
Florida A&M University
Bobby R. Phills, PhD, Director
6505 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL  32317
bobby.phills@famu.edu or  bphills13@gmail.com
850-599-3996
Plant breeder by training and I am program director of the FAMU Small Fruits research and outreach program which is housed in our Center for Research and Small Fruit Research, in Tallahassee, Florida.

Marion County:

Seely's Ark-Commercial Rabbitry/processing facility
11271 Farmwood Ave.
Dunnellon, Fl
352-489-8353 (leave a message)
Offering some plant time/space for pastured poultry producers

Miami-Dade County:          

Urban Forager--Micro-Distributor of Locally Grown Goods
Daniel Lessem, Chief Go-Getter
305-335-0200
Local-sustainable-organic-custom sourcing

Okeechobee County:         

UF/IFAS Okeechobee Extension Service
Daniel (Dan) Culbert
458 Hwy 98 North, Okeechobee, FL 34972-2303
863-763-6469
indianco@ufl.edu
http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu
http://LaFlor.ifas.ufl.edu
http://epaf.ifas.ufl.edu/esp
http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/TCSFWG.htm

Orange Park:

Winter Park Harvest Festival
John Rife, Founder
427 S. New York Ave, Suite 204
Winter Park, FL 32789
407-628-1230 (office)
John@WPHarvest.com
http://www.WinterParkHarvestFestival.com
The Harvest Festival is a day long event focused on connecting the grass-roots with the deep-roots of our local food-shed by celebrating our local farmers, gardeners,entrepreneurs, and non-profits.

Osceola County:                              

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ / Community Sustained Agriculture
University of Florida/IFAS Osceola County Extension
Jessica Sullivan
1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane
Kissimmee, FL 34744
321-697-3040
jsul@osceola.org
http://osceola.ifas.ufl.edu

OC Grown
Nancy Pratt, founder
osceolacountygrown@gmail.com
http://www.osceolacountygrown.com
O-C Grown seeks to design, develop and implement a local network of farmers/producers and consumers/businesses to provide citizens with the option to buy affordable and healthy food while at the same time directly contributing to the local economy of Osceola County.

Pasco County:                                                                      

Somerset Farm
Linda Davis
36340 Trilby Road
Dade City, FL 33523
352-807-3386
http://www.Somersetgoats.com
Dairy goats; Registered and non registered

Magnolia Organics LLC
P.O. BOX 1045
San Antonio, FL 33576
33601 Kiefer Rd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545
352-588-3687
magorg@atlantic.net
http://www.magnoliaorganics.net

Sumter County:

UF/IFAS Sumter County Extension
Susan Kelly
7620 SR 471 Ste 2
Bushnell, FL 33513
http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu
Sumter County Extension Director and Sustainable Living Agent working with food systems and small farm business and marketing. Projects include Farm to School, Farm to Institution, Farmer’s Markets, Annie’s Project, School Gardening, Community Gardening, Food Corp and classes in small farm marketing and business. 

Volusia County:     

Quality Green Specialists, Inc.
President, Dana Venrick
2526 West S.R. 44
DeLand, FL 32720 (physical address)
P.O. Box 53022
DeBary, FL 32753-0221 (mailing address)
386-837-3878
danavenrick@yahoo.com
http://www.greencropnutrition.com
We are committed to sustainable agricultural testing of soil, plant tissue, and water. We also market sustainable, natural and/or organic products to include a volcanic pumice called Azomite (R).

Out of State:

Fulton County, Georgia:

SERO Farm to School Coordinator
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
Southeast Region
Kirk A. Farquharson
61 Forsyth Street S.W., Room 8T36
Atlanta, GA  30303
404-562-7084
Kirk.Farquharson@fns.usda.gov

DeKalb County, Georgia:

Community of Farmers/Gardeners
Helen Brown
2600 H F Shepherd Drive
Decatur, GA  30034
404-243-5020, ext 222

Clarendon County, South Carolina        

Doublethumb Growing Solutions
Anna Coco
http://www.doublethumb.net
1-855-2 THUMBS

United Farmers USA
Hezekiah Gibson--Supervisor
Frances Gibson--Exec. Advisor
Helen Brown--Admin Ass't
P.O. Box 243
Manning, SC 29102
803-696-4220