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Do you know how perceptions about environmental issues in politics have changed over time in Florida? How can we achieve bipartisan support on these important issues? Dr. Ram Balasubramanian and Ryan Smart provide some background on these questions and suggest strategies moving forward. 

Before 2010, environmental issues such as protecting Florida’s everglades and springs, conserving natural lands, rivers and beaches, and taking on polluters, was supported by both our Republican and Democratic representatives. However, Mr. Smart notes that since then, there has been much less support from both parties on taking meaningful action to protect Florida’s environment. 

Although Floridians are clear at the ballot box that they want their tax dollars to be spent providing more protections for the environment, many believe that the will of the people is not being upheld by the politicians in Tallahassee.  

Mr. Smart says that this is due to numerous reasons such as influence from lobbyists and large industries, but especially because of a lack of regulatory action from government agencies to enforce meaningful protections, which has led to disasters such as the recent Piney Point disaster. 

As 70% of nitrogen pollution across the State comes from agriculture, improving this and other agricultural practices is an important place to start. Our speakers discuss how policymakers can provide more resources to help the economic viability of farmers transitioning to Organic and sustainable practices, which would have a great impact on Florida’s environment.  

To reduce pollution in Florida’s waterways, stronger implementation and improvement of Best Management Practices (BMP) is another actionable step that can be taken right away.   

Dr. Balasubramanian explains that organizations like FOG and the Florida Springs Council play an important role in advocating for policies and politicians that protect the environment while educating citizens who must support these initiatives on an individual basis as well.  

Stay up-to-date on policy issues and how you can advocate by visiting the Florida Springs Council and FOG websites.  

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Our guests answer questions such as: How are Florida’s springs being protected? How do large companies like Seven Springs receive permits to take water for bottling purposes? What can you do to help? We cover these topics and more.

 With over 700 springs, Florida has the largest concentration of fresh water springs in the world. More than 90 percent of people in Northeast and Central Florida use groundwater, which comes from an aquifer, as their water supply, making the springs a reflection of what is in our drinking water.

Two of the main threats facing the springs are water quality and water quantity.  Thus, controlling pollutants from contaminating the springs and how much water is taken out of the springs is key.

According to Mr. Smart, despite Florida’s water use permit system, its implementation leaves a lot to be desired. With the recent Seven Springs case, a number of these issues are highlighted such as the ease of which permits can be received. 

To receive a permit, three factors must be taken into account: 1) there must be a reasonable beneficial use, 2) the renewing use would not encroach upon the legal rights of others, and 3) public opinion. 

Mr. Haskins explains the details about how the Seven Springs Water Company’s permit to take out nearly 1 million gallons of water per day was approved by the Suwanee Water Management District.

The speakers also gave some strategies on how to help:

-       Stay involved in the process.

-       Attend Water Management District public meetings.

-       Support organizations that monitor the springs.

-       Reduce your bottled water usage.

If you would like to learn more about what the Florida Springs Council is doing, follow this link to their website.

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Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.

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Is the food we consume safe from COVID-19? How are farmers making sure it is safe to eat the fruits and vegetables they grow for all of us? Dr. Keith Schneider, food safety expert and a professor at the University of Florida’s Food Science and Human Nutrition Department answers these questions and provides more information about our food system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Schneider explains how farm and farmworkers are threatened by the COVID-19 and what is being done. 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that there is no evidence that food or food packaging facilitates the transmission of COVID-19. However, Dr. Schneider reminds us that it is always important to follow good hygiene practices when handling or preparing foods

One of the biggest production and distribution challenges farmers must deal with is their farm workers getting sick. Many produce farms are small operations run by one or two managers and a minimal crew. Thus, the safety of our food system begins on the farm and it can potentially be compromised if the workforce is out sick and cannot adequately perform the required tasks to grow and harvest crops. 

To protect workers and practice proper food safety at the farm level, Dr. Schneider recommends increasing the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), such as masks, goggles, gloves, etc., as well as to emphasize the use of suitable handwashing, sanitation and personal hygiene. Other recommendations include more distance between workers, avoid clustering during breaktime, “quarantining” people that regularly work together, and the use of barriers like plexiglass so there is less transfer of respiratory droplets.

Dr. Schneider also gives strategies on how to improve farm food safety:

-       Put as much distance between workers as possible.

-       Workers should continue to wash hands as they did before.

-       Workers need to self-report illness and not go to work if they are sick.

-       Administer temperature checks, although this may be ineffective as the virus can be asymptomatic.

After COVID we see that keeping workers safe the top priority. Going forward, continuing with a high focus on sanitation is the best way to keep the workforce healthy, which will help businesses stay open longer.

If you would like to learn more about CDC recommendations on food safety during COVID-19, visit here.

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Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

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On this episode of Fresh Take we welcome Dr. Taylor Clem, the Alachua County Environmental and Community Horticulture Agent. 

Tune in to learn how you can attract hummingbirds to your garden! 

Dr. Clem will help our listeners

• identify the ruby throated hummingbird, 
• give landscaping tips on how to attract the beautiful bird,
• and inform you of the benefits these pollinators provide to our ecosystem and to our own well being!

Dr. Taylor Clem from UF IFAS Alachua county extension services joins us to talk about the Florida Yard and Neighborhood program. Tune in to find out about the 9 principles of Florida Friendly Yards, and other best practices you can implement at home! How to introduce this practices to your HOA ... and more! 

Taylor Clem-

Alachua County - Northeast 

Specialty: Environmental Horticulture

2800 NE 39th Ave

Gainesville, FL 32609-2658

[email protected]

Tel: (352) 955-2402 Fax: (352) 334-0122

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Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.

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On this Fresh Take episode we welcome Dr. Ram Balasubramanian and Dr. Stephen Forbes. Tune in to listen to our experts share about genetically modified mosquitoes scheduled to be released in Florida and Texas.

Dr. Forbes, an expert in microbiology and genetics, holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Immunology and Infectious diseases track), while Dr. Balasubramanian holds degrees in Crop Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, and Ecological Agriculture. Learn what is a GMO mosquito and it's potential implication for Floridians. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the agency supervising the release of GMO mosquitoes into the Florida environment. The mosquitoes to be released by a third party are to be male mosquitoes, being female mosquitoes the ones needing blood to survive.
The male GMO mosquitoes are to breed with female Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes (disease carrying mosquitoes) and produce nonviable offspring. 
Ideally, the female disease carrying mosquito population will be reduced. The environmental implications are still unknown. Dr. Balasubramanian shares his concern on the development of a drug resistant "super mosquito," and also touches the lack of information available to the general public. 
The panel of experts share natural and organic ways of controlling mosquito population. These tips and suggestions are non toxic and can be easily followed:

• Get rid of standing water: puddles, ponds, etc. mosquitoes need standing water to do natural life processes. Eliminate standing water and you might be able to reduce mosquito population around you.
• Coffee grounds: Dr. Balasubramanian shares how he has been using coffee grounds in his property to keep mosquitoes away.
• Citronella/ Lemongrass: widely used as a natural mosquito repellent. Want to grow and care for your own citronella? This article explains citronella basics. If your citronella needs fertilizer, we suggest an organic fertilizer as the best alternative.
• Fans/ Air movement: mosquitoes don't enjoy the breeze! regular airflow might just be the solution to decrease mosquito population in your home.

Want to learn more about Aedes Aegypti?Here is comprehensive guide by UF IFAS department of Entomology & Nematology.

If  you live in an area where GMO mosquito is being released and have a certified organic production, please share that information with your certifying agency.

If you would like to learn more about regulations and official documents surrounding this topic, follow this link to Regulations.gov.


* Photograph by James Gathany, Center for Disease Control Public Health Image Library.

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Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.

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Welcome Amy Vu and Dr. JC Rodriguez! We discuss the Asian Giant Hornet “murder hornet” with Amy, Extension coordinator for the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab (HBREL) @ UF, and Dr. JC Rodriguez, appreciated member of our staff. 

Amy and JC are both passionate about bees, both started their bee keeping journey during college. JC shares with us his experience handling Africanized “killer” bees, and the bad reputation around these bees and any other bees named “killer” or “murder.”

It is important to emphasize that everyone will experience a different reaction to any insect. The safest is to keep your distance form any stinging insect. 

Amy shares about two (2) types of Asian hornets

(1)    Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia): Also known as “murder hornet”

(2)    Asian hornet (Vespa velutina):  NOT present in the USA

Asian giant hornet first appearance was at the end of 2019. A press release was issued to report on the findings on a small area of Washington State. During the moths of March/April, coming out of the winter, 2 species were found dead.

No one is 100% sure on how this specie reached the continental US, but it is believed that a queen bee was transported by a cargo ship. 

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has put compiled comprehensive material on the Giant Asian Hornet, how to identify it and its differences from other similar looking hornets. 

The Asian Giant Hornet preys on more insects than just honey bees, this kind of hornet can cause harm to other pollinators as well. 

Please, keep a safe distance form any stinging insect. Snap a picture if possible, that is the best proof to identify species. 

Visit the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab website to learn more about Amy Vu and the Research Lab!

For more information on this topic, check out this document by the University of Florida’s Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory FAQs - Asian Giant Hornet. 

Interested in bees and managed honey bees? Check out our episode SAVE THE BEES, with Dr. Jamie Ellis from the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory! 
Image Credits:By Alpsdake - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21275572

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Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.

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Join us for a conversation with Tripp Pomeroy as he shares his journey from co-owning Café Campesino—a green coffee importer dedicated to fair and sustainable farmer-roaster relationships—to leading Sweetwater Organic Coffee. We’ll explore their commitment to Fair Trade, organic practices, and long-term partnerships that prioritize ethics and sustainability.

He debunks the myth that Fair Trade coffee is more expensive and explains how sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. We also discuss Sweetwater’s response to COVID-19—protecting staff, supporting trading partners, and adapting business operations.

Tripp reflects on how the pandemic has created new opportunities for connection and education in the coffee industry. Plus, we dive into the benefits of organic coffee, from superior taste to carbon sequestration. Don't miss this insightful episode!

Support the show

Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.

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Today, we welcome back Ram, CEO of Quality Certification Services (QCS) and an experienced Food Safety Auditor and trainer on various food safety topics. Join us to learn more about how to safely shop during unprecedented times!
COVID-19 is not a foodborne illness!

Sanitizers vs. Disinfectants:
   - Sanitizer are substance that significantly reduces the germ population, but doesn't destroy or eliminate all the germs. Typically, sanitizers do not claim to reduce viruses. 

   - Disinfectants are substances that destroy germs: bacteria, fungi and viruses. 

Hand sanitizers vs. sanitizers used in food processing facilities: 

Ram shares that "not all hand sanitizer are tested against virus and bacteria. FDA tests are usually directed to how safe he product is to be applied to hands/body, and not necessarily the product's efficacy" 

Sanitizer used at food processing facility are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered and the label indicates the product's efficacy and what germs the product targets. Remember: Off label use of EPA approved sanitizes is a violation of US EPA regulation!

Alcohol based hand sanitizer vs. Alcohol-free hand sanitizer: 

Accodrding to CDC, Alcohol-free hand sanitizers may are not work against many types of germs, including COVID-19. Ram shares "alcohol-free hand sanitizer is better than nothing."

Aalcohol based hand sanitizer is effective against COVID 19. CDC recommends a concentration greater than 60% if the active ingredient is ethanol or greater than 70% if the active ingredient is isopropanol.

Ram mentions, "The efficacy of hand sanitizer depends how dirty or oily your hands are, the type of germs you had contact with, and the alcohol content on the product applied"

Best practices while shopping!
- Maintain social distance 
- Wash hands often and for at least 20 seconds
- Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available 
- Limit the amount of products touched
- Wash produce to eliminate soil residues (COVID19 is no a foodborne illness)
- Wear a mask in public. Dispose gloves and mask in a safe way
- Wash the bags you bring to the store
- If feeling sick, do not leave the house and do not come in contact with others 
- Follow the new store patterns and adapt "one way aisle"

Support you local farmers!

 Use Florida Farmers' Market Association interactive map to find fresh healthy eats near you

Support the show

Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.

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Join Ram, CEO of Quality Certification Services, while he talks about the financial impact of COVID-19 on Florida's agriculture and the financial resources available to farmers. 

1. Federal Assistance administered by SBA

1.1 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

1.2 Economic Injury Disaster Loan - unable to accept new application 

2. Assistance not administered by SBA 

2.1 CARES act: 

State of Florida

Direct-to-Consumer Sellers and Online Markets for Florida-Grown Foods 

Florida Farmers’ Market Association 

Find a Market - interactive map

Which Markets are open in FL?

Support the show

Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.

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On this episode we welcome Quality Certification Services (QCS) staff to talk about Organic Certification during the COVID19 pandemic. Our panelists are Beth Rota, policy and quality assurance manager, Brian Rakita, inspection manager, and Ram, CEO of QCS.
Ram shares with us that the agricultural sector is holding strong, with some operations even doubling sales since the lock-down started. He also shares his work linking small and medium producers to buyers, improving the distribution system that currently mostly benefits large scale producers. 
Beth, a member of Accredited Certifiers Association, tells how different certifying bodies are working together to come up with a document that outlines best practices to ensure the integrity of the organic label during these difficult times. You can contact Beth about different certifying bodies' efforts to maintain integrity of the organic label at [email protected].
Brian shares how inspectors have had to adapt to online inspections to maintain the robust USDA organic label. You can contact Brian about remote, online inspections at [email protected].
If you have issues with your operation or would like to learn more about resources available to you, please email [email protected] with your questions. Information can also be found on our website foginfo.org under Florida Farmers Market Association (FFMA) tab. Newsletter and weekly updates provide resources for producers.  


Fresh Take is your weekly dose of all things related to organic and sustainable living. Join Florida Organic Growers staff and guest experts as we discuss everything you need to know about sustainable living, organic agriculture, and how to make the best lifestyle choices that benefit you and the environment. So, if you’re an eco-warrior, a dedicated farmer, or just someone looking to make more conscious decisions, tune in every Monday to get your Fresh Take. 

Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1987 as a grassroots organization, formed by those who believe in organic, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture. Our vision is to create a more sustainable and just food system that benefits both consumers and the environment. 

Quality Certification Services (QCS) has been an industry leader in providing organic, food safety, and ethical certifications since 1989. As an accredited certifying agency, QCS has been meeting the demands of a growing food industry for more than 30 years. QCS is proud to offer organic and food safety certification for crop production, livestock, retail, restaurants, processing and handling, and importer and exporter operations of all sizes. As the largest US-based certification agency on the eastern seaboard, QCS and our staff of highly qualified and dedicated food and agricultural scientists, educators, and regulators, is capable of meeting all certification needs with expertise.

Support the show

Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond

Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱

👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.