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With the holiday season right around the corner, now is the time for recipe planning! By incorporating locally grown foods into your holiday recipes, you can make tasty dishes and feel good about supporting your local farmer. 

In this episode, hear about: 

- What crops are in season in Florida 

- Unique recipes using local ingredients 

- Where to purchase local foods 

- How SNAP/EBT users can double their money at farmers markets 

Links to Recipes Mentioned in Episode: 

Roselle Mock Cranberry Sauce: https://toadstoolsfairyrings.com/2016/11/15/roselle-mock-cranberry-sauce 

Creamed Braising Greens: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12248-creamed-braising-greens  

Butter Braised Radishes and Turnips: https://simpleseasonal.com/recipes/butter-braised-radishes-and-turnips 

Old-fashioned Pumpkin Pie: https://toadstoolsfairyrings.com/2017/12/09/old-fashioned-pumpkin-pie 

Other Resources: 

Learn about Florida Heritage Foods and upcoming events at: www.floridaheritagefoods.com

Find out what’s in season on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Buy-Fresh-From-Florida/Crops-in-Season

Visit Fresh from Florida’s What’s in Season Page for more in season crops: https://www.followfreshfromflorida.com/whats-in-season

Go to UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions page to learn what crops to grow in your region for each season: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/planting/vegetable-gardens-by-season.html

Learn more about upcoming events on FOG’s website: www.foginfo.org/events 

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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Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) is a farmer-driven, membership-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps people in North and South Carolina grow and enjoy local, organic food. Founded in 1979, the organization advocates, educates, and builds connections to create sustainable food systems in the Carolinas centered on local and organic agriculture. 

In this episode, learn about: 

- CFSA’s history and mission 

- CFSA’s role in organics in the Carolinas 

- Programs and advocacy initiatives for farmers 

- CFSA’s Annual Conference 

Learn more about CFSA on their website: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org

Learn about and register for the 2022 CFSA Annual Conference, taking place November 5-7: https://web.cvent.com/event/f8effbda-f430-47e1-95a7-01fe9394d72b/summary?RefId=Sponsor&rp=d75efb73-208d-47b1-a7b5-218dfb3a320a&utm_source=CFSAwebsite 

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Georgia Organics has been rooted in providing direct support to small and organic farmers across Georgia since the 1970s, before formally incorporating as a 501(c)(3) in 1997. Michael Wall, Director of Farmer Advocacy, highlights some of the organization’s programs and farmer advocacy initiatives. 

Tune in to hear about: 

- Georgia Organics’ new mission and vision 

- Preliminary results of Georgia Organic’s recent farmer survey 

- How Georgia Organics advocates for farmers 

- Upcoming events and special projects 

Learn more about Georgia Organics on their website: https://www.georgiaorganics.org 

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Florida Organic Growers and Santa Fe college have partnered in a three-year grant designed to increase access and promote consumption of Florida heritage foods in local farmer’s markets. The project, entitled “Florida Heritage Foods Initiative: Connecting Local Food with Local Culture in Florida Farmers Markets,” aims to highlight historical and cultural significance of 42 crops in Florida and to educate consumers and small farmers on how to cook and grow them. 
 

Over the course of the three-year grant, the college will also host annual educational symposiums and multi-cultural festivals that highlight heritage foods. This year’s symposium “Opportunities and Benefits of Heritage Foods” is scheduled for Friday, September 30, 2022, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m in downtown Gainesville. 
 

Tune in to hear about: 

- Why the initiative focuses on heritage foods  

- Goals and potential impacts on local communities  

- Upcoming events and opportunities to celebrate heritage foods 

- Resources and developments for farmers and farmers markets 

Register for the Heritage Foods Symposium “Opportunity and Benefits of Heritage Foods” on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opportunities-and-benefits-of-heritage-foods-symposium-tickets-370634416517 

Stay tuned for a new website promoting heritage foods: www.floridaheritagefoods.com 

Visit FOG’s website for more details: https://foginfo.org/events 

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.

Send us Fan Mail

The mission of the Florida Wildflower Foundation is to protect, connect and expand native wildflower habitats through education, research, planting and conservation. With Florida being one of the fastest growing states in U.S., there has been an increase in urbanization and habitat loss due to development.  

Stacey Matrazzo, Executive Director of the Foundation, shares with us the benefits wildflowers can provide for pollinators and wildlife, and the programs they are employing to combat biodiversity loss. 

Tune in to hear about: 

- How wildflowers affect our ecosystem 

- Grants and programs supporting the purchase, planting and education of wildflowers 

- Research and resources available to the public 

- Upcoming events 

Learn more about the Florida Wildflower Foundation on their website: https://www.flawildflowers.org 

Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center online: https://www.wildflower.org 

Cover photo description: Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium sp.) blooming along Interstate 10 in Suwannee County. Photo by Jeff Norcini/Florida Wildflower Foundation.

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.

Send us Fan Mail

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is a USDA program which provides reimbursements to producers and handlers of organic agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). 

In this episode, we speak with Emily Hetherington from Industry Communications in the Division of Marketing and Development at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) about the program. 

Tune in to hear about: 

- How OCCSP can benefit organic farmers 

- The application and reimbursement process 

- How to apply through Florida Organic Growers 

- Where to find more information and resources 

Learn more about OCCSP on the USDA’s Farm Service Agency OCCSP website: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp/index 

Find information about applying for OCCSP on FOG’s website: www.foginfo.org/our-programs/cost-share 

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.

Send us Fan Mail

The Backyard Market is a new virtual farmers market platform launching in Homestead, Florida in fall of 2022. In this episode, we speak with Courtney Ward, FOG’s Virtual Farmers Market Manager, about updates on the market. 

Tune in to hear about: 

- Why FOG decided to create the online market 

- How farmers and consumers can use the market  

- What makes The Backyard Market unique 

- What to expect going forward

Interested in becoming a vendor? Get in touch with our Virtual Farmers Market Manager, Courtney Ward at [email protected] 

Learn more about The Backyard Market on our website: www. foginfo.org/our-programs/backyard-market  

Follow The Backyard Market on social media for the latest updates:  

Instagram: @yourbackyardmarket  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BackyardMarketHomesteadFL 

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company was founded in 2015 by two brothers, Bryon and Kyle White and former mentor-turned-business-partner, Mark Steele. Bryon recently took time to speak with us about Yaupon tea, a native crop of the Southern United States. 

Tune in to hear about: 

- How the company was started 

- What Yaupon is and why it is a beneficial crop to sell and consume 

- The ecological impact and sustainability of Yaupon as a crop 

- Upcoming events and resources 

Learn more about Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company on their website: https://yauponbrothers.com 

Visit Florida Organic Grower’s event page https://foginfo.org/events to learn more and register for the “Opportunities and Benefits of Heritage Foods Symposium” taking place on September 30, 2022. 

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Veterans Florida is a non-profit created by the State of Florida in 2013 to help military veterans transition to civilian life and to promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most veteran-friendly state. One of its many programs is the Veterans Florida Agriculture Program, a six-month training fellowship that provides veterans and servicemembers a comprehensive, hands-on experience and equips you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be competitive for leading careers in Florida’s $149 Billion agriculture industry.  

Tune in to a conversation with Jeremy Sinnemaki, Veterans Employment and Training Services Director, where we discuss: 

- The history and mission of Veterans Florida 

- Veterans Florida Career Services and Entrepreneurship Program 

- How the Veterans Florida’s Agriculture Program assists transitioning veterans 

- Benefits and the DoD SkillBridge Program  

Visit the Veterans Florida website for information on all their programs: https://www.veteransflorida.org  

Learn more about the Veterans Florida Agriculture Program: https://www.veteransflorida.org/agriculture/ 

Register for the Veterans Florida Expo at: https://www.veteransfloridaexpo.org 

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Farm Aid was founded in 1985 in the midst of the 1980’s farm crisis. As a response to farmers in dire need of assistance, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp held the first concert which raised over $7 million for America’s family farmers. Since then, Farm Aid has continued to support farmers through a variety of programs. We speak with Caitlin Arnold Stephano, Farm Aid’s Hotline Program Manager, about how Farm Aid is doing this. 

Tune in to hear about: 

- Mental health and resources offered through Farm Aid’s Farmer Hotline  

- How Farm Aid assists farmers through its many programs  

- Farm Aid's annual concert 

- How organizations can get involved 

Learn more about Farm Aid on their website: https://www.farmaid.org 

Farm Aid’s Farmer Hotline is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EST) and toll-free at 1-800-FARM-AID. Learn more about the hotline here: https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/supporting-family-farmers/ 

Reach out to [email protected] for more information about Farm Aid’s grant submission process. 

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.