The Future Of Fresh Is Here

    Lake County’s agricultural history is rooted in the citrus industry, but today’s farmers are bringing to market a growing variety of produce that is giving area residents fresher options and greater assurance of where their food is coming from.
   In recent years, seasonal u-pick operations have brought selected items, like blueberries and peaches, to the forefront, but those crops have a more limited scope. Now, farmers are bringing to market a growing list of everyday produce items, raising hopes that local agriculture is entering a new phase of prosperity and consumers are gaining access to more regular supplies of locally grown food.
   In North Lake County, producers like Sunsational Farms, Graham Farms, Bountiful Farms, and Noble Roots Farm are providing a wide range of fruit and produce to the public. Some are u-pick, some package their products for purchase, but all are making it easier for the public to buy quality, locally produced food for their kitchen tables.
   In recent weeks, Graham Farms has opened its seasonal u-pick site in Altoona, with strawberries, kale, Brussel sprouts, collard greens, and onions among the products available. The site, located on CR 42 just east of SR 19, offers row upon row of luscious plants ready for picking. The site is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
   Sunsational Farms, located in Umatilla on Roger Giles Road across from the North Lake Regional Parks, grows a wide range of produce that is available to the public at its farm store. Strawberries, tomatoes, green peppers, and more are produced at the farm and packaged for purchase. Additionally, the farm stocks fresh local citrus and fresh, unpasteurized orange juice squeezed at the farm. Sunsational Farms is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
   Noble Roots Farm, located at 37927 CR 439, offers local vegetables and meats year around. This business offers a crop share membership that features the packaging of bags of food at a set cost. Celery, spinach, onions, and more are on their current product list.
   Further south in Okahumpka, Bountiful Farms offers heirloom plants including pumpkins, tomatoes, rhubarb, peppers, and more. The site features a bistro that serves items produced at the farm, and a produce stand that is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bistro is open Wednesday through Saturday. Bountiful Farms is located at 27314 CR 33.
   Farming historically served as the backbone of the Lake County economy. Citrus has declined due to disease and competition from foreign imports, leaving the county in need of new products. The county’s farming community is stepping forward to offer residents new opportunities to both support local farming as well as bring fresher food to their dining tables. Additionally, the new offerings provide customers the peace of mind of knowing where their food comes from, and who produced it. Supporting these operations and others like them benefits both the producer and consumer, as well as helps keep Lake County’s agriculture industry alive.
   If you would like to support farming in Lake County, you are invited to join the thousands of members of Florida Farm Bureau, with Lake County’s branch being the largest advocate for farming in the county. Membership is just $45 per year, and comes with a variety of benefits. Learn more at www.lakefarmbureau.com.