In Florida, soaring summer temperatures make it too hot to grow crops in June, July or August. So farmers plant in the fall and harvest in the winter. The greenhouses are air-conditioned and snow constitutes an agricultural emergency. And although Ontario and Florida are polar opposites when it comes to weather, the challenges they face are surprisingly similar.

Urban sprawl has beset both Ontario and Florida. In Florida, where citrus groves and strawberry fields once grew, row housing and malls now stand. It’s said that 800 people move to Florida every day. The demand for housing space is crowding out farmland. As Florida becomes increasingly urban, consumers know less and less about the agricultural industry which provides their food.

Like Canada, two per cent of Florida’s population produces food for the other 98 per cent. Farmers employ environmentally sound practices but it’s the negative stories that make the news.

We will take home an appreciation for Florida’s response to these challenges. Groups such as the Florida Farm Bureau and the Florida Strawberry Growers Association are organizing grassroots efforts, pursuing collaboration with industries with common interests, and developing contacts in local, state and federal government. Education and communication are key. From Agriculture in the Classroom to the University of Florida’s agricultural communication program to health awareness campaigns, these organizations are presenting a positive message and the voice of farmers in America.

Jan & Jenn