Lake Region Chapter Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association Annual Chili Cookoff

The Lake Region Chapter of the FNGLA is hosting its Annual Chili Cookoff and CEU event on February 4, 2025 at the Polk County Extension Office in the Valencia Room.  The cost of the event is $10.00.  The event will start at 6:00 pm with social time and your best pot of chili tasting.  Dinner will be followed with a Core Pesticide CEU in conjunction with a talk on "Minimizing Environmental Impact of Pesticide Applications; Methods and New EPA Rules.  The talk will be given by Dr. Caitlin Sollazo- the new Ornamental Production Extension Agent in Manatee County and Shawn Steed, the Environmental Horticulture Extension Agent serving Hillsborough and Polk Counties. 

Prizes will be awarded to the best chili!

If you have any questions please call Karen at 863-644-6491.

FNGLA Manasota Chapter Meeting + CEUS

The FNGLA Manasota Chapter will be hosting a meeting at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center located in Balm, FL on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  We will receive a tour of the research center, get environmental horticulture research updates, obtain CEUs, and feast on a tasty dinner. Attendance fee is $20.00 for members/$30.00 for non-members, and $10.00 for students.  This meeting is open to anyone in the green industry.  Click this link to register 

Here is the agenda:

4:00 pm: Arrive

4:15 pm: Tour GCREC Diagnostic Clinic, Dr. Natalia Peres, Professor of plant pathology, UF/IFAS, Gulf Coast REC

4:40 pm: Mites and thrips, Dr. Sriyanka Lahiri, Assistant Professor of entomology and nematology, UF/IFAS, Gulf Coast REC

5:00 pm: Parasitic nematodes, Dr. Johan Desaeger, Associate Professor of entomology and nematology, UF/IFAS, Gulf Coast REC

5:20 pm: Urban water uses, management, and recycling, Dr. Mary Lusk, Assistant Professor of soil and water sciences, UF/IFAS, Gulf Coast REC

5:30 pm: Dinner

5:45 pm: Remarks, Dr. Jack Rechcigl, Professor and Center Director, and Dr. Nathan Boyd, Professor and Associate Center Director

6:00 – 8:00 pm: CEU program - Pest Management Tools and New Varieties for Production and Utilization of Ornamental and Nursery Plants (2 CEUs)

6:00 pm: Management of invasive pest insects in nursery crop production, Dr. Lance Osborne, Professor of entomology, UF/IFAS, Mid-Florida REC

6:25 pm: UV light, chemical control, and biocontrol for thrips and mite management in specialty crops, Dr. Sriyanka Lahiri

6:45 pm: Chemical alternative methods for disease control, Dr. Natalia Peres

7:05 pm: Notes from the field; a pest update, Mr. Shawn Steed, Extension Agent IV, UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension Services

7:40 pm: New caladium, lantana, and porterweed introductions for nursery production and landscape use, Dr. Zhanao Deng, Professor of environmental horticulture, UF/IFAS, Gulf Coast REC  

CEUS; 1 Core (487, 482) + 1 O&T, Private, Ag Row, Demo and Res., Commercial L&O.

Any questions please call Shawn Steed at the Hillsborough County Extension Office 813-744-5519.

FNGLA Meeting with Veransa Compost

The utility of compost in the landscape is well known and UF IFAS is doing research to see if there are cost and quality benefits of substituting compost as a replacement for peat.

FNGLA Tampa Chapter would like to invite you to meet one of our local composting operations Veransa for a meet and greet lunch at their facility on May 9th from 11-2 pm with lunch at the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Seffner.  See what Veransa is doing in turning green waste into very high-quality compost.  Please register with the following link.  

https://profile.fngla.org/events/event-details/?id=b7a01a34-63fb-ee11-a73c-6045bd80fb0f

BASF Meeting at Extension Hillsborough County

Join us at the Extension Office as we discuss weeds and pests with guest speakers from UF/IFAS and BASF!

FNGLA Lake Region Meeting

Florida Nursery Growers & Landscaping, Assn.

LAKE REGION CHAPTER

FEBRUARY MEETING

   

WANTED

 Your Best POT of CHILI to Share

4TH Annual Chili Cook Off!!!

(with prizes to win!)

DATE: Tuesday, February 5, 2019
LOCATION: POLK COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE
in the Valencia Room,1700 HWY 17 & 98 SOUTH, BARTOW, FL 

SOCIAL TIME: 6:00 - 6:30 P.M.DINNER TIME: 6:30 P.M

PRICE:   $15.00

WHAT’S FOR DINNER?
Chili, Bread/Crackers, Brownies & Drink Provided
RSVP by February 1, 2018 via email or 863-644-6491

PROGRAM TIME:   7:00 P.M.

Earn 1 CEU for Pesticide License
Topic: Calibration and Respirator Safety
BY: Mr. Chris Oswalt
our Polk/Hillsborough County
Extension Citrus Agent.

Any questions please call Karen @ 863-644-6491

Important Nursery Insurance Meeting 6/27/17

This important message from FNGLA to growers who have nursery crop insurance...

A significant meeting is set for Tuesday, June 27 for Florida's nursery growers to share your frustrations with the federal nursery crop insurance policy and what's needed to improve the policy. USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently awarded a contract to conduct research and obtain information for a proposed new alternative nursery crop insurance policy. The proposal is the direct result of FNGLA's persistent multi-year push to overhaul the existing policy, in part, by eliminating most of the upfront burdens such as price lists, Datascape plant values, and plant inventory inspections at time of application. If adopted by RMA, the new policy crafted by FNGLA allows you to select a level of insurance coverage which makes business sense for your nursery. Sales records will need to be produced only at times of loss.

The meeting is 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Palm Beach County Extension Exhibit Hall B located at 559 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach 33415. RMA is requiring "listening sessions" be held throughout the country so input can be gathered from nursery growers. This grower session will be followed by a 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. "listening session" for Florida crop insurance agents and insurance company representatives. If you are upset with crop insurance coverage at time of loss, or believe the paperwork and plant inventory inspections at time of application are overly burdensome, then please attend this crucial June 27 meeting! If you're happy with the policy, RMA needs to hear that too.

Since Florida's growers purchase the lion's share of the nation's nursery crop insurance policies, FNGLA pushed for three sessions to be held (one each in North, Central and South Florida). Nonetheless, June 27 will be the only Florida session. So, it's important lots of nursery growers show up from all across our state! This is an opportunity to voice your concerns with the existing policy! To make it easy for you, FNGLA will have available at the meeting a one-pager of suggested talking points to help you drive home the need to overhaul the current nursery crop insurance policy. If you plan to attend, yet have not let FNGLA know, please do so ASAP by emailing info@fngla.org. If crop insurance is important to your nursery, then you need to be with us on June 27!

Tampa Chapter FNGLA Meet-Up at Trade Show

Growers and Landscapers, you are invited to a FNGLA Tampa Bay Chapter Meet Up – Friday, September 16 at 10 a.m. at The Landscape Show.

Meet your fellow FNGLA Chapter members and catch up with friends. Please join the local chapter members at The Connection Corner inside the exhibit hall (upper right corner as you walk in) on Friday at 10 a.m. for a quick get together. It’s an opportunity for chapter members to meet and catch up. 

The Landscape Show is taking place September 15-17 at the Orange County Convention Center, West Building, Halls D2 and E, Orlando, FL.  For more details visit www.thelandscapeshow.org.

School Board Breakfast for Growers

All Growers:  Enjoy a Grower Breakfast provided by the Hillsborough County School System Migrant Education Program.  They would like all growers to attend the breakfast to learn about their program.  Also, Alicia Whidden (Small Fruit and Vegetable Agent) will be doing a CORE presentation for 1 CORE CEU at the end of the event.  Remember you need 4 CORE to be able to renew your pesticide license every 4 years so this is a good opportunity to get a CEU. 

What:  Grower’s Meet and Greet Breakfast

When:  September 7, 2016  from 9:00-11:00

Where:  University of Florida-Gulf Coast Research and Education Center

AGENDA:  

Welcome and Introductions

The Migrant Education Program

• Recruitment Efforts

• Supplemental Services 

• Collaboration Efforts

All About CORE-1 CEU

BASF Grower Meeting

FYI-  BASF will be having an informational meeting on their portfolio of plant protection products that might be of interest to ornamental growers.  Some of the products they will be highlighting are Orkestra™ Intrinsic® brand fungicide, Pageant® Intrinsic brand fungicide, and Sultan® miticide. They will also have Paul Pilon with Perennial Solutions Consulting Horticultural Consultant on the topic “Production Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them” and Dr. Kathie Kalmowitz, a BASF Technical Specialist speaking about “Introduction of a New Innovative Fungicide for Production” and “IPM Solutions for Weed Control.”

If you are interested, the meeting will be held on September 28, 2016 from

10:00am - 1:40pm which will include a working lunch. The event site will be University of Florida / IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (across from Lake Apopka, next to Magnolia Park) located at 2725 South Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703.  

One CEU will be available!

To ensure your reservation, please RSVP to peggy.clanton@basf.com by August 23, 2016.

Nurseries Needed for Informal Tours for International Plant Propagators' Society Meeting in Tampa 10/10/15 - 10/14/15

The International Plant Propagators's Society Southern Region Meeting will be here in Tampa on 10/10/15 -10/14/15.  IPPS Southern Region members are a great group of plant producers,  propagators, botanical gardens, researchers, and students  from a region that spans Virginia to Florida, and Oklahoma to Texas, who meet every year to "seek and share" information regarding plant production and propagation.  This is one of the best producer meetings I attend.  We will be touring west-central Florida on Sunday 10/11/15 and Tuesday 10/13/15.  This year we are also hosting the international group to our regional meeting.  I am also getting a list of other nurseries that would like to be informal tour stops before and after the meetings.  This would mean opening up your nursery for visitors from the Society on Saturday 10/10/15 from 13:00 to 17:00 and/or Wednesday 13:00 to 16:00.  These informal tours could be as simple as letting folks do a self-tour of your production area to as elaborate as having guided walks through the nursery or providing refreshments.  You decide the level of participation you'd like to give.   If you want to open your nursery please give Shawn a ring at the Extension office 813-744-5519 x 54147.  If you'd like to find out more about the IPPS meeting here is a link for that.
 http://ipps-srna.org/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IPPS-Mailer-for-Web.pdf

Agricultural Stakeholder Water Meeting with CFWI

For producers that operate in Polk county there is a water meeting that you might like to be in on.   The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) is having a stakeholder meeting for solutions to the regions future water needs and how they might impact our industry.  This is your change to give feedback on these proposals. Here is the meeting announcement below.

In the agriculture industry, one of the greatest issues of importance is water. 

We have been working with the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) to discuss diminishing water resources in Central Florida and ramifications to the agriculture industry if we do not act now to address this issue. 

The CFWI is a collaborative effort guided by three water management districts – the St. Johns River Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, along with the Department of Environmental Protection – to find new ways to meet increasing demands for limited freshwater resources in the region.  These agencies, along with other key stakeholders, are working toward water resource planning, development, and management for Florida’s current and long-term water supply needs.

Now is the time for your input and action.  As a leader in the agricultural industry, we understand you have a vested interest in how water resources are addressed in our region and how they affect your business – today and in the future.

The CFWI will be presenting a proposed Solutions Plan for the region’s future water needs on Wednesday, May 20th from 2:00pm – 4:30pm.  This will be your opportunity to hear, first hand, what the proposed solutions for our region’s water shortages are, how they impact our industry, and offer feedback and input on those proposed solutions. 

The CFWI Workshop will be held at ChampionsGate, 8575 White Shark Boulevard, Davenport, FL 33896. 

Please RSVP your attendance to https://agricultureindustry.eventbrite.com or by calling 407-758-5873.

International Plant Propagator Society-Southern Region Meeting in Tampa

I attend a bunch of meetings every year; however, there is one meeting that really shines as a "grower's meeting," the International Plant Propagators Society-Southern Region Meeting.  This is one of the best meetings out there for growers (especially woody plant and tree growers) to get involved with.  The series of talks and tours don't just cover propagation but many aspects of growing plants.  Every meeting has a ton of useful information, not to mention all the great contacts you will meet.  This year the Southern Region meeting will be in Tampa (Sheraton Riverwalk Hotel) on Oct. 11-14th.  This meeting will also host an international delegation of nursery folk from around the world.

As hosts to this prestigious event, I am looking for nurseries to sponsor some aspect of the meetings and tours.  There are certain perks for those who commit to a sponsorship.  We already have our tour destinations picked out and are starting to line up educational speakers for the meetings.  If you would like to show your industry peers from the southern region, and around the world, a great time in our backyard by sponsoring the meeting, please call Shawn at the Extension office 813-744-5519 ex. 54147.

I also would like to showcase our area a little better by opening up more nurseries to the faculty, growers, and garden managers in attendance that will be here before and after the meetings.  If you would like to open up your nursery for folks to informally drop by and have a look around (have your current availability list ready), I will have two slots for you to pick.  Saturday 10/10/15 from 13:00-17:00 and/or Wednesday 10/14/15 from 13:00-16:00.  You could even do both.  This is a great way to gain some exposure for your nursery with other industry professionals in the southeast.  If you would like to be an informal host site also call Shawn at Extension or email ststeed@ufl.edu to confirm times and dates.

Agritourism, Is it a Good Fit for Your Operation?

I'm sure there is a fit for ornamental operations to successfully engage in Agritourism, especially operating in such a highly sought out area between Tampa and Orlando.  We have Mickey on one side and cruiselines on the other.  The question is what can you do to include activities or become part of a group that promotes what we do to the public as part of tourism.  This might be a secondary stream of income without changing a whole lot to your operation.  Polk county is having a meeting that you might want to attend.  Please see the information below. 

Agritourism: Status Check & Charting a Course for the Future

Noticed a surge of interest in visiting farms for fun? Recreational farm visits, or agritourism, are on the rise around the state and the country, but how well is Polk County positioned to benefit from this trend?  The UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Small Farms program and Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing (PCTSM) are joining forces to host a meeting to discuss the current status of agritourism in Central Florida and chart a course for future efforts.  Presentations and panel discussions, including speakers from local agritourism operations and the President of the Florida Agritourism Association, will bring attendees up to speed on where we are at and where we could go in developing agritourism in our area.  Topics include: “How does Central Florida Agritourism Stack up Against State and National Trends?”; “The Florida Agritourism Association: What does it do, why is it needed, and what is going on around the state?”; “Current Central Florida Agritourism Operations: What are we doing now and where would we like to be in the future?”; and “How should we move forward in developing Agritourism in Central Florida?”.  The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12 at Lake Myrtle Sports Park, 2701 Lake Myrtle Park Road, Auburndale, FL. Lunch will be provided by PCTSM. Agricultural enterprises and others interested in developing agritourism are encouraged to come out and be a part of the discussion!

Details
When: Wednesday, November 12: 9:30 AM - 2 PM.
Where: Lake Myrtle Sports Park, 2701 Lake Myrtle Park Road, Auburndale, FL
Register: See the detailed agenda and free registration on the calendar page of http://polksmallfarms.com 
Contact: Mary Beth Henry at 863-519-1049 or mbhenry@ufl.edu

Central Florida Water Initiative Meeting

The Central Florida Water Initiative is a collaboration of different stakeholders and regulators to look at the sustainability of the water resources at the conversion points of three water management districts in an area that includes southern Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Polk counties. The three water management districts, along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), regional public water supply utilities and other stakeholders are collaborating to develop a unified process to address central Florida’s current and long-term water supply needs.  One of things that Jim Fletcher (County Extension Director of Osceola County who sits on the committee) has been trying to do, is make sure agriculture is represented at the the table.  Part of the continuing efforts of this planning initiative is the development of a solutions planning team that represent all the interests in the 5 county area.  Jim was selected to serve as the agriculture representative on the committee. Part of the charge of this committee is to make sure all interests have been heard as the initiative moves forward.  Robert Beltran, Executive  Director for SWFWMD is the chair person of this solution team.  Mr. Beltran would like to meet with the agricultural industry as a whole to make sure he understands and can report all the issues.  If you are interested in attending the meeting with Robert Beltran and CFWI it is on April 16, at 1:30-3:30 pm at the UF Osceola County Extension Service, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee, Fl 34744.  For more information please call 321.697.3000.  You may want to visit the Central Florida Water Initiative website http://cfwiwater.com/  to get more information prior to the meeting.

WPS-Changes in the Making and Meeting Notice

On February 20, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency announced proposed changes to the agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) to increase protections from pesticide exposure for the nation's 2 million agricultural workers and their families.  They are seeking input on the changes that are being proposed.  Here is an EPA factsheet on the changes and compares with what is already in place.  http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/proposed/comparisons-current-proposed-wps.pdf   Here is a list of the included changes:

Increased frequency of mandatory trainings (from once every five years to annually) to inform farm workers about the protections they are afforded under the law, including restrictions on entering pesticide-treated fields and surrounding areas, decontamination supplies, access to information and use of personal protective equipment. Expanded trainings will include instructions to reduce take-home exposure from pesticides on work clothing and other safety topics.

Expanded mandatory posting of no-entry signs for the most hazardous pesticides; the signs prohibit entry into pesticide-treated fields until residues decline to a safe level.

First time-ever minimum age requirement: Children under 16 will be prohibited from handling pesticides, with an exemption for family farms.

No-entry buffer areas surrounding pesticide-treated fields will protect workers and others from exposure from pesticide overspray and fumes.

Measures to improve the states’ ability to enforce compliance including requiring employers to keep records of application-specific pesticide information as well as farmworker training and early-entry notification for two years.

Personal Protection Equipment (respirator use) must be consistent with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration standards for ensuring respirators are providing protection, including fit test, medical evaluation, and training.

Make available to farm workers or their advocates (including medical personnel) information specific to the pesticide application, including the pesticide label and Safety Data Sheets.

Additional changes make the rule more practical and easier to comply with for farmers.

Continues the exemptions for family farms.

Here is the site for more information from the EPA as well as a link to add your comments to the proposed changes.  http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/proposed/index.html
If you would like to go to a meeting about these rule changes FDACS and EPA is holding one.  Here is the information: 
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) will be hosting a meeting with growers and grower organizations to provide an overview of the recently proposed changes to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The purpose of the meeting is to better inform the grower community on the WPS proposals and the comment submission process. Mr. Richard Pont with the U.S. EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs will be making a presentation and answering questions regarding the changes. The meeting will be held on April 3, 2014 at 9:30 AM-12:00 PM at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), located at 700 Experiment Station Rd., Lake Alfred, FL. Please note that the public is strongly encouraged to submit their comments to the docket via Regulations.gov.

Oak Gall Wasp Meeting for Producers

Do you have problems with gall wasps?  Have you had marketability issues with live oaks because of galls?  Do you grow 'Cathedral' live oaks?  Well, you will want to come out to our meeting on live oak gall wasps.  On March 18, 2013 here at our Extension office, at 10:30 am, you can meet the researcher who literally wrote the book on gall wasps, Dr. Eileen Buss.  She will tell us what we know about different gall wasps.  There are a few that negatively impact oak production in our area.  I have seen leafy galls, bullet galls, a stem gall, and potato gall.  Sometimes these wasps can be so bad as to render a crop unsaleable. Dr. Buss will also let us know what we currently know about controlling these pests and what we know about their life cycle.  This meeting is also designed to get feedback from you to help us identify where we need to go next with the research to control this problem.  Dr. Buss will work with us in our area to solve these problems.  If you grow live oaks I hope to see you at our meeting.  Please call Shawn for more details 813-744-5519 ext147.

Regional Southwest Florida Agriculture Water Update Meeting

I attended the SWFWMD Agriculture Water Update Meeting a couple of weeks ago in Plant City at the Trinkle Center.  The purpose of this meeting was to allow growers and ranchers operating within the boundaries of SWFWMD the opportunity to interact with agency leaders involved in water policy and to hear the latest updates related to agricultural water issues. Here is a brief layout summarizing and encapsulating the most important points of each speaker.  Mark Hammond-SWFWMD, spoke about water use and the ag programs.  John Abendroth – FDEP, summarized where we are currently at with the numeric nutrient criteria, total minimum daily loads (TMDLs), and basin management action plans (BMAPS).  Ann Shortelle – FDEP, summarized upcoming plans to make applications to water management districts for ground water pumping and renewal of consumptive use permits more efficient and consistent across and within the districts.  Rich Budell – FDACS, discussed the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI where the three districts meet in Central Florida) as a collaborative effort to manage the water resources in the central part of the state, and spoke about a new program of payment for environmental services by capturing water on agricultural land and receiving payments from the water management districts. This seems like a very innovative way to capture, treat, and amplify water storage in a collaborative way between landowners, government, and the water management districts. He also spoke about the importance of all agricultural producers signing up with the appropriate Best Management Programs (BMPS).  Which I must reiterate for all producers the importance of signing up under the BMP programs.  This removes the burden of proof from the producer in case nutrient contamination is in the area. The last speaker was Dr. Joan Dusky- UF Assistant Dean of Extension, summarizing how UF works collaboratively between water management districts, industry, government, and agriculture to benefit the public. She spoke about the latest research involving management of water resources across all different levels from the molecular to the farm. She also summarized by saying UF research/extension is ready, willing, and able to help bring sound science to bear in these ongoing efforts.

FNGLA Lake Region Meeting

The Lakes Region Meeting will be having the first meeting of the 2012-13 year.  The meeting will be at Mid-Florida Nursery (2324 County Line Road, Plant City, FL) on June 5, 2012 starting at 5:00 with dinner at 6:30 pm.  At this meeting we will be swearing in officers and Board of Directors.  We will also be having  the famous "Rumph Roasted" Boston butt for dinner, specially prepared by Bruce Rumph.  If you would like to attend please give Karen Peterson a call 863-644-6491 or email lakeregionfngla@juno.org by June 1st.  Don't forget to bring something for the raffle.

The Integrated Pest Management Update

This year's Integrated Pest Management Update looks like it's shaped up to be a really good seminar. The event will take place on February 8, 2012 at UF/IFAS Southwest Florida  Research  and Education Center in Balm. We've got a great lineup of speakers from all over the state of Florida and from Texas A&M University.  This year's theme is "doing more with less"in terms of integrated pest management in nursery production.  Here is the lineup of speakers.

Pest Insect Update - Catherine Mannion, Ph.D., University of Florida (UF) TREC

Reducing Costs through Scouting - Catherine Mannion, Ph.D., UF TREC & Bill Schall, UF/IFAS Palm Beach County Extension Service

Low Imput Strategies for Reducing Plant Diseases - Matthews Paret, Ph.D., UF NFREC

Vendor Presentations
New pyraclostrobin & fungicide/miticide products, BASF Corporation
Biological Products, BioWorks, Inc.
Hachi-Hachi Insecticide, SePro
Benefit Insecticide & Jewel Herbicide, Everris
Kontos Insecticide & Biathlon Herbicide, OHP, Inc.
Magus Miticide, Gowan

Insects Use Fertilizer Too! Managing Both - Kevin Heinz, Ph.D., Texas A&M

IPM Through the Economic Lens - Charles Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M


Here is the flyer for more information.  http://hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu/Ag/AgOrnProd/documents/IPMflierdraft.pdf
And here is the link to register for the event.
http://2012ipmu.eventbrite.com/

The cost is only $20 and snacks are included.  CEU's and FNGLA Credits will be available.  Hope you will take advantage of this great educational lineup!
   

New Farmers Market Project

This came in from Mary Beth Henry in Polk Co. and she asked if I would share with my growers.

Four Corners Green Market

Have you ever visited Pike’s Place Market in Seattle? (http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/ )
Ever considered the economic impact a robust market such as this has on the surrounding community?

UF/IFAS Polk County Extension has been contacted to participate in and gather growers for discussion on a proposed green market in Polk County. The developer would like to pick the brain of those most likely to participate as vendors in the market. His vision is big and hopes for public funds to help make the vision a reality. The discussion is designed to draw feedback from producers as to the likelihood for producer participation as an indication of the feasibility and ultimate success of the project. The proposed market would be located in Polk but bordering Osceola, Orange and Lake Counties at the intersection of Highway 27 and 54 (Four Corners). The proposed scale is designed to draw vendors from all over Central Florida. See the location and scale of the project below and attached (attached also available at http://polk.ifas.ufl.edu/AG_Safety/files/pdf/publications/PolkFourCornersMarket.pdf.)

I’m contacting you to ask your participation in the meeting and request that you pass the invitation on to as many as possible that may be interested.

The meeting will be held January 18th at 10 am at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex 2701 Lake Myrtle Park Rd, Auburndale, FL 33823. We expect the meeting to last about 2 hours. See directions here http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?e=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=217964219781809525293.000453181969471143ab2

Contact for more information:
Quen Wilson, AICP, CPM
Concurrency and Entitlements Director
Polk County Office of Planning and Development
(863) 534-6792
quenwilson@polk-county.net

This is a big idea that could change the scope of direct to consumer marketing in Central Florida. We appreciate your time and hope you will be able to attend!

If you are not able to attend but are willing to provide comments on the project, please comment on the Polk Small Farms blog posting here.
http://polksmallfarms.blogspot.com/2012/01/proposed-green-market-in-polk-county.html
Thanks again for your time!