• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video
You are here: Home / Soup Du Jour / Broward County Schools to Serve Students 40,000 Pounds of Plant City Strawberries

Broward County Schools to Serve Students 40,000 Pounds of Plant City Strawberries

Posted on February 24, 2017

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that Broward County Public Schools will serve more than 40,000 pounds of Florida-grown strawberries to their students over the next two weeks. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Farm to School program facilitated the purchase from Sweet Life Farms in Plant City, Fla., which is owned and operated by Mark McDonald.image005
“By connecting Florida growers with nearby schools, we are teaching students that the nutrition they need to succeed in the classroom is grown right here in their backyards,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “I applaud Broward County Schools for their participation in the Farm to School program.”
The McDonald family has farmed berries and vegetables for more than four decades in Plant City, which is known as the “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.” Sweet Life Farms adopted a “back to basics” approach to focus on high-quality repeat business. The family-owned farm produces blueberries, cantaloupes, mixed vegetables, strawberries and watermelons. In 2013, Sweet Life Farms received the Harvest Award.
The Farm to School program connects K-12 schools with Florida farmers and growers to provide locally grown produce to students during school meals. Since 2015, the Farm to School program has facilitated the purchase of more than 590,000 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce to Florida schools through opportunity buys.
The Farm to School program positively impacts local economies, reduces transportation costs and helps preserve farms and farmland. Producers interested in providing fresh fruit and vegetables to local schools should contact Beth Spratt at 850-617-7419 or [email protected].
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Share this article! Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Filed Under: Soup Du Jour Tagged With: Broward County Schools, Farm to School program, FDACS, Plant City Strawberries

Primary Sidebar

    Submit News    

Florida Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to 15-Week Abortion Ban, Which Remains in Effect

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court accepted a request by abortion providers today to hear arguments … [Read More...] about Florida Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to 15-Week Abortion Ban, Which Remains in Effect

Supreme Court Asks For Views Of Biden Justice Department In Florida, Texas Social Media Laws

Washington – Supreme Court Justices have asked the federal government’s chief appellate lawyer, the Solicitor … [Read More...] about Supreme Court Asks For Views Of Biden Justice Department In Florida, Texas Social Media Laws

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Announces $67 Million in Funding Available Through the Rebuild Florida Hurricane Sally Infrastructure Repair Program

Local governments in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties can now apply for funding The … [Read More...] about Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Announces $67 Million in Funding Available Through the Rebuild Florida Hurricane Sally Infrastructure Repair Program

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Newsletter signup

Stay in the loop! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive a brief recap of the week's most popular stories.

Footer

News

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video

About Us 

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021
Terms & Conditions

© Copyright 2023 Capital Soup · All Rights Reserved ·