The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has added several exciting new features to the Florida Farm To You commodities exchange that the Department launched on April 9.
Designed to connect farmers with buyers, consumers, and food banks during COVID-19, the page has been visited more than 334,000 times, with more than 310 listings of farm-fresh items for purchase, and is part of the #KeepFloridaGrowing effort launched by FDACS. The new features include an interactive map and a new commodities transportation option.
Interactive Map: The Florida Farm to You page now features an interactive map in which users can enter their address, city, or ZIP code to find growers near them. The map includes icons indicating what commodities are nearby, such as fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, honey, and more.
Transportation Option: Similar to farmers listing their products, transportation companies can now list their refrigerated and nonrefrigerated truck services on the Florida Farm to You page. By filling out the simple online form, transportation companies can be contacted by farmers and ranchers looking for options to have their commodities transported from their farms.
“Our new Florida Farm to You page has successfully connected Florida’s farmers with buyers, food banks, and consumers in their communities, said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Now, we’ve made the page even more user-friendly by adding an interactive, searchable map, and we’re adding functionality to help agriculture producers find transportation for their crops from their fields. As COVID-19 creates unprecedented challenges, we remain committed to doing everything we can to support both our farmers and consumers in need.”
The additions were the result of feedback from Florida Farm to You page users, as well as from transportation companies eager to help agriculture producers. Transportation companies with vehicles suitable for the transportation of agricultural commodities are encouraged to sign up on the page and share information including location, truck sizes, travel radius, and availability.
