Travis Arp: Tell your own story — before someone else does it for you

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Transparency is a growing concern by consumers and is becoming a larger factor when making purchasing decisions. This has been no more apparent than the recent debacle the meat industry has found itself in with Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB), or more cordially known by the media as “pink slime.”

Briefly, LFTB is a beef product derived from high fat trim taken off the carcass during fabrication. Continue reading.

Darrell Smith: Ag industry protects, conserves more than you think

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Those of us that are connected to Florida Agriculture realize the industry’s economic significance to our state. Now providing more than a $100 billion impact and employing nearly one million people, the industry is unmistakably a critical factor in maintaining a healthy Florida. Continue reading.

Tatiana Borisova: Tailor outreach efforts to specific audience

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Are people interested in learning about water resources? If the answer is yes, what topics most interest them? What sources of information do they rely upon? Results of a recent (2008 – 2009) survey of Floridians offer some insights.

The survey results indicated significant educational opportunities for outreach organizations. Continue reading.

Brewster Bevis: E-Verify isn’t the cure-all for Florida’s immigration woes

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No one disagrees that America’s immigration system is broken. However, ask 10 different people how it should be fixed and you will get 10 different answers. More than likely, each of those 10 solutions will contain a valid “fix” for a portion of our nation’s immigration woes. Continue reading.

Mike Carlton: Labor shortage, E-Verify would threaten domestic food supply

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There are continuing efforts in several states and in Congress to enact mandatory e-verify legislation.

State lawmakers and some in Congress seemed determined to push e-verify laws onto the nation’s businesses. Requiring agricultural employers to use e-verify will deprive America’s farms and ranches of a majority of their current skilled workforce and nearly the entire pool of people willing to fill farm jobs unless Congress provides a workable agricultural labor program at the same time. Continue reading.

Jennifer Nelis: Agriculture doesn’t just happen

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Most consumers think agricultural products just happen naturally. Each year, an entirely new crop of new or improved agricultural products emerge from greenhouse trials and laboratories across the globe and make their way into the marketplace. From boosting things like life-essential crop’s production yields to producing more fragrant blooms in the garden, there are literally thousands of researchers behind the scenes working to develop the latest in global agricultural innovations. Continue reading.

Gary Wishnatzki: Strawberry producers bring pride to Plant City

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Knowing where your food comes from and understanding the growing practices of fresh produce is a trending topic, gaining a lot of popularity in recent years.  Given the technology available to us at Wish Farms, it was important to utilize the information we gather in a way that would be beneficial to the consumer. Continue reading.

Dale McClellan: New formula shows flavored milk can be healthy, taste great

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Given the choice between flavored milk (chocolate or strawberry) and white milk, which would you choose? What if the flavored milk had the same number of calories as 2 percent reduced-fat white milk, was fat-free — and still tasted great? At M & B Products in Tampa, our challenge was to determine what hundreds of school kids would choose – and what they would actually drink. Continue reading.

Adam Putnam: FDACS’ collaboration with schools, farmers eases transfer

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On January 1, the state’s school food and nutrition programs transferred to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In this new role, we’re focused on improving the nutritional value of school meals by directing more locally-grown, fresh fruits and vegetables to school cafeterias. Continue reading.

Richard Stephens: In wake of contaminated product, best reaction is to recall

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Food recalls are becoming more and more common place. They can run the gamut from minor misbranding issues for a small, local manufacturer; to major outbreak related pathogens involving multinational corporations. Regardless of the size and scope, they all have the same goal: to ensure the safety of our food, and protect consumers. Continue reading.