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>>A FARM TO TABLE CHEF DISCUSSES
THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL SEASONAL
COOKING AND EATING
>>YOU GOTTA
WORK SEASONALLY AND TRY TO
DO AS MUCH LOCAL AS POSSIBLE
>>THEN WE'LL
SPEAK WITH A COUNTY
COMMISSIONER ABOUT HIS
FAMILY HISTORY WITH
FARMING AND HOW THE
INDUSTRY IS REGULTED IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA >>I GOT
INVOLVED WITH FARM BUREAU
AND FARM BUREAU WORKS VERY
CLOSELY WITH THE STATE
LEGISLATURES. ALSO WORKING
WITH OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THEN COUNTY.
>>BUT FIRST, A
LOCAL GROWER TELLS US HOW
HE'S SHARING THE WEALTH
OF HIS FARM WITH THE COMMUNITY.
>>IF YOU RUN A
GOOD FARM, YOU HAVE GOOD
FRUIT, YOU GET PEOPLE TO
COME BACK
>>WE'LL TALK WITH THREE CENTRAL
FLORIDIANS ABOUT
AGRICULTURE AND THE ROLE
IT PLAYS IN OUR REGION.
NEXT ON METRO CENTER OUTLOOK.
>>HELLO I'M
DIANE TREES. CENTRAL
FLORIDA IS HOME TO FARMS
GROWING CITRUS, BERRIES,
AND OTHER PRODUCE. TODAY
WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
AT AGRICULTURE'S ROLE IN
OUR REGION AND SEE HOW THE
FOOD GROWN IN OUR AREA
ENDS UP ON OUR PLATES.
SCOTT WEST, THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AT
TOM WEST BLUEBERRIES JOINS
ME FIRST TO TALK ABOUT HOW
HIS FARM IS SERVING
CENTRAL FLORIDIANS. SCOTT
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
>>THANK YOU >>YOUR FARM ,
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
IT'S HISTORY >>WELL JUST
THE FAMILY HISTORY OF THE
FARM IS MY GRANDFATHER WAS
IN CITRUS SINCE HE WAS A
BOY. THEN HE STARTED HIS
OWN CITRUS COMPANY IN
1954. GOT INTO CITRUS, DID
VERY WELL. AND THEN WITH
THE FREEZES, THE FLORIDA
FREEZES, IT KIND OF TOOK A
LOT OF THE CITRUS PEOPLE
OUT. >>NOW WHEN WERE THE
FREEZES? WHAT TIME FRAME?
>>83 AND 89. I THINK A LOT
OF PEOPLE REPLANTED AFTER
83. AND THEN WE HAD
ANOTHER HARD FREEZE IN 89.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
DIDN'T REPLANT. AND THEN
FLORIDA GOT VERY POPULAR.
VERY POPULAR AND THE
HOUSES STARTED GOING UP,
THE PRICE OF PROPERTY
STARTED GOING UP. SO A LOT
OF PEOPLE GOT OUT AND SOLD
THEIR PROPERTY TO
SUBDIVISIONS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. >>NOW IF I WANT
TO BUY TOM WEST
BLUEBERRIES, WHERE WOULD I
GO? >>UMM WELL WE SELL TO
A FEW STORES IN ORLANDO.
WE SELL TO FRESH FIELDS,
FRESH MARKET, WHICH
THEY'RE AROUND AND A LOT
OF THE UH FARMERS MARKETS.
USUALLY SOMEONE'S THERE
SELLING THEM. OR YOU CAN
COME RIGHT TO THE FARM AND
GET THEM THERE. >>NOW YOU
SAID YOUR GRANDFATHER
STARTED THE FARMING. WHAT
BROUGHT HIM INTO THE
BLUEBERRY REALM OF THINGS?
WHY DID HE PICK
BLUEBERRIES? >>WELL CITRUS
EVEN THOUGH THE FREEZES,
HE WANTED TO REPLANT. HE
DID REPLANT AND DID OK AND
THEN WE GOT SOMETHING
CALLED GREENING. AND IT
WAS VERY DISCOURAGING. SO
ME AND HIM WERE WORKING
CLOSE AT THE TIME JUST IN
THE LITTLE BIT OF CITRUS
WE HAD. AND THEN WE'RE
SITTING IN THE OFFICE ONE
DAY AND HE SAID, HEY GO
OUT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO
TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF
MONEY. SO I WENT OUT AND
TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE AND
I FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE
DOING BLUEBERRIES AND JUST
KIND OF WENT FROM THERE.
JUST STARTED DOING THE
RESEARCH AND- >>SO YOU
HAVE YOUR GRANDFATHER THAT
STARTED IT, YOUR DAD IS IN
THE INDUSTRY AND YOU NOW
CARRYING ON WITH THINGS.
>>YES MA'AM >>WHAT GOES
INTO MAINTAINING A FARM
LIKE THIS? >>A LOT OF
WORK. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT
THE WEEDS AND EVERYTHING
AND YOU TRY TO DO IT WITH
THE LEAST AMOUNT OF
CHEMICALS POSSIBLE
ESPECIALLY ON BLUEBERRIES.
WE'RE NOT ORGANIC BUT WE
DON'T USE A LOT OF
CHEMICALS. SO THERE'S A
LOT OF HAND PULLING WEEDS
LABOR AND THINGS LIKE
THAT. STRICT PROGRAMS ON
BLUEBERRIES AS FAR AS THE
WATERING AND THE
NUTRITIONALS AND THINGS
THAT THEY NEED TO GROW
HERE IN FLORIDA. >>HOW
MANY PEOPLE WORK ON THE
FARM WHEN YOU SAY WEEDS TO
PULL. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO
YOU HAVE? >>I ONLY HAVE
FOUR GUYS. ME AND FOUR
GUYS. >>THAT'S PULLING A
LOT OF WEEDS >>YES
THAT'S PULLING A LOT OF
WEEDS AND THEY PULL QUITE
OFTEN. WE'D RATHER PULL
IT THEN USE A LOT OF
CHEMICALS AROUND THE
PLANTS FOR SURE.
>>YOU HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A YOU
PICK SECTION. TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
>>WELL A YOU PICK
IS WHERE YOU CAN COME AND
PICK YOUR OWN BLUEBERRIES.
AND IT SEEMS TO BE A GREAT
EVENT FOR FAMILIES. A LOT
OF FAMILIES, A LOT OF
CHILDREN, MOTHERS, THEY
COME AND THE PICK AND THE
KIDS GET TO PICK. AND THEY
GET TO TRY OUT ALL THE
VARIETIES. WE HAVE FOUR
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
BLUEBERRIES. THEY ALL COME
IN ABOUT THE SAME TIME. SO
THEY GET TO TRY A TART
ONE, A REAL SWEET ONE, A
CRUNCHY ONE. THEY ALL HAVE
THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. BUT
THE KIDS LOVE IT BECAUSE
THEY PICK AND THEN THEY
GET TO GO HOME AND MAKE
SOMETHING THAT THEY PICKED
WITH >>DO YOU GIVE THEM
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OF
WHICH BERRIES MAKE BETTER
MUFFINS OR PANCAKES OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >>YES
>>AND THEN YOU PROBABLY
GET TREATS OUT OF IT
>>WELL YES I DO GET
TREATS. PEOPLE BRING ALL
KINDS OF THINGS BACK THAT
THEY'VE MADE. VERY
INTERESTING SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT PEOPLE MAKE. I
HAD A PEACH BLUEBERRY
COBLER. THAT'S PROBABLY
THE FAVORITE THING OF ALL.
>>WHAT ABOUT HOSTING
VISTIORS ON THE FARM? HOW
OFTEN DO YOU HAVE IT OPEN
LIKE THAT? OBVIOUSLY YOUR
YOU PICK SEASON BUT DO YOU
HAVE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT
GO ON THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE
OUT? >>ONLY WHEN WE HAVE
BERRIES, UNLESS SCHOOL OR
SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME OUT
JUST FOR THE EDUCATION ON
BLUEBERRIES. AND WE'LL
DO A TOUR OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT WITH THE KIDS.
BEFORE WE SHOW THEM THE
GOOD BUGS AND THE BAD BUGS
AND WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE
LITERATURE ON HOW WE KEEP
THE BIRDS AWAY AND IT'S
REALLY INTERESTING TO THE
KIDS. THEY REALLY LOVE IT.
>>NOW SEASONAL, HOW DOES
THIS WORK? WHEN IS THE
SEASON? DO YOU HAVE MORE
THAN ONE? I HAVE NO IDEA
HOW BLUEBERRIES GROW
>>APRIL MAY AND JUNE IS
THE SEASON FOR BLUBERRIES
HERE IN FLORIDA. AND
THAT'S REALLY IT. AND
THE REST OF THE YEAR,
WE'RE JUST REALLY TRYING
TO GROW TO GET A GOOD
CROP. >>WHAT GOES IN-
WHAT'S THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE FOR YOU TO
OPERATE AND OWN A FARM
NOWADAYS? >>IT THINK JUST
ALL THE NEW THINGS THAT
ARE COMING. NEW BUGS. NEW
DISEASES AND I DON'T
THINK THEY'RE NATIVE TO
FLORIDA. I JUST THINK THAT
THEY'VE THROUGH DIFFERENT
TYPES OF PRACTICES THEY
END UP GETTING HERE
SOMEHOW AND WE JUST HYAVE
TO STAY ON TOP OF THINGS.
CITRUS IS VERY FORGIVING
IN WHAT YOU DO.
BLUEBERRIES IS VERY
SENSITIVE AS FAR AS THE
CARE TAKING. IF THEY GET
INTO A WILT OR SOMETHING
THEY'RE VERY HARD TO
BRING OUT OF IT. >>YOUR
BUSINESS IS THRIVING
THOUGH SO HOW ARE YOU
MANAGING WITH THE CHANGES
IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE
DEVELOPMENT THAT'S ALL
AROUND. I THINK THAT'S
WHERE THE YOU PICK COMES
INTO PLAY. IT'S BEEN
VERY VERY GOOD FINANCIALLY
FOR THE FARM. COMMERICALLY
IS SO UP AND DOWN. IT'S
SO HARD TO PREDICT WHAT
YOU CAN GET FOR THE
BLUEBERRIES AND THE YOU
PICK IS USUALLY THE SAME.
IT'S VERY DEPENDABLE IF
YOU RUN A GOOD FARM, HAVE
GOOD FRUIT, YOU GET PEOPLE
TO COME BACK. AND THE GOOD
THING ABOUT A YOUPICK FARM
IS YOU CAN TALK TO THE
FARMER. YOU CAN FIND OUT
WHAT'S BEEN PUT ON THESE
PLANTS OR REALLY WHAT
HASN'T IS WHAT PEOPLE
WANNA KNOW. THEY WANNA BE
SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT
USING A BUNCH OF
PESTICIDES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT. >>SCOTT THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR EXPERTISE TODAY
>>THANK YOU. ALRIGHT.
>>WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL LEARN HOW ONE CHEF
IS INCORPORATING LOCALLY
GROWN FOOD INTO THE MENU
AT HIS WINTER PARK RESTAURANT.
>>A NATIVE OF
WINTER PARK, CHEF
CHRISTOPHER WINDUS NOW
OVERSEAS THE DINING
PROGRAM AT THE ALFOND INN
AT ROLLINS COLLEGE. CHEF
WINDUS WELCOME TO THE
SHOW. TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE FARM TO TABLE
CONCEPT. >>WELL THERE'S
A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. I
MEAN WE REALLY SPEND ABOUT
THREE MONTHS SOURCING
LOCAL INGREDIENTS. IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE A WINTER
PARK THEME RESTAURANT. WE
WANTED TO KEEP IT THAT
WAY, FIND AS MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE RIGHT THERE
AROUND US AND KIND OF JUST
HELP THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE WHOLE GOAL OF
THE RESTAURANT IS TO KEEP
GIVING BACK THE WAY WE
GIVE BACK TO ROLLINS
COLLEGE, ALL THE PROFITS
FROM THE END GO TO THE
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THERE.
SO IT'S KIND OF THIS
WHOLE THING AND IT REALLY
TIES INTO OUR FARM TO
TABLE AS WELL. IN
HAMILTON'S KITCHEN WE
KEEP THE MENUS SEASONAL.
WE REALLY TRY TO FIND
PEOPLE THAT ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS. AND
THEN WE LIKE TO GO OUT AND
SEE THEM IN THEIR ELEMENT.
GETTING MY GUYS OUT THERE.
REALLY GETTING OUT THERE.
THEY HAVE MUCH GREATER
RESPECT FOR A PRODUCT >>SO
FARM TO TABLE IS ACTUALLY
GETTING THE PRODUCT ON A
LOCAL BASIS AND THEN
BRINGING IT INTO THE
RESTAURANT SO THAT YOU CAN
USE THAT FOOD? >>RIGHT.
THAT'S THE GOAL. WE KEEP
A VERY- WHEN WE WRITE
MENUS WE HAVE VERY VAGUE
MENU DESCRIPTIONS. IT'S
NOT LIKE A THREE PAGE
PARAGRAPH OF LIKE WHAT'S
IN EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANNA DO THAT. WE
WANNA BE ABLE TO TWEAK
DISHES HERE. WE WANNA KNOW
THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE
AVAILABLE FOR THAT SEASON.
THAT WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA
BE ABLE TO GET. THEN WHEN
WE HAVE GUYS THAT SHOW UP
AT THE BACK DOOR LIKE THIS
IS WHAT WE HAVE. WELL WE
WANNA BE ABLE TO TAKE
THOSE THINGS.I DON'T
WANNA TURN THEM AWAY. THEY
HAVE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
AND YOU WANT TO BRING THAT
IN AND BE ABLE TO OFFER IT
TO YOUR GUESTS. SO IF IT
MEANS TWEAKING A DISH FOR
THE NIGHT OR ADDING IT BUT
IT'S ALSO GOOD SOMEBODY
COMES IN AND THEY'LL
HAVE IT ONE NIGHT AND THEN
MAYBE THE NEXT TIME THEY
COME IT'S A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE'VE
TAKEN THINGS THAT WERE
AVAILABLE. WE USE THEM. WE
GO TO THE FARMERS MARKET
EVERYDAY. WE'RE DOWN
THERE BUYING STUFF AND
TALKING TO THE GUYS AND
SEEING WHAT THEY HAVE
COMING. ONE GUY WHO HAD
GREAT PERSIMMONS I WAS
LIKE YOU NEED TO SAVE
THESE FOR ME. WHATEVER YOU
DO I WANT THESE. JUST
HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT
IT'S ABOUT. >>HOW DID
YOU COME THOUGH TO EMBRACE
THIS PHILOSOPHY. BECAUSE
IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
>>YEAH I DID A LOT OF
TRAVELING. I DID GOING ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE
WORLD COOKING IN DIFFERENT
PLACES AND SEEING
EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING
FROM THOSE REGIONS AND HOW
THE CHEFS USED THEM. AND
YOU ALWAYS BRING SOMETHING
BACK. SO WE MIGHT BE OK
WE'RE IN FLORIDA WHICH
IS KIND OF THE SOUTH YOU
KNOW. SO YOU WANNA USE
SOME REGIONAL COOKING BUT
YOU KNOW I- THE WAY THAT I
SEE PEOPLE IN SOME AREAS
OF THE WORLD- THAT'S ALL
THEY HAVE AND THAT'S
WHAT THEY HAVE TO WORK
WITH AND THE THINGS THAT
THEY DO WITH THEM. THAT
KIND OF INSPIRES YOU SO WE
MIGHT TAKE SOME TECHNIQUES
AND SOME SEASONINGS AND
APPLY IT TO THE THINGS WE
HAVE HERE. SO THAT'S
KIND OF THE PHILOSOPHY I
HAVE ABOUT IT. IF THIS IS
WHAT YOU HAVE- SAY YOU
COULDN'T GET TOMATOES
YEAR ROUND. YOU CAN'T
MAKE A TOMATO SALAD IN THE
MIDDLE OF DECEMBER. SO BUT
YOU HAVE REALLY HEARTY
GREENS AND YOU HAVE
SOMETHING ELSE. SO WHAT
ARE YOU GONNA DO TO THAT
TO MAKE IT SPECIAL? YOU
TAKE SOMETHING THAT'S A
TURNUP OR SOMETHING MAYBE
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
LIKE BUT THE WAY THAT YOU
PREPARE IT TURNS IT INTO
SOMETHING THAT'S GREAT.
THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE
AMASSED OVER TIME, LIKE I
SAID THE DIFFERENT
TECHNIQUES, VICES,
BRAZING, POACHING,
SMOKING, APPLYING THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS AND YOU
CAN REALLY CHANGE THE WAY
PEOPLE LOOK AT A BEET. I
HATE BEETS. I'M NEVER
GONNA EAT IT. WELL TRY IT
THIS WAY BECAUSE WE REDUCE
THE JUICE AND THEN WE COOK
IT IN THE JUICE AND THEN
WE GLAZE THEM AND THEN
MAYBE WE'LL SMOKE SOME
OF THEM AND WE HAVE
DIFFERENT TEXTURES AND
FLAVOR PROFILES ALL WITHIN
ONE DISH. SO >>IT SOUNDS
LIKE THE SEASONAL IS NOT
LIMITING AS I THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE. WE'RE USED TO
ORDERING EVERYTHING WE
WANT BUT IT SOUNDS FROM
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU
CAN- >>YOU CAN ORDER
BASICALLY WHATEVER YOU
WANT BUT YOU'RE NOT
GONNA GET TOMATOES RIGHT
NOW, YOU'RE GONNA GET
THEM FROM LIKE BRAZIL OR
PEERU, YOU'RE NOT GONNA
GET THEM HERE UNLESS YOU
GO WITH A HYDROPHONIC
PRODUCT OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT. YOU JUST GOTTA-
RIGHT NOW WITH THE WAY
THAT THE WORLD IS I CAN
CALL CALIFORNIA AND HAVE
IT OVERNIGHTED TO US AND
YOU KNOW, YES IT'S
AVAILABLE 24/7. BUT
THAT'S NOT WHAT SEASONAL
COOKING IS ABOUT. IT'S
KIND OF, IN MY OPINION,
YOU GOTTA WORK SEASONALLY
AND TRY TO DO AS MUCH
LOCAL AS POSSIBLE. >>WHAT
IS THE BENEFIT OF EATING
LOCALLY GROWN FOOD?
>>YOU'RE JUST GIVING
BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU GOT THESE FARMERS WHO-
THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE
MAKE A TON OF MONEY. MOST
OF THEM ARE VERY SMALL
OPERATIONS AND THEIR
FAMILY FARMS AND IF
THEY'RE NOT SELLING
PRODUCT THEY FEEL IT. AND
THEY HAVE BAD WEATHER THEY
HAVE PRICES OF THE GRAIN
GO UP AND THEY'RE
FEEDING THEIR PIGS. BARLEY
GOES UP, THEY FEEL IT. SO
IM NOT GONNA BUY SOMETHING
THAT'S LOCAL THAT'S
NOT GOOD. SOMEBODY HAS A
PRODUCT THAT'S NOT GOOD,
YOU CAN'T START OFF WITH
A BAD PRODUCT. BUT 9 TIMES
OUT OF 10 THESE PEOPLE ARE
REALLY FOCUSED ON THEIR
PRODUCT. BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THIS IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
IF THEY'RE DOING HONEY
OR THEY'RE DOING EVEN
JUST GREENS OR WHATEVER
THEY'RE GROWING. THEY
KNOW. THEY WOULDN'T BE
DOING THIS IF THEY
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE DOING. >>RIGHT
SO YOU MIGHT GET A BETTER
PRODUCT. WHAT ABOUT FOR
YOU? WHAT'S THE NEXT
STEP FOR HAMILTON'S
KITCHEN? FOR YOUR
RESTAURANT? >>YOU KNOW
WE'RE STILL IN THE
BEGINNING PHASE OF THIS. I
THINK, TODAY'S THE 18TH,
WE'VE BEEN OPEN FOUR
MONTHS NOW. WE'RE REALLY
PUSHING. YOU KNOW WE'VE
GOTTEN PAST THAT YOU KNOW
ANYTHING OPENS IN WINTER
PARK IT'S SUPER BUSY.
JUST GETTING SLAMMED ALL
DAY. NOW IT'S STARTING
TO EVEN OUT, BALANCE OUT.
WE HAVE SOME TIME TO
REDEVELOP THE MENU.
WE'VE CHANGED BREAKFAST,
WE'VE CHANGED THIS. I
JUST WANNA SEE IT MOVING
FORWARD. YOU KNOW
EXPANDING THE MENUS SOME
MORE. WE'VE STARTED
ADDING LITTLE MORE EVENTS
HERE AND THERE. WE HOST A
LOT. BECAUSE ALSO AT THE
END WE HAVE A WHOLE
BANQUET FACILITY.
>>IT'S A LOVELY PLACE. YES I'VE
SEEN IT. THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO COMING TO
THE INN. AFTER THE BREAK
WE'LL LEARN HOW THE
STATE IS SUPPORTING
FLORIDA'S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
>>ORANGE COUNTY
COMMISIONER SCOTT BOYD IS
A FLORIDA NATIVE AND AN
ADVOCATE FOR FARMING IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA.
COMMISSIONER BOYD
WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
>>THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
>>YOUR FAMILY ARRIVED HERE IN
THE 1880S. TELL US LITTLE
ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
WITH AGRICULTURE. >>WELL
LIKE YOU SAID IN THE 1880S
THEY MOVED TO CENTRAL
FLORIDA MOSTLY TO GET AWAY
FROM THE COLD LIKE A LOT
OF OTHER PEOPLE. THEY
SETTLED ON THE SOUTHERN
SHORE OF LAKE APOPKA IN
THE OAKLAND AREA AND BEGAN
A FARMING OPERATION THERE
WITH VEGETABLES PRIMARILY.
AND THEN OVER THE COURSE
OF 6 GENERATIONS, MOVED
INTO THE CITRUS INDUSTRY,
AS WELL AS THEN MOVED TO
SOUTH FLORIDA. SO A LOT OF
DEEP ROOTS AND HERITAGE
HERE WITH A LOT OF THE
FARMING FAMILIES.
>>WERE THEY FARMERS BEFORE THEY
CAME INTO THE STATE?
>>YEAH THEY WERE BUT
PRIMARILY WHERE THE
FARMING REALLY KIND OF
BECAME AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF THE FAMILY HERITAGE
HERE IS WHEN THEY MOVED
HERE AND STARTED FARMING
THE VEGETABLES. >>SO
YOU'RE SAYING SOUTH
FLORIDA, CENTRAL FLORIDA
IS THIS THE AREA THAT THEY
SETTLED IN STATE?
>>CENTRAL FLORIDA, YEAH.
OAKLAND, WINTER GARDEN
AREA JUST ON THE WESTERN
SIDE OF ORANGE COUNTY
>>HOW DO YOU THINK
FLORIDA'S GREEN SPACE IS
FOR FARMING WITH OUR
POPULATION GROWTH AND THE
DENSITY WE HAVE NOW.
>>WELL AS FAR AS THE
AGRICULTURE GOES, THERE
ARE A LOT OF IMPACTS THAT
CAN CREATE ISSUES FOR THEM
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE IN
THE INDUSTRY. YOU KNOW
YOU'VE GOT WEATHER,
DISEASE, AND THEN YOU HAVE
THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY FOR
THIS REGION BECOMING SO
POPULATED. FOR THE MOST
PART, A LOT OF THE GROWERS
STICK IT OUT, YOU KNOW THE
FREEZES MOVE MOST OF THEM
SOUTH, TO KIND OF THE
SOUTHERN AREA OF THE
STATE. AND THE DISEASE IS
ANOTHER ISSUE. BUT FOR THE
MOST PART, LIKE I WAS
DISCUSSING WITH YOU BEFORE
THE SHOW STARTED, WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT A BLUEBERRY
FARM OPERATION THAT'S LOCATED
IN A VERY URBAN COMMUNITY.
THE FAMILY HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN CITRUS
FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND
THEN THEY MOVED INTO THE
BLUEBERRY OPERATION AND
NOW THEY'RE DOING YOU
PICK AND SO IT CAN BE VERY
COMPATIBLE. >>THERE ARE SO
MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO
BEING SUCCESSFUL. NOT
ALWAYS IN OUR CONTROL WITH
HAVING AN AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRY WITH THAT. YOU
MUST SEE A LOT OF THINGS
WITH THE FAMILY HISTORY
THAT YOU'VE HAD TO FACE
OVER THE TIME PERIODS
>>YEAH OVER THE YEARS I
THINK ONE OF THE BIG
THINGS WAS THE FREEZES
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN
THE 80S. I SAW THE FREEZES
IN THE EARLY 80S AND THEN
THE LATE 80S, 89 WHICH WAS
REALLY A KILLER FOR THE
CITRUS INDUSTRY WHICH
MOVED MOST OF THE FOLKS
SOUTH AT THAT POINT OR
THEY DIDN'T GET BACK
INTO THE CITRUS INDUSTRY
AGAIN WHICH LED INTO MORE
REGIONAL PLANNING. WHICH
IN MY DISTRICT THAT I
REPRESENT FOR SOUTHWEST
ORANGES CALLED HORIZON
WEST AND IT WAS THE
STATE'S FIRST SECTOR
PLANT. AND SIX VILLAGES
THAT TIE IN WITH THAT. SO
MOST OF THE CITRUS
INDUSTRY THAT WAS THERE IS
GONE. BUT THERE ARE A FEW
GROWERS THAT ARE STILL
LEFT THAT ARE STILL
INVOLVED AND STILL THERE.
MY FAMILY ACTUALLY IS
STILL THERE IN LAKE COUNTY
AND BOTH DOWN IN COLLIER
AND HENRY COUNTY AS WELL.
>>DO YOU THINK AS A STATE
WE DO ENOUGH TO SUPPORT
AND PROMOTE THE FARMING
INDUSTRY? >> YEAH I THINK
SO. WHEN I GRADUATED FROM
COLLEGE AND GOT INTO THE
INDUSTRY ITSELF WORKING
WITH THE FAMILY, I GOT
INVOLVED WITH FARM BUREAU
AND THE FARM BUREAU WORKS
VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
STATE LEGISLATURES, ALSO
WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THEN
COUNTY, COUNTY GOVERNMENT
WAS ANOTHER AREA THAT CAN
IMPACT US WHEN IT COMES TO
PERMITTING AND VARIOUS
THINGS LIKE THAT. STATE
LEVEL, SUPPORT OF DISEASE
CONTROL AND PROVIDING
FUNDING FOR STATE COLLEGES
AND RESEARCH AND THAT SORT
OF THING ARE EXTREMEMLY
IMPORTANT AND ON THE
FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.
IN ORANGE COUNTY, COMING FROM
THE AG INDUSTRY, MY FOCUS
HAS BEEN IN UTILIZE WHAT
WE HAVE IN WEST ORANGE
COUNTY. IT'S CALLED
RECLAIM. IT'S WATER
CONSERVE PROGRAM THAT THE
CITY OF ORLANDO IN ORANGE
COUNTY HAVE FOR OUR
UTILITIES AND IT'S
REUSED WATER THAT HAS BEEN
TREATED BUT BECAUSE IT IS
ALL MOSTLY SHIPPED OUT TO
THE WEST SIDE OF THE
COUNTY, BACK IN THE, AFTER
KIND OF IN THE 80S LATE
80S, THAT TIME FRAME THEY
STARTED UTILIZING THAT FOR
IRRIGATION. AND SO NOW
THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME OF
THE CITRUS AND HAS MOVED
OUT THE STATE, NOT OUT OF
THE STATE BUT DOWN IN THE
SOUTH, CENTRAL FLORIDA
AREA, THEY USE THAT FOR
THE IRRIGATION AND TRYING
TO USE SOME OF THAT
RECLAIMED WATER FOR OTHER
AGRICULTURE CROPS TOO.
>>DO YOU THINK THAT WE
WILL HAVE ENOUGH CLEAN
QUALITY WATER MOVING
FORWARD TO REALLY SUSTAIN
THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY?
>>YEAH THE PUBLIC SECTOR
IS THE BIG USER OF WATER.
AGRICULTURE USES A LOT IN
IRRIGATION. IT'S A SMALL
PART OF THE OVERALL SCOPE
AND I THINK WHERE WE
REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON
THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS THE
USE OF WATER LIKE IN OUR
YARDS. I MEAN THAT'S
REALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.
AGRICULTURE TAKES NOT
ONLY FROM THE AQUIFER BUT
ALSO CAN TAKE FROM
WATERWAYS AND LAKES AND
THAT. AND THEN UTILIZE
SOME OF THOSE SOURCES TOO.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
PUMPING OUT OF THE
AQUIFER, REALLY OUR PUBLIC
SECTOR IS A BIG USER OF
THAT, SO YOU'RE SEEING
CHANGES IN HOW WE'RE
HANDLING THAT ISSUE.
WE'VE GOT A STUDY
THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, AS
WELL AS ST JOHNS RIVER
WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
AND SOUTH FLORIDA WATER
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
ORANGE COUNTY IS THE
CENTER OF THAT STUDY AND
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS
HOW THROUGH EDUCATION AND
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVICES
THAT ARE USED IN YARDS IN
CUTTING THAT WATER USE
DOWN BECAUSE MOST OF THE
WATER, LIKE WE USE IN OUR
YARDS, IS 50 PLUS PERCENT
OF WHAT WE USE IN OUR
HOUSEHOLDS >>RIGHT SO THE
RECLAIMED IS REALLY AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.
YOU ARE AN AGRICULTURE
INSIDER SO WHAT'S ONE
THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW ABOUT FARMING IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA?
>>WELL LIKE ANY INDUSTRY IT'S
CHALLENGING. BUT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
SEEING IS THE DISCUSSION
OF ALL OF OF GROWERS
WANTING TO MOVE INTO THE
AREA. SOMETHING WE
HAVEN'T SEEN AND IT'S
KIND OF A NEW COMMODITY
THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO
HAVE HERE, ESPECIALLY IN
ORANGE COUNTY AND CENTRAL
FLORIDA. ONE OF THE
DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE AT THE
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS WAS BACK ON
THE TOPIC OF CONSERVE TOO,
WAS UTILIZING SOME OF
THOSE RESOURCES IN ORDER
TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE TO
COME BACK INTO OUR REGION.
AND PROVIDING A LOW COST
WATER SUPPLY THAT THEY
WOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE.
CONSERVE TOO IS NOT
ALLOWED TO BE UTILIZED ON
FRUIT CROPS THAT YOU WOULD
EAT WITHOUT A PEEL. WHILE
IT'S STILL SAFE, OLIVES
AND PRODUCTS LIKE THAT
THROUGH IRRIGATION METHODS
YOU CAN ACTUALLY PROMOTE THAT
>>SO HOW IMPORTANT IS
AGRICULTURE TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS?
>>WELL I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. I LOOK AT
AGRICULTURE AS A NATURAL
WAY OF KIND OF REGULATING
GROWTH TO SOME EXTENT AS
LONG AS THE AGRICULTURAL
COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES
AND FAMILIES WANT TO STAY
HERE LOCALLY AND CONTINUE
TO GROW. THEY KEEP A USE
IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT
HELPS KIND OF MOLD THE
GROWTH. IF YOU LOOK AT
EAST ORANGE COUNTY AND THE
EXPANSE OF AREAS THAT THE
MORMON RANCH HAS. FOR
EXAMPLE, THEY FORM A LOT
OF THAT. AND ON THE WEST
SIDE OF TOWN, YOU STILL
HAVE GROVE OPERATIONS,
BLUEBERRY FARM OPERATIONS
AND THAT SORT OF THING. AS
LONG AS IT'S VIABLE AND
WE AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT HELP
THEM TO PROMOTE THEIR
BUSINESS, I THINK IT'S A
WIN WIN FOR EVERYONE.
>>ONE LAST THOUGHT, WHAT
DO YOU SEE AS THE ROLE FOR THE
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA
IN SAY 20 YEARS FROM NOW?
>>WELL I SEE US
CONTINUING TO GROW THE
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
YOU KNOW WE'RE A LEADER IN
CITRUS PRODUCTION NOT ONLY
FOR THE UNITED STATES BUT
AROUND THE WORLD AS FAR AS
FRESH JUICE GOES. YOU KNOW
WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT
COMMODITIES THAT COME OUT
OF OUR REGION HERE IN THE
STATE OF FLORIDA. JUST
HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY
YOU'VE GOT HONEY
PRODUCTION, YOU GOT
CATTLE, YOU'VE GOT PINE
TREE PRODUCTION, YOU GOT
FOLIAGE CAPITAL OF THE
WORLD IN APOPKA AND THEN
THE CITRUS INDUSTRY WHICH
IS ABOUT 2/3 OF THE STATE
FROM THE SOUTH TO CENTRAL
FLORIDA IS A PRIMARY
PRODUCER FOR JUICE FRUIT
FOR THE UNITED STATES.
>>COMMISSIONER, THANKS SO
MUCH FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.
>>THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>>THAT'S ALL FOR OUR SHOW TODAY.
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