June 2, 2026 By Michelle Vecerina TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson on Tuesday detailed a sweeping series of agricultural funding victories and policy protections included in the state’s newly passed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget, declaring 2026 “The Year of the Farmer.” The state budget delivers hundreds of millions of dollars toward […]
$76 million over two years connects Florida farmers to families in need of fresh food Tallahassee–House Bill (HB) 5001E, Florida’s balanced budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, passed earlier today, includes $38 million in funding to address food insecurity and support Florida farmers, both key priorities of Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula). With $76 million […]
As part of our spotlight series highlighting members of the Feeding Florida food bank network, this month we featured Feeding South Florida and the incredible work they are doing to nourish communities across our southern counties. Feeding South Florida is helping neighbors access nutritious food, expanding opportunities, and strengthening their community through food assistance, workforce […]
By Peter Schorsch ‘When a rural grocer thrives, a small business stays open and a Florida farmer has a customer.’ Fifteen independent grocery stores in rural Florida communities are joining a statewide produce incentive network that has generated more than $49 million in local economic impact since 2013. The Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program, operated […]
by Peter Schorsch Tuesday’s roundtable focused on the program’s next chapter. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson visited in Marion County and got a working-floor look at one of the state’s quieter success stories: the beef recovery arm of the Farmers Feeding Florida program. Simpson toured Fort McCoy Meat, a Marion County processor that has emerged as a model partner […]
The Story of Florida Strawberries at H&A Farms There’s just something about strawberries that feels like pure joy—bright, sweet, and full of sunshine in every bite. To celebrate National Strawberry Month this May, we wanted to go beyond the fruit itself and spend some time with the people who grow it. We recently highlighted H&A […]
WUFT | By Laila Mayfield At Gainesville’s largest food bank, boxes upon boxes of fresh zucchini and squash are hauled off by the shopping cart-full to ministries, pantries and nonprofit organizations across the region. Colorful, farm-fresh produce is the standard. Just days earlier, this produce was simply a product surplus from a Florida farm. Now, […]
Wings of Faith and Second Harvest Food Bank distributed more than 40,000 pounds of with their mobile food distribution at Living Waters Church, helping more than 500 families in the community. By Ben Baugh OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Food insecurity is a major problem, and income strained families are far more common than people believe, […]
We know that offering access to healthy, nutritious food is only half the battle in fighting hunger. To help Florida’s families thrive and live more healthy lives, they need to understand what they’re eating, how to make the best choices, and how to incorporate healthier eating into their every day. This is where our programs […]
From Farm to Fridge: The Surprising Journey of Florida Milk Florida is home to a resilient dairy industry, powered by 35 farm families who manage approximately 45 dairy farms across the state. These dedicated families care for roughly 100,000 dairy cows that produce between 250 and 300 million gallons of milk annually. You might recognize […]
