<p>Fresh Take is your roundup of all things related to organic and sustainable living. Join Florida Organic Growers staff and guest experts as we discuss everything you need to know about sustainable living, organic agriculture, and how to make the best lifestyle choices that benefit you and the environment. So if you’re an eco-warrior, a dedicated farmer, or just someone looking to make more conscious decisions, tune in to get your Fresh Take. </p>
Florida's citrus industry has faced no shortage of challenges in recent decades, from citrus greening and extreme weather to mounting economic pressures. In this episode of Fresh Take, host Juan Carlos Rodriguez sits down with Zack Farr, a third-generation Florida citrus grower and CEO of Biotech Applied Research, to discuss how innovation and resilience are helping shape the future of agriculture.
Drawing on both his farming background and his work developing biochar solutions, Zack explains how agricultural waste can be transformed into a valuable resource that helps improve soil health, retain water and nutrients, and build more resilient farming systems. He also discusses biochar's potential role in regenerative agriculture, carbon sequestration, and supporting the long-term viability of farms and growers.
From the realities facing Florida's citrus industry to the opportunities emerging through agricultural innovation, this conversation offers an insightful look at how farmers are turning challenges into solutions for the future of food and farming.
Want to see biochar production in action? Join the LIVE Citrus to Carbon Demonstration on October 6 to learn more about the innovative process discussed in this episode and its potential applications for Florida agriculture.
Tune in to discover why biochar is gaining attention as a promising tool for healthier soils, stronger farms, and a more resilient agricultural landscape.
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
A beautiful Florida landscape can do more than enhance curb appeal. It can provide critical habitat for butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators.
In this episode, certified horticulture professional, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ professional, and landscape designer Tenille Dixon Pawlus, owner of Butterflies and Blossoms FL, shares how homeowners can create vibrant, thriving outdoor spaces that support wildlife while remaining beautiful, functional, and easy to maintain.
Drawing on years of experience designing landscapes across Florida, Tenille offers practical guidance on choosing the right plants, avoiding common landscaping mistakes, and making simple changes that can have a lasting impact on pollinator populations. Whether you're starting a new garden or looking to enhance an existing landscape, you'll walk away with actionable ideas for creating a healthier ecosystem right outside your door.
Tune in to discover how every yard, no matter its size, can become part of the solution and help save pollinators one landscape at a time.
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
Join host JC Rodriguez for an inspiring conversation with Kyndra Love, SE TOPP Project Manager, about Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (SE TOPP) and the real opportunities it creates for farmers looking to strengthen their operations, access new markets, and navigate the path to organic production with confidence.
We also share a preview of two upcoming free Jacksonville events that bring together growers, buyers, researchers, students, and community leaders to share resources, address challenges, and create opportunities for success!
In this episode, you'll learn:
• How SETOPP helps farmers transition to organic production
• Ways to reduce uncertainty and gain expert guidance on organic certification and compliance
• What to expect at the upcoming Town Hall, including policy updates and opportunities to voice local agricultural concerns
• Key Symposium sessions covering produce safety, marketing strategies, and telling your farm's story to attract customers
• What buyers are looking for right now and how to position your products for new sales opportunities
• Why networking with farmers, researchers, students, and industry professionals can open doors to partnerships and growth
• Resources available to help your farm become more resilient, profitable, and connected
Don't miss these free opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Register today for both the Town Hall and Symposium at: EVENTS – Florida Organic Growers
Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your farm to the next level, these events are designed to help you turn questions into actionable next steps.
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
Many Kids Know What Food Is—But Not Where It Comes From
Most children eat three meals a day, yet many have little connection to the farms, farmers, and food systems that make those meals possible. In this episode, Becky Sponholtz, Executive Director of Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, shares how school gardens, hands-on learning, and agricultural education are helping students better understand where their food comes from and why agriculture matters. Growing up in Florida's agricultural heartland and spending years as an agriscience teacher, Becky brings a unique perspective on inspiring the next generation of informed consumers, future farmers, and food system leaders. Together, we explore how agricultural literacy helps cultivate stronger communities, healthier food choices, and a more resilient future for agriculture.
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
Can you really start homesteading in the middle of a city? Absolutely. In this episode, Andres Arango—biomedical engineer turned homesteading innovator—shares how anyone, anywhere can begin building a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle.
From balcony gardens to full-scale food forests, Andres breaks down the core principles of homesteading, busts common myths, and offers practical tips for beginners. Learn how to optimize your space, conserve resources, and connect with a growing community of eco-conscious growers.
🌱 Topics Covered:
Whether you're a city dweller, sustainability enthusiast, or curious beginner, this episode will inspire you to take the first step toward self-sufficiency—no matter where you live.
🔗 Follow Andres:
Instagram: @growfoodhomestead
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
What does regenerative agriculture really mean—and why does it matter? In this episode of Fresh Take, host JC Rodriguez sits down with Dr. Kendra Klein, Deputy Director for Science at Friends of the Earth, to unpack the science, stories, and social impact behind one of the most talked-about movements in food and farming.
We explore:
Whether you're a farmer, foodie, or climate-conscious citizen, this episode offers a grounded and inspiring look at how soil can be a solution to some of our biggest environmental challenges.
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
In this episode, nursery manager and vegetable farmer Robert Lommerse shares his journey from citrus horticulture to running a family-owned nursery and sustainable farm in Sanford, Florida. Discover how flowers and nurseries play a vital role in supporting pollinators, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening local food systems.
Whether you're a beginner gardener or a food system advocate, you'll gain practical tips for growing in small spaces, learn how nurseries foster community resilience, and explore sustainable practices that make gardening accessible and impactful.
Topics include:
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
In this inspiring episode of Fresh Take, we dig into the soil—literally and figuratively—with Gen Z farmer and sustainability advocate Dawson Amico, founder of Hospitable Harvests. From growing native milkweed to support monarch butterflies to managing over 15 front yard microfarms in Orlando, Dawson shares his journey of turning passion into purpose.
Discover how the pandemic sparked his composting journey, why biochar became a game-changer in his soil health strategy, and how he's helping others grow greener through hands-on education and garden coaching. Whether you're a beginner composter, urban gardener, or just compost-curious, this episode is packed with practical tips, Florida-specific advice, and heartfelt stories of regeneration and resilience.
What You’ll Learn:
Connect with Dawson:
Instagram: @hospitableharvests
Facebook: Hospitable Harvests
LinkedIn: Dawson Amico
Website: www.hospitableharvests.com
Tune in and get inspired to turn your food scraps into fertile soil and your front yard into a flourishing farm. Let’s grow a more sustainable future—one compost pile at a time.
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
What exactly is the Farm Bill—and why should you care? In this episode of Fresh Take, we demystify one of the most influential pieces of legislation shaping our food system. Host Lana Chehabeddine sits down with Billy Hackett, a passionate policy specialist from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, to break down the Farm Bill’s history, structure, and far-reaching impact on farming, food access, environmental health, and rural communities.
Billy shares insights on how the bill affects everything from food prices to conservation programs, and why equitable reform is essential for farmers and communities. Learn about common misconceptions, current challenges, and how grassroots advocacy can drive meaningful change.
Whether you're a grower, policymaker, or simply someone who eats, this episode will empower you with the knowledge and tools to engage with the Farm Bill and support a more sustainable, just food system.
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.
Daniel Miranda is Director of Sales at Legacy Greens, a microgreen farm located in Tallahassee, Florida. In this episode, Daniel joins us for a conversation about his experience completing two On Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs).
Hear about:
- Why Legacy Greens decided to request each OFRR
- Participating in the Produce Safety Alliance Training
- The OFRR process and how it was beneficial for the farm
Resources:
Learn more about On Farm Readiness Reviews on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/On-Farm-Readiness-Review
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Schedule in Florida: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/FSMA-Produce-Safety-Training
Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/
For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma
Learn more about Legacy Greens: http://www.legacygreens3.com/
Fuel the Work Behind the Mic—and Beyond
Behind every episode is a community of supporters who believe in a healthier, more resilient food future. Sponsorship support helps Florida Organic Growers continue connecting farmers, food, and communities through education, resources, and conversations that inspire positive change. 🌱
👉 Visit our sponsor page to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can grow real solutions.