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What would you say if I told you there was company in our community that generated $900 million in sales and supported around 9,000 jobs? Would you be curious?
“If agriculture were looked upon as a manufacturing interest, how protective would we be of it?” was the question Charles LaPradd posed to me in our most recent conversation.
Charles is the county’s Agriculture Manager and is equal parts community educator and industry advocate. He is a beacon of knowledge for an industry that for too many of us is hidden and unseen.
You may be aware that agriculture is a huge business in Florida. What you may not know is that Miami-Dade County has had a farming culture since the 1800s but this industry is under threat more than ever. In some ways by the pressures that you might expect — urbanization, population growth, and trade issues. But I’d like to focus on one other — indifference. The truth is many Miami-Dade residents are unaware that close by we have farming — green beans, squash, tomatoes, and any number of tropical fruits.
South Dade is the No. 1 producer in the country of decorative plants, but wintertime production of vegetables is substantial and makes this area strategically significant to the country.
“South Florida and Southern California are the principal reasons consumers in the U.S. and other places don’t have to consume veggies or fruits strictly from the cans during the fall and winter,” LaPradd said.
As an exporter, this industry represents us very well. Every Publix from here to Tennessee has produce from South Florida. Further, 89 percent of all South Florida agriculture products ship out of the region, primarily to the northeast and central U.S. and Canada. So, someone in Toronto may be more aware of our area’s agricultural prowess than many long-time residents of Miami-Dade County.
Did you know that during the winter, South Dade is one of the top wedding destinations in the country? Locations like Hacienda Los Robles are working farms but also event venues with beautiful settings and scenery. There is a tourism aspect to our agriculture industry that is increasingly important throughout the state. You don’t even need to plan a wedding to enjoy these venues.
And if you want to taste the bounty of what our farms are producing, just take a drive down Krome avenue where you will find a collection of roadside markets offering fresh fruit and vegetables and tasty meals. All these sites are available to us year-round.
November has been designated as Miami-Dade Farmers Month. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins (District 8) was the prime sponsor of this legislation two years ago. The intent was to bring attention to this key part of our Miami-Dade County heritage. And it is a heritage, one that we all benefit from.
In terms of history, in terms of economic impact, in terms of exports and branding, in terms of tourism and in ways that Charles LaPradd calls “strategic.” It is true that much of the growing involves decorative plants, but if needed, the land is there. It is a resource that can turn to the cultivation of food if need called for such a change.
One last thing. The concept of “Farm to Table” is an attractive one for both diners and restaurant owners. Jason and Melanie Schoendorfer are the owners of Babe’s Meat & Counter in Palmetto Bay. They source locally when they can for many reasons.
“Chefs love to take advantage of the seasonality of an area and plan dishes around what is available,” Jason said.
There is also the aspect of being environmentally conscious and, of course, the freshness of product.
But in the end, Jason said, “It is always better to source directly from people we know and care about.”
I love knowing people like Jason and Melanie. I admire how they do what they can when they can to support our local farmers. Visit some of these places we’ve talked about and share your stories with your neighbors. Agriculture is present in a big way in our community. It’s time we took a moment to learn more about it.
Visit https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/deals/miami-dade-farmers-month for more information on 2023 Farmers month events.
Richard Candia is a board member of the South Dade Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of the Economic Development Council.
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