Centennial Farm to Fork

1120 Centennial Blvd,Port Charlotte FL 33953

17 July, 2021

Description

Join us as we celebrate 100 years of agriculture in Charlotte County. This FREE event will showcase the food we produce and how we prepare it. Enjoy a day full of education and fun featuring cooking demonstrations, educational exhibitors, food trucks, door prizes, make and takes, children's activities, and classes/workshops/activities related to agriculture and food. Cottage Food Industry and Basic Food PreservationFamily Nutrition Program OverviewCommunity Food SystemsBeekeeping OverviewMulti-County Agents Efforts in Charlotte County Please register if you wish to attend any the following classes/workshops. 10:00 a.m. - Cottage Food Industry As a definition, “A cottage food product is a non-potentially hazardous food product produced in an unlicensed home kitchen. A person who produces a cottage food product is a Cottage Food Operator.” Join UF/IFAS Lee County Family Consumer Science Agent, Jenn Hagen as she discusses the details of the Cottage Food Industry and how you might become involved. 10:00 a.m. – Community Food Systems Community food system efforts focus on the interconnected nature of food and the environment as well as the social impacts of food including production, distribution, marketing, and disposal. UF/IFAS Extension works to strengthen our local and regional food systems through education, technical assistance, and networking opportunities. Jessica Ryals, Sustainable Food Systems Agent, UF/IFAS Collier County, and Kelly Wilson, Food Systems Specialist UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program for Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties will provide an overview of the Community Food System and how it involves our local community. 11:00 a.m.– Family Nutrition Program Overview The UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program (FNP) has provided free nutrition education to SNAP-eligible people in Florida since 1996. FNP also provides free resources for local organizations to support and promote healthy eating and physical activity in their communities. The FNP program is currently in 40 counties., including Charlotte County. Learn about FNP from Andrea Moron, FNP Extension Program Manager, and Haydee Carbajal, FNP Extension Program Assistant as they review this beneficial program statewide, regionally, and in Charlotte County. 11:00 a.m. – Multi-County Agents in Charlotte County Charlotte County is blessed to have a full contingent of Agricultural Agents covering the citrus, livestock and vegetable industries in our rural community. These Agents are housed in Hendry county, but cover a number of counties in Southwest Florida including Charlotte County. UF/IFAS Multicounty Agents, Craig Frey, Commercial Vegetable Agent, Dr. Mongi Zekri, Citrus Agent, and Lindsey Wiggins, Livestock Agent will share what they do to support our local agricultural industry, as well as provide an overview of the scope and nature of their subject matter responsibilities. 1:00 p.m. - Beekeeping Overview There are nearly 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state of Florida, managing approximately 630,000 colonies. A backyard hobby and commercial industry, beekeeping has exploded in popularity over the past few years. Education and application of skills is essential as individuals learn about this venture. Join Tim Kenaga and Astrid Hartleb of GreenView Aquaponics Family Farm & Apiary and the Gulf Coast Beekeepers Association, as they provide an overview of the industry and what it takes to start a hive. 1:00 p.m. – Florida Agriculture in the Classroom Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. (FAITC) is a non-profit organization that provides educational resources, grants and other programs to help Pre-K through 12th grade educators incorporate agricultural concepts into their core subject area classes. The goal of FAITC is to expand youth awareness and understanding of Florida agriculture and natural resources by integrating agricultural concepts into core educational disciplines and supporting programs. Florida Agriculture in the Classroom representatives will detail this outreach program and share successes and impacts. 2:00 p.m. – Basic Food Preservation Many people enjoy growing their own fruits and vegetables, others do it out of necessity. Home food preservation remains an important and popular cultural activity. It is critical that those who practice preserving and processing foods at home have access to the most reliable information available concerning food safety and food quality. Join UF/IFAS Lee County Family Consumer Science Agent, Jenn Hagen, UF/IFAS Collier County 4-H Agent, Tish Roland, and Associates, review as wide range of basic food preservation tools and techniques essential to this lost art. 2:00 p.m. – Fresh Access Bucks Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) is a USDA funded statewide nutrition incentive program that increases the purchasing power of SNAP recipients to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, produce stands, CSAs, mobile markets, and community grocery outlets. FAB’s approach to addressing food access, affordability, and nutrition education aims to work with the entire food system: from producer to consumer to build healthy, resilient communities supported by robust local food systems. Please join Heather Henderson with Fresh Access Bucks as she discusses this program and its impact in Florida and out community.