Dear Families,
I am excited to share news about our District’s Farm to School Program. This program connects our schools with local farmers and brings fresh, locally grown foods into our cafeterias. Every year, Hillsborough County Schools serves more than 20 million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. Three million of those servings are grown by Florida farmers! Farm to School helps our students eat healthier meals made with fruits and vegetables grown close to home. Fresh foods taste better, keep their nutrients, and help students have the energy they need to learn and grow. When students enjoy nutritious meals, it supports focus, behavior, and overall well-being. Buying local foods helps our community too. It supports local farmers and businesses, keeps food dollars in our region, and reduces transportation, which is better for the environment.
I hope you enjoy this magazine of the healthy Florida items our students have enjoyed this year. By working together, we are building a healthier food system for our students and our community. Thank you for supporting our Farm to School efforts and helping us nourish both minds and bodies.
Sincerely,
Shani Hall General Manager Student Nutrition Services
Corn | Tomatoes | Green Beans | Watermelon
Satsumas | Cucumbers | Bell Peppers | Yellow Squash
Zucchini | Butternut Squash | | Strawberries | Milk
Sweet Corn FLORIDA Florida is the largest producer of fresh-market sweet corn in the U.S.
Palm Beach
County grows over 50% of Florida’s sweet corn.
Florida grows yellow, white & bi-color sweet corn.
Fresh-market sweet corn is a type of corn grown for sweet corn season lasts from
500 MILLION pounds of sweet corn per year.
Florida’s climate allows many farmers to plant more than one crop of sweet corn per year.
R.C. Hatton Farms R.C. Hatton Farms was founded in 1932 by Robert C. Hatton
“Our farm and our company is all about our people
.” LARGEST corn growers in Florida.
Sustainable farming is very important to R.C. Hatton Farms.
R.C. Hatton is in Pahokee, Florida.
Okeechobee, an area known for its rich & fertile “black gold” soil.
Tomatoes Florida is the #1 fresh tomato producing state in the U.S.
50% of all grown in the U.S.
BILLIONS of tomatoes are grown in Florida every year.
The University of Florida developed their own variety tomato called the “Tasti-lee.”
Immokalee is known as Florida’s “Tomato Capital.”
Round most commonly
Tomatoes grow best during Florida's cooler months October
Most of Florida’s tomatoes are grown in the
The majority of Florida’s tomatoes are grown on family-owned farms.
FL Vine Ripe Farms FL Vine Ripe Farms is a family-owned & operated tomato farm with an on-site market
FL Vine Ripe Farms is owned by husband and wife, David and Flori Ferrera.
FL Vine Ripe Farms grows, packs & ships all of their tomatoes.
Ruskin Fresh Market was started by David & Flori’s two kids,
Ruskin Fresh Market opened in 2023.
FL Vine Ripe Farms is located in Ruskin, Florida
Ruskin Fresh Market is located inside the FL Vine Ripe Farms’ warehouse
Green Beans FLORIDA Florida ranks 2nd in the U.S. for production of green beans.
Green beans taste best when they are thinner than a pencil.
Green beans are the third most common home-grown vegetable.
In the winter, Florida produces 100% of the green beans grown in the U.S.
130+ varieties of green beans.
Green beans are also known as string or snap beans.
Pero Family Farms Pero Family Farms is a 5th-generation family owned & operated vegetable farm.
Pero Family Farms all started with in 1908 with a small farm in Brant, New York
Pero Family Farms relocated to Florida in 1981 to allow
Pero Family Farms is one of the LARGEST organic vegetable growers in the U.S.
Pero Family Farms has 35,000+ acres of farmland.
“Over Pero Family Farms is America’s #1 brand for Snipped Green Beans
a Century of Dedication Commitment and Integrity
Pero Family Farms is located in Delray Beach, Florida
Watermelon FLORIDA Florida is the #1 watermelon producing state in the U.S.
Around 30% of all watermelon grown in the U.S. come from Florida.
Seedless watermelons are the most popular variety of watermelon grown in Florida.
Florida produces around 1 BILLION pounds of watermelon each year.
Florida’s peak watermelon season is March through July. grow from seed to fruit.
Most of Florida’s watermelons are grown in the north/north-central part of the state.
Melon 1 Melon 1 is the oldest & largest watermelon growing & shipping company in the U.S.
Melon 1 was founded in 1935 when two third generation watermelon companies joined together
Every farm that grows for Melon 1 is family-owned & operated.
Eight states in the U.S. have farms that grow watermelon for Melon 1. in Florida.
Melon 1’s various farm locations allows them to harvest yearround. Sustainable farming is very important to Melon 1.
Melon 1 grows, harvests, packs & ships all their watermelon.
FLORIDA Satsumas Satsumas grown in Florida are mainly grown in the northern Panhandle region
Satsumas are a type of mandarin orange, similar to clementines & tangerines.
Satsumas are easier to peel than most other citrus fruit.
Easy Peelers ” Satsumas are known for their BRIGHT orange peel.
Satsumas are a perfect snack
Satsumas are usually seedless making them super easy to eat!
Satsumas are one of the most resilient citrus fruits to cold weather & are in peak season during the fall & winter months.
One satsumas tree can produce over 150 satsumas per season.
Satsumas grow on evergreen trees that grow to be 8 - 20 feet tall
FLORIDA Cucumbers Cucumbers rank 8th most valuable crop in Florida.
Cucumbers in FL are grown either outside or in greenhouses.
The U.S. is the 4th largest cucumber producing country in the world.
Cucumbers take 12 to produce fruit after being planted.
cucumbers are grown worldwide each year.
Cucumbers are 90% water.
Bees are essential for the pollination of cucumbers.
Cucumbers can grow 2 feet
Cucumbers are a
The large leaves on the cucumber plant provides shade for the developing fruit.
Bell Peppers FLORIDA Florida produces over 300 MILLION pounds of bell peppers each year.
Florida produces around 30% all bell peppers grown in the U.S.
Bell peppers can be 2 to 6 inches long.
Bell peppers are a FRUIT.
Red bell peppers are also known as sweet peppers
The bell pepper is the ONLY member of the pepper family that does not produce capsaicin.
Capsaicin is the chemical that makes other peppers spicy.
on how long they ripen.
Bell peppers get sweeter the longer they ripen.
JGL Produce JGL Produce is a part of a family of produce companies started over 70 years ago by John Bill Johnson
This family of produce companies started when John Bill Johnson started selling local growers produce at the Pompano Beach State Farmers Market.
JGL Produce was started by John’s son Johnny produce all over the U.S. and Canada.
JGL Produce is located Immokalee, FL
JGL Produce grows a wide variety of vegetables including bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes & more!
Squash FLORIDA Florida harvests around 85,000 pounds of squash each year.
Florida is the fourth largest squash producing state in the U.S.
TWO types of squash: WINTER Examples of winter squash are pumpkins, acorn & butternut.
Winter squash have much thicker skin than summer squash.
Summer squash takes 50-70 days
Examples of summer squash are yellow .
Summer squash grows faster than winter squash.
1 acre of land can grow around 11,000 squash! Squash are a type
The flower of squash plants are edible and considered a delicacy EAT LOCAL!
Zucchini FLORIDA Florida harvests around 85,000 pounds of squash each year.
Florida is the fourth largest squash producing state in the U.S.
Zucchini are one of the most popular types of summer squash
Zucchinis have MORE potassium than a banana.
Zucchinis grow best in temperate climates.
One zucchini plant can produce 3 - 10 pounds of zucchini.
Zucchini are made up of 95% water.
“ Courgette ” Zucchinis are in peak season from May - August.
edible and considered a delicacy.
The LARGEST zucchini ever grown was 69.5 inches long and weighed 65 pounds!
FLORIDA Butternut Squash Butternut squash is a Florida is the producing state in the U.S.
Despite the name, winter squash grow best during warm seasons.
TWO types of squash: WINTER & SUMMER Pioneer Growers Founded in 1950, Pioneer Growers is a cooperative of Florida vegetable farms
Many of the farms a part of Pioneer Growers are multi-generational family-owned &
are a part of Pioneer Growers. including Pioneer Growers grow, harvest
“Our growers are a blend of tradition & modern farming technology.”
Pioneer Growers Florida office is located in Belle Grande, FL.
Strawberries FLORIDA Florida is the second largest strawberry producing state in the U.S.
Plant City, Florida is known as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World
Florida is home to around 15,000 acres of strawberry fields. strawberry season is December through March.
Florida grows over 200 MILLION pounds of strawberries per year.
Florida strawberries harvested by hand.
Florida strawberries are known to be sweet and juicy.
Due to very hot summers, Florida strawberry plants have to be replanted every season.
and Grimes Farms Driscoll’s The strawberries served at HCPS are from Grimes Farms & Driscoll’s.
Grimes Farms & Driscoll’s are both farms & businesses.
was started in the late 1800s & Grimes Farms was started in 1975.
grows
Grimes Farms is located in Plant City, Florida
Driscoll’s Florida strawberry farm is located in Dover, Florida.
Grimes Farms produces strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, timber cattle.
Milk FLORIDA Lafayette and Okeechobee are Florida’s leading dairy counties.
FUN FACTS Most of the dairy cows in Florida are Holsteins (the black and white cows), and their spots are unique like a fingerprint!
DAIRY FACTS Cows chew their cud 50 times per minute.
How many times can chew in a minute?!
Cows can SEE almost and SMELL up to 6 miles away!
Most Florida dairy herds range 150 -
Florida dairy farmers byproducts such as citrus pulp, brewers’ grain and whole cottonseed that are consumed by the cows instead of ending up in landfills.
A Florida dairy cow produces about 68 gallons of milk each day.
M&B Dairy M&B Dairy is a 4th-generation family dairy that is home to over 700 dairy cows
Dale McClellan has been running M&B Dairy since 1987.
M&B Dairy is an ecofriendly leader in the dairy industry.
M&B Dairy is located in Lecanto, FL.
prioritizes COMFORT for their cows with open-air barns and rubber mats in stalls.
“Buffy the Cow” is M&B Dairy’s mascot. M&B Dairy provides milk to over 32 school districts in Florida.
M&B Dairy was started in the 1950s.
