Category: Food Safety

Interested in Learning about Florida’s Cottage Food Law?

by Hillary MacMichael
May 19, 2026

If you’ve ever been told your cookies could win awards, your spice blends should be bottled, or your sourdough starter deserves its own fan club, you might be sitting on more than just a hobby. Many home cooks don’t realize that their passion ... READ MORE

Category: , Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Cottage Food, Food And Nutrition, Food Safety, Ocextension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County

Ideal Times for Marinating Meat

by Gillian McGuire
May 15, 2026

I really enjoy baking and cooking, which is good because a fair chunk of time in my life (and likely yours) is spent eating and preparing that food to eat. While I am neither a youth nor cooking contest material, a recent Ask IFAS publication ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition
Tags: Ask IFAS, Cooking, Edis, Florida 4-H Youth Development Program, Food Science And Human Nutrition, Grilling

Fresh Picks: The Month’s Classes

by Chris Weber
May 13, 2026

Learning doesn’t slow down in the summer. Our June lineup includes classes and workshops designed to help residents care for their landscapes, manage finances, and support overall well-being. Take a look at what’s available this ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Blog Community, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Money Matters, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Classes, Events, Extension Education, Learning, Ocextension, Orangecountyfl, UFIFASExtension

Postharvest Lab Research Targets Strawberry and Blueberry Fruit Quality and Shelf Life

by Joe McQueen
April 13, 2026

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center’s (IRREC) Postharvest Technology lab, led by Mark Ritenour, is researching how to reduce decay in strawberries and blueberries ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Food Safety, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Blueberries, Fruit Quality, Postharvest, Strawberries

Think Green for Better Health

by Elizabeth Shephard
March 13, 2026

We often hear the phrase “eat the rainbow.” Today, let’s talk about one color that deserves a lot of attention: Green! Green vegetables are some of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. Think leafy favorites like spinach, arugula, ... READ MORE

Category: , Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Food, Green Foods, Greens, Health, Minerals, Natural, Nutrition, Servings, Smoothies, Vegetables, Vitamins

Health Benefits of Magnesium

by Elizabeth Shephard
March 10, 2026

Magnesium is one of the essential minerals that our bodies need to function. It is involved in 600 reactions found across the body including muscle movement, energy, protein and gene creation, and nervous system regulation. With the average ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Anti-inflammatory, Depression, Food Safety, Health, Magnesium, Mental Health, Nutrition, Sleep

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Florida 4-H Youth Development (Jan.–Feb. 2026)

by Gillian McGuire
March 4, 2026

Proper Personal Preparation for the 4-H Food Challenge Competition By Jean Marie Arick, Amarat Simonne, Geralyn M. Sachs, Amber Norris, Andrea Nikolai, Joshua Payne, Shane Michael, Rachel Pienta, Janine Heiney, John Ferguson, Nicole Crawson, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Food Safety
Tags: Ask IFAS, EDIS Journal, Florida 4-H Youth Development Program, Food Safety, Hygiene

UF FRE Ph.D. Candidate Suraj Gurung Places 3rd in SAEA Job Market Paper Competition

by Savannah Bailey
March 3, 2026

Food and Resource Economics Ph.D. candidate Suraj Gurung placed third in the Job Market Paper Competition at the 2026 Southern Applied Economics Association (SAEA) annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. A job market paper presents a ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Professional Development
Tags: Food And Resource Economics Awards, Food And Resource Economics Department, Food And Resource Economics Graduate Students

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: 2025 Wrap Up

by Jasi Romero
February 18, 2026

Thank You, Polk County! The 2025 Annual Peanut Butter Challenge was an incredible success! This year, our community came together in a big way to fight hunger and support families across Polk County. Every jar donated represents hope, nourishment, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Anikolai, Charity, Donate, Education, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, Hot Topic, Nutrition, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, The Peanut Butter

With Valentine’s Day coming up, we naturally start thinking red, making it the perfect time to add more RED fruits and vegetables to our day.

by Elizabeth Shephard
February 10, 2026

Did you know red foods are packed with nutrients that help support your overall wellness? Many of the powerful antioxidants found in red foods can help: Support your immune system Improve cardiovascular health Support brain function ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Food, Frutis, Health, Nutrition, Red…, Valentine’s, Vegetables

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