One of my favorite parts of living in Florida is having more access to tropical fruit. The classic sweetness of mango, the distinct and delicate flavors of guava and papaya, and the almost chocolaty taste of sapodilla are simple yet profound ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Work & Life
Written by Samantha Walter-Cano, Edited by Olivia Zugay Did you know July 31st is National Avocado Day? In honor of this delicious fruit, let's learn what makes them special. While you're at it, make yourself some guacamole or avocado toast ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition
A surprising number of plants can be used in our landscapes that are edible. In addition to the many traditional fruit and vegetable plants, there are other plants that are not as often considered, including some ornamentals and even "weeds” ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
This year, my partner’s and my goal is to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. She’s been vegetarian more than half her life, so she has a lot of practice with this. I, on the other hand, still need some help figuring out what I want besides ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition
Summer's End John Prine wrote, “Summer’s end is around the bend just flying. The swimming suits are on the line just drying.” His poignant song serves as a valuable summative theme for concluding our summer gardening series, “In the ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS ExtensionFlorida's Rainy Season Florida’s rainy season arrived. County-wide we have seen lots of moisture in the past couple of weeks. Some areas receive over 2” of rainfall in an hour. Despite the invaluable impacts of moisture within our natural ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension![A shopper grapples with products and technology in a grocery store [CREDIT: pxhere.com, Viki Mohamad]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2021/07/2021_FCS_blogGroceryShoppingHealth_bannerv02_1338x357.png)
In our last "Grocery Shopping for Your Health" post, we talked about building a healthier way of eating. Now that we have an idea about our eating patterns, let's get shopping. First, there are plenty of places where you can buy food. You might ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Money Matters, Work & Life
Ever wonder what heroes eat to keep their powers? Look no further! Let’s dive into what it takes to eat like a superhero and how the food groups increase their power! The following is based on recommendations for children aged 2-8 years ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition
I cannot be the only one noticing the mangoes dripping off the trees across south Orlando. The bountiful blushy pink fruits remind us that Florida’s summers are not quite the food deserts that we dramatize. In fact, Florida supports a forest ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Taking care of your heart can be one of the most important health choices you make in your lifetime. Choosing heart healthy foods and leading an active lifestyle are two very important actions that you can take to living a long, healthy life. ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life