Tag: healthy

Is okra rising from a kitchen, home garden staple to a ‘Food is Medicine’ star in Florida agriculture?

by Lourdes Mederos
May 26, 2026

What makes okra a smart choice for home gardens, healthier meals and Florida’s next great crop? University of Florida researchers from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this adaptable crop illustrates how ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Antioxidants, Ask IFAS, Crop, Dakshina Seal, Digestion, Easy-to-grow, Español, Farmers, Florida, Food Is Medicine, Gardens, Health, Health Benefits, Healthy, Heart Health, Homestead, IFAS, Invasive Pests, Kitchen, Monalisa Seaton, Nutrition, Okra, Ornamental Plants, Peyton Ecklund, Plant-based Foods, Seed-borne Diseases, Seeds, South Florida, Staple, Tropical Research And Education Center, Two-spotted Leafhopper, UF/IFAS Research, Vitamins, Xiaoying Li
Pods of red okra of the cultivar ‘Carmine Splendor’ hybrid grown in South Florida. UF/IFAS photo by Vander Rocha Lacerda

Is okra rising from a kitchen, home garden staple to a ‘Food is Medicine’ star in Florida agriculture?

by Lourdes Mederos
May 26, 2026

What makes okra a smart choice for home gardens, healthier meals and Florida’s next great crop? University of Florida researchers from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this adaptable crop illustrates how ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Antioxidants, Ask IFAS, Crop, Dakshina Seal, Digestion, Easy-to-grow, Español, Farmers, Florida, Food Is Medicine, Gardens, Health, Health Benefits, Healthy, Heart Health, Homestead, IFAS, Invasive Pests, Kitchen, Monalisa Seaton, Nutrition, Okra, Ornamental Plants, Peyton Ecklund, Plant-based Foods, Seed-borne Diseases, Seeds, South Florida, Staple, Tropical Research And Education Center, Two-spotted Leafhopper, UF/IFAS Research, Vitamins, Xiaoying Li

Want to grow papaya trees in your backyard? Ask IFAS bilingual resource offers top research tips for success

by Lourdes Mederos
May 19, 2026

With the right care, papaya trees thrive in Florida backyards, producing sweet fruit and flowers. Depending on the variety, this slender tree can produce more than one bright white flower in less than 12 months. Well suited to Central ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Ask IFAS, ASK UF/IFAS En Espanol, Central Florida, Diseases, English, Food Is Medicine, Harvesting, Healthy, Healthy Environment, Home, Irrigation Needs, Jonathan Crane, Landscape, Papaya, Papaya Growing, Papaya Seeds, Papaya Tree, Pests, Plants, South Florida, Superfruit, Sustainable, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Tropical Research And Education Center
Adobe Stock photo 129917074 of Ripe papaya on the tree.

Want to grow papaya trees in your backyard? Ask IFAS bilingual resource offers top research tips for success

by Lourdes Mederos
May 19, 2026

With the right care, papaya trees thrive in Florida backyards, producing sweet fruit and flowers. Depending on the variety, this slender tree can produce more than one bright white flower in less than 12 months. Well suited to Central ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Ask IFAS, ASK UF/IFAS En Espanol, Central Florida, Diseases, English, Food Is Medicine, Harvesting, Healthy, Healthy Environment, Home, Irrigation Needs, Jonathan Crane, Landscape, Papaya, Papaya Growing, Papaya Seeds, Papaya Tree, Pests, Plants, South Florida, Superfruit, Sustainable, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Tropical Research And Education Center
daisies in the sun

Mental Health Matters: Small Steps That Can Make a Big Difference This May

by Lori Wiggins
May 5, 2026

May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging conversations about mental and emotional well-being. While mental health has gained more attention in recent years, many ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Work & Life
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Florida, Health, Healthy, Mental Health, UF/IFAS Extension
Small Steps Big Change with red background

Simple Diet Changes Show Big Health Benefits, New Research Finds

by Lori Wiggins
April 20, 2026

A growing body of research in 2026 is reinforcing a message that nutrition experts have emphasized for years: small, consistent changes in diet can lead to meaningful improvements in overall health, even later in life. Recent findings tied ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Cooking, Family, Health, Healthy, Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension

Spring Forward: Using Longer Days to Boost Your Health

by Lori Wiggins
March 13, 2026

Now that we have adjusted our clocks for Daylight Saving Time, many people focus on the lost hour of sleep. However, the shift also brings a welcome benefit, longer evenings filled with natural light. Those extra daylight hours provide a perfect ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Work & Life
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Exercise, Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension

Fresh, Flavorful, and In Season: March Produce Brings Big Health Benefits

by Lori Wiggins
March 12, 2026

As winter transitions into spring, grocery stores and local markets begin to showcase a colorful shift in seasonal produce. Choosing fruits and vegetables that are “in season” not only enhances flavor and affordability but also maximizes ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Cooking, Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Sliced citrus

Florida’s Winter Fruits Bring Fresh Flavor and Powerful Health Benefits

by Lori Wiggins
February 4, 2026

Floridians don’t have to wait for spring to enjoy fresh, locally grown fruit. Winter is one of Florida’s most productive fruit seasons, offering a variety of flavorful options that are as nutritious as they are delicious. Citrus fruits ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Family, Fruits, Health, Health Benefits, Healthy, Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension, Winter Fruits

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