![a tangle of fishing line, plastic beads and other plastic waste on a beach. [credit: unsplash.com, soren funk]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2025/03/2025_Water_microplasticsBeach01_unsplashSorenFunk_CROP1650x470TINY.png)
We're hearing a lot about microplastics in the news, but what exactly are they and what can I do to reduce the impact of microplastics in our environment? Well, first, what are they? Microplastics are defined as plastic particles no larger ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Health & Nutrition, Water![carving a turkey on a cutting board. [credit: unsplash.com, claudio schwarz]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/12/2024_FCS_turkeyCarving01_unsplashClaudioSchwarzCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Perhaps you’ve spent time entertaining and had food left over. Or, you attended a holiday event where the food supplies outpaced the people's demand. So, how do you handle those leftover foods so that uninvited guests, such as a foodborne ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![assorted fresh fruits and vegetables for sale in a farmers market display. [credit: unsplash.com, alexandr podvalny]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/10/2024_FCS_produceAisleFresh_unsplashAlexandrPodvalnyCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Many Florida families and farmers are struggling to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Feeding Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) wants to ensure that individuals and families shopping with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Money Matters, Work & Life![a young girl sits at a glass-top table with a man and woman, smiling as she hand-feeds the woman. [credit: unsplash, national cancer institute]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/10/2024_FCS_mealFamily_unsplashNatlCancerInstCROP1650x470TINY.png)
When was the last time you sat down as a family and enjoyed a meal together? Connecting with your family over a meal has many things going for it, with research indicating educational gains, health bonuses, social and behavioral benefits, ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, Work & Life![A single worker attempts repairs/upgrades on a red, tile roof. [CREDIT: pixabay.com, Mario Ohibsky]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/10/2024_FCS_hurricaneRoofRepairGeneral_pixabayMarioOhibskyCROP1650x470TINY.jpg)
We've discussed general safety information after a storm, how to make sure you have a safe food supply, and re-entering your home (or business) after a storm. But, staying safe after a storm isn't just about personal health. It also means ensuring ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home Management, Work & Life![Damaged infrastructure to the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station in the aftermath of 2023's Hurricane Idalia. [CREDIT: UF/IFAS, Tyler Jones]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/10/2023_FCS_hurricaneDamageUFREC_idalia_ifasTylerJonesCROP1650x470TINY.jpg)
Our last blog covered the basics of post-storm safety, including making sure your food supply is safe. Now, let's look at re-entering your neighborhood and home. Many times, waiting for recovery after a storm or hurricane event can be ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Work & Life
When a storm approaches, keeping you and your family safe is the highest priority. Yet, many accidents happen after a storm has passed. Remember to always use caution, and follow county directives. In this three-part blog series, we will ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Food Safety, Work & Life![Children smile as they share peanut butter and snacks at a dining table. [CREDIT: UF/IFAS, Tyler Jones]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/09/2020_Comms_childrenPeanutButterLunch01_ifasTylerJonesCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Whether you favor crunchy or creamy, the challenge is on. The annual University of Florida Peanut Butter Challenge, that is. Launched in 2012 in Florida's Panhandle region as a way to raise awareness of peanut farming in the area, the challenge ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![a woman prepares sandwiches at a kitchen countertop. [credit: unsplash.com, hillshire farm]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/09/2024_FCS_lunchSandwichHomePrep_unsplashHillshireFarmEDITSCROP1650x470TINY.png)
It's that time of year again. Children are back to school, with homework, sports and after-school activities. And, many households have dropped into a familiar school-centered rhythm, including packing school lunches. School lunches should ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![whole-grain cereals pour from a glass jar into a pile, with other piles nearby, on a flat, empty tabletop. [credit: pixabay.com, angelica vaihel]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/08/2024_FCS_grainsWholeJarCereals_pixabayAngelicaVaihelCROP1650x470.png)
Did you know that September is Whole Grains Month? And, did you know that the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans tell us that at least half our grains should be whole grains? And, do you know the parts of a whole grain? Or, the nutritional ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life