Tag: 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

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
Harvested green bell peppers and cucumbers. Photo taken 11-02-20.

Experts call for expansion of organic farming to meet rising demand

by Lourdes Mederos
September 4, 2025

Consumer demand for organic fresh fruits and vegetables outweighs the availability of organic farms growing the food. In fact, while certified organic U.S. land for growing crops or livestock is increasing according to the U.S. Department ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Food Safety, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Dakshina Seal, Extension, Farming, Florida Economy, Florida Organic Growers, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jeff Wasielewski, Jonathan Crane, News, Organic, Organic Farms, Organic Produce, Qingren Wang, Research, Tropical Research And Education Center, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Vermicompost, Xiaoying Li

Experts call for expansion of organic farming to meet rising demand

by Lourdes Mederos
September 4, 2025

Consumer demand for organic fresh fruits and vegetables outweighs the availability of organic farms growing the food. In fact, while certified organic U.S. land for growing crops or livestock is increasing according to the U.S. Department ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Food Safety, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Dakshina Seal, Extension, Farming, Florida Economy, Florida Organic Growers, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jeff Wasielewski, Jonathan Crane, News, Organic, Organic Farms, Organic Produce, Qingren Wang, Research, Tropical Research And Education Center, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Vermicompost, Xiaoying Li
Dr. Xiaoying Li evaluates for nematodes and soilborne diseases in a Homestead okra field. Photo take by Cat Wofford, UF/IFAS Photography

New UF/IFAS vegetable crop specialist driving innovative research, crop diversification to Florida’s small farms

by Lourdes Mederos
July 24, 2024

Ninety percent of Florida’s agricultural operations are small farms with gross sales under $250,000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In South Florida, small farmers benefit from an ideal subtropical climate but need ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS
Tags: Climate Change, Extension, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, News, Plant Pathology, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, USDA, Xiaoying Li

New UF/IFAS vegetable crop specialist driving innovative research, crop diversification to Florida’s small farms

by Lourdes Mederos
July 24, 2024

Ninety percent of Florida’s agricultural operations are small farms with gross sales under $250,000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In South Florida, small farmers benefit from an ideal subtropical climate but need ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS
Tags: Climate Change, Extension, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, News, Plant Pathology, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, USDA, Xiaoying Li

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