Farm City Week celebrates a week and a half prior to Thanksgiving: Nov. 8-20, 2021. The 2021 theme is “Agriculture: Pathways to Preservation. This week’s celebration recognizes the beneficial partnerships between rural and urban communities that make our food supply safe and plentiful.
For the fall 2021, Manatee County is celebrating big. Firstly, it is our 30th year celebrating the Manatee County’s Farm City Week. Participants visit several of Manatee County’s finest agricultural operations. Mostly, you learn first-hand what fresh, local commodities Manatee County produces. Learn the production process and how food makes it from the farm gate to your plate, and other important tips on buying and consuming local commodities. Mostly, please attend because it is a fun-filled, day-long tour.
Covid tips and tour details
To safely conduct a farm tour during COVID, participants drive their own vehicles to each location. The lead vehicle and follow up vehicle navigate the tour.
The tour begins in Duette, Florida November 19th at the Dry Prairie Baptist Church. In the morning, participants visit West Coast Tomato, Duette Preserve, and Wish Strawberry Farms. The tour ends in Myakka City in the afternoon at Grainger Farms. Specific site details and timing are provided electronically to participants on November 18.
Registration information
The $35 registration fee (per person) includes a tour guidebook with agricultural history and statistics, 2 bottled waters, BBQ Chicken lunch (or vegetarian option), and entry into all hosting sites. The hosting sites are not open to the public. Henceforth, only participants will have access to them. In this way, participants will have the opportunity to have a personal experience with the farming process of these fresh and local produce in our county.
Reservations and advance payment are required. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call Mary Lawrence at (941) 722-4524 ext. 1809. The link to register is Register here
Coincidentally, we would like to optimize your experience! Wear boots or tennis shoes and clothing for variable temperatures. Additionally, please note these are working farms; you may experience wet, uneven, and rough terrain. Prepare ahead and bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and rain jacket. You may want to bring a small cooler in your vehicle to cool your water.
Manatee Map of Local Commodities
UF IFAS Extension Manatee County has a new GIS map that can help you find U-Pick, farm stands, and farmer’s markets in Manatee County where you can buy fresh, local produce. The interactive map can also show you where to find or purchase local seafood, beef, and dairy products or locate nurseries that sell edible plants. Check out the new map here: Map of Manatee County Crops
Virtual Farm Tour 2020
In 2020, The FCW Farm Tour was virtual. If you missed the 2020 virtual tour, here are some examples of the diverse quality of fresh and local commodities found in Manatee County:
Manatee County has close to 50,000 acres of fruit and vegetable production: Vegetable (Virtual) Farm Tour
Florida is a cow/calf operation for livestock production: Livestock (Virtual) Farm Tour
We have fresh seafood harvested here in Manatee County: Seafood (Virtual) Farm Tour
Our ornamental plant production is one of the larger sales commodities in the state: Nursery Production (Virtual) Tour
Lisa Hickey, Sustainable Food Systems Extension Agent and Nelly Nelson, Family and Nutrition Extension Agent UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension Office 941-722-4524.
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