The 34th Annual Farm City Week Agricultural Tour in Manatee County is a fun-filled, day-long, chartered bus tour that will take place on Friday, November 14, 2025 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Attendees will get a rare opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of some of our county’s historic farms, nursery and fishery operations.

Farm City Week serves as a powerful reminder of just how vital the relationships are between farmers, consumers, community leaders and everyone in between who contributes to our safe, abundant food supply. Farm City Week highlights the incredible effort and dedication that goes into producing the food that we consume every day. From planting and harvesting to processing and packaging along with transporting products and getting them to store shelves. Countless individuals and industries work together to make this happen. This week gives everyone an opportunity to celebrate the hard work that goes into agriculture production and provides an opportunity to educate the public about where their food comes from and how it is produced.

The agricultural tour offers a “boots on the ground” learning experience to bring members of the public face-to-face with farming practices, technology, and sustainability efforts that agricultural producers use here in Manatee County. Farmers can share the history of their operations, the processes they follow, challenges they have faced, sustainable practices they use, and answer questions. Farm City Week encourages collaboration, promotes education, and builds appreciation across our community.

Each year, Farm City Week highlights a new theme prevalent in agriculture. This year, attendees will have an opportunity to visit West Coast Tomato, Orban’s Nursery, Manatee Farms, and A. P. Bell Fish Co, Inc and have the privilege of seeing first-hand how Manatee County agricultural operations are Keeping Agriculture Alive in 2025.

Please note that the tour stops are subject to change without notice.

The tour is $75 per person plus Eventbrite fees and includes transportation, lunch, water, snacks, and entry to each location.

Reservations are required by November 10th, 2025. Attendees can register on Eventbrite here: https://2025FarmTour.eventbrite.com

About West Coast Tomato

With roots in Manatee County agriculture dating back nearly a century, West Coast Tomato is a family-owned operation that has grown into one of Florida’s leading tomato producers and packers. Generations of the McClure family have carried forward a strong tradition of farming excellence, innovation, and community commitment on the state’s Gulf Coast.

The company’s Palmetto packinghouse is a cornerstone of its operation — a modern, camera-driven facility that efficiently sorts, grades, and packs fresh round and Roma tomatoes for distribution across the United States and Canada. West Coast Tomato’s packinghouse combines advanced technology with rigorous food safety standards, ensuring quality and freshness from field to market.

Beyond production, the farm emphasizes environmental stewardship, implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to conserve water, manage nutrients, and protect local natural resources. This commitment reflects the company’s philosophy that agricultural success and environmental care go hand in hand.

Today, West Coast Tomato remains a proud part of Manatee County’s agricultural heritage, representing the enduring strength and innovation of Florida’s farming community.

About Orban’s Nursery

 

 

Family-owned and operated since 1914, Orban’s Nursery has been a trusted name in Florida horticulture for more than a century. What began as a small flower shop near Cleveland, Ohio, grew into a thriving wholesale and retail nursery after the family moved to Bradenton, Florida in 1952. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, Orban’s continues to grow top-quality poinsettias, annuals, and landscape plants for garden centers and retailers across the state.

Known for its florist-quality poinsettias, Orban’s has grown the crop for more than 70 years and hosts an annual Poinsettia Festival and Sale—a community event where visitors can see more than 50,000 blooming poinsettias before they’re shipped statewide.

After sustaining major damage during Hurricane Helene and Milton in 2024, the Orban family rebuilt and reopened stronger than ever thanks to the support of their crew, friends, and community. Located in NW Bradenton (9601 9th Ave NW), Orban’s offers both wholesale and retail options, featuring a variety of houseplants, landscape plants, trees, rock, mulch, and more.

 

About Manatee Farms

Founded in 1892 as a vegetable and lemon growing operation, Manatee Farms has since evolved into a leading ornamental growing operation, offering an extensive variety of foliage plants, flowering annuals, and seasonal plants which is a mix not duplicated by other growers. During the 1950s and 1960s, the farm became one of Florida’s largest cut flower operations, known for its exclusive gladiolus cultivars that performed well in Florida’s climate. Today, Manatee Farms continues to grow and ship high-quality plants throughout North America and the Caribbean.

Over the years, Manatee Farms has faced numerous challenges, from crop loss due to citrus canker in 2000, to gladiolus rust destroying 80% of the bulb stock in 2006 and sustaining extensive damage and inventory loss during the 2024 hurricanes. Despite these setbacks, Manatee Farms endures as a symbol of resilience and a proud testament to generations of dedication to Florida agriculture.

 

About A P Bell Fish Co, Inc

A.P. Bell Fish Company was founded in 1923 and is located in the historic fishing village of Cortez, Florida, one of the last true working waterfronts in the state. Still family-owned and operated, A.P. Bell serves as a wholesale seafood dealer, buying and selling fresh, local seafood from both inshore and offshore boats. Their offerings include a wide variety of species caught in the Gulf such as mullet, sheepshead, grouper, snapper, stone crab claws, and bait fish. Much of their seafood stays in Florida, but they also ship to customers all over the world as well.

Manatee County Agricultural Facts

Manatee County generates $322 million annually from agriculture product sales from 213,000 acres or 37% of its land which is dedicated to agriculture production including vegetable crops, livestock and forage, citrus and ornamental horticulture. Manatee County ranks #1 in tomato production and grows seven of Florida’s top economic crops which include tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, and cabbage.

Manatee County ranked 7th in the state in market value of ornamentals, with nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod crops generating $91.3 million in sales. Manatee County is also a leader in commercial marine fisheries as local fishermen harvest over 8.9 million pounds of seafood annually having a dockside value of over $6.7 million. Stone crab, grouper, snapper, mullet and shrimp are among the species that contribute significantly to the fishing economy of Manatee County. The livestock industry in Manatee County has a total value of over $39 million.

About UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County

UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County is a partnership between the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners. We bring the resources of the University of Florida to Manatee County to solve local issues, provide educational opportunities, promote economic enhancement and improve the quality of life for all.

 

 

An Equal Opportunity Institution. The University of Florida is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. For disability accommodations such as sign language interpreters and listening devices, please contact our office at (941) 722-4524 at least 1 week in advance. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

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The Manatee County Extension Service is an educational program within county government which brings the resources of the University of Florida to Manatee County to solve local problems, provide educational opportunities, promote economic enhancement and improve the quality of life for all.

https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/manatee/ |  @UFIFASExtensionManateeCounty | @Manatee_ufifas