Calories are crucial when you are growing crops to sustain yourself. We have recently seen restrictions on the amount of food that could be purchased at some supermarkets and disruptions at food processing plants. These disruptions, while relatively mild, demonstrated that food is not an infinite resource that is an absolute guarantee. Fortunately, America has not seen a famine or substantial food shortages in generations, however the risk remains. Most of the food we consume is not even produced in the same state, much less in the same time zone, so it must be transported from great distances. This creates a situation where food security is dependent upon crops being produced reliably and a functioning supply chain.

A well-developed local food system can greatly reduce the threat of food insecurity.

Florida’s warm climate affords us an extended growing season that few other states enjoy. We can grow a wide diversity of crops throughout the entire year. Our local climate can also produce challenges in the form of seasonal extremes in temperatures and rainfall. Pests, diseases, and persistent weeds can also a be a hinderance for many crops. While we can certainly grow a wide range of crops, only a small handful are very productive and can generate the amount of calories necessary to sustain a person’s caloric needs.

No singular crop should be relied upon to produce all your food. Plant a diversity of nutrient-dense crops that are well adapted to Florida conditions. The crop will need to be a reliable producer that is also resistant to pests and diseases that might otherwise destroy the entire crop.

A few of the high-calorie crops that store well and are well adapted to Florida conditions are the following:
-Sweet potato
-Potato
-Cassava

2