A collage of four images depicting grocery shopping: a mother and daughter selecting produce, a top view of fresh groceries, a young man examining items in a store, and a woman with a child holding shopping bags.

Back-to-School Meals and Snacks: Part 3 – Becoming a Savvy Shopper

by Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez
August 26, 2026

Becoming a Savvy Shopper Grocery shopping can be a balancing act between figuring out which options are healthier, navigating rising food costs, and being in a time crunch. Today, I want to share some smart shopping strategies that prioritize ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Money Matters, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Family & Consumer Sciences, Food, Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez, Miami-Dade, Miami-Dade Extension, Nutrition, Nutrition Facts Label, Parents, South Florida, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade
A woman examines a jar in a grocery store, followed by a close-up of a nutrition label, and another woman checks a product while holding an orange basket in a colorful aisle.

Back-to-School Meals and Snacks: Part 2 – Decoding the Nutrition Facts Label

by Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez
August 17, 2026

Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label Picture this: You are at the grocery store with only 20 minutes to grab everything you need to select your ingredients for the week. You've got your grocery list ready to go, but are feeling unsure ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Family & Consumer Sciences, Food, Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez, Miami-Dade, Miami-Dade Extension, Nutrition, Nutrition Facts Label, Parents, South Florida, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade
A collage of children's lunches, featuring a colorful lunchbox, smiling children, a tasty sandwich with fruits, and a close-up of a child eating a blueberry.

Back-to-School Meals and Snacks: Part 1 – Keeping Nutrition in Mind

by Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez
August 13, 2026

Welcome to the Back-to-School Season!                 Back-to-school time can be an exciting time, as we jump back into our typical routine, but it can also be quite overwhelming. ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Family & Consumer Sciences, Food, Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez, Miami-Dade, Nutrition, Parents, South Florida, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension
Spiny lobster cluster underneath a shipwreck.

It’s here! 2026 Lobster Mini-Season

by Ana Zangroniz
July 26, 2026

What is Lobster Mini-Season? Prior to the opening of Spiny Lobster season, the state hosts a two-day collection event for recreational divers. The last Wednesday and Thursday of July is known as “Lobster Mini-Season” (LMS), or “Mini-Lobster ... READ MORE

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Underwater view of sponge fragments attached to brick pavers with cable ties.

Expanding sponge restoration: a pilot project

by Ana Zangroniz
June 1, 2026

What are sponges? Marine invertebrates called sponges make up a critical component of Florida’s submerged marine and coastal ecosystems. It’s easy to think that sponges are not living creatures, but in fact, they are sessile (attached ... READ MORE

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A variety of tropical fruit.

When to Prune, Fertilize, Water, and Plant Your Fruit Trees

by Jeff Wasielewski
May 15, 2026

When do you know that it is time to pull the plug on your fruit tree? A fruit tree that hasn’t fruited for several years is just an ornamental tree after all, and that’s not why you planted it. If your tree has gone three years or more and ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension

Cooking Up Health: The Mediterranean Way – Recent Program Highlights

by Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez
April 24, 2026

About Program This month, I wrapped up our most recent Cooking Up Health: The Mediterranean Way series. The goal of this program is to help busy adults adopt the Mediterranean diet by providing easy tips, healthy swaps, and practical strategies. ... READ MORE

Category: , Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Family & Consumer Sciences, FCS, Food, FoodIsMedicine, Health, Miami-Dade, Nutrition, South Florida, UF/IFAS Extension

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