A broad view of a community garden and a perfect example of urban agriculture public support in South Florida. UF/IFAS Photos by Jiangxiao Qiu

What’s driving support for urban agriculture? Public surveys and AI-assisted analysis offer insights

by Lourdes Mederos
August 13, 2026

A University of Florida study provides evidence that public support for urban agriculture has deep roots. The findings show that public support is not one-dimensional. Instead, researchers at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Farm Management, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: #AI, Agriculture, Community Gardens, Food Security, Sustainability, UF/IFAS, Urban Agriculture

From backyard garden to grocery cart: UF/IFAS study explains how growing food shapes consumer choices

by Jamie Groh
August 12, 2026

Growing a few vegetables in the backyard may have effects that extend far beyond the garden gate that could impact economics.   More than 53 million U.S. households participate in food gardening, a number that has grown steadily in recent ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agribusiness Journal, Agricultural Communities, Agricultural Economics, Backyard Gardening, Blog Community, Community Gardens, Consumer Behavior, Consumer Preferences, Farm To Table, Featured, Florida Agriculture, Food And Resource Economics, Food And Resource Economics Department, Food And Resource Economics Research, Food Gardening, Food Production Awareness, Food Purchasing Decisions, Food Systems, Fresh Produce, Gardening And Economics, Gardening Benefits, Gardening Research, Healthy Communities, Home Gardening, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Local Agriculture, Local Farmers, Local Food Demand, Local Food Movement, Locally Grown Produce, News, Support Local Farmers, Sustainable Agriculture, Tomato Consumers, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, University Of Florida, Vegetable Gardening, Zhifeng Gao
Primer plano de una mariposa monarca con las alas parcialmente extendidas sobre flores amarillas, junto a una abeja de cuerpo negro y alas transparentes que se acerca a otra flor. El fondo es azul y desenfocado, lo que resalta a los dos polinizadores y las flores.

UF/IFAS invita a los residentes de Florida de todas las edades a participar en el Gran Censo de Polinizadores del Sureste del 21 al 22 de agosto

by Luz Bahder
August 11, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. ¿Qué pasaría si proteger a los polinizadores fuera tan fácil como pasar 15 minutos observando un jardín de flores? Del ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Censo De Polinizadores, Espanol, Gran Censo De Polinizadores Del Sureste, Spanish
A monarch butterfly on a flower. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.

UF/IFAS invites Floridians of all ages to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Aug. 21-22

by Lourdes Mederos
August 10, 2026

What if protecting pollinators were as easy as spending 15 minutes watching a patch of flowers? On Aug. 21-22, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extensions invites Floridians of all ages to join ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Citizen Science, Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Master Gardener Volunteers, Pollinator, Special Topics, Top News, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
a zoom in photo depicting a swarm of mosquitos and green foliage in the background

Beyond the Bite with Mosquito Messaging

by Karlibeth Leitheiser
August 3, 2026

Webinar to Uncover Insights for Communicating Mosquito-borne Disease on World Mosquito Day UPCOMING WEBINAR – The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center) will host a special webinar on ... READ MORE

Category: Events, UF/IFAS
Tags: Center For Public Issues Education, Communication, Event, Health Communication, Live Event, Mosquito, Mosquito Control, PIE Center, Prevent And Protect, Science Communication, UF/IFAS Center For Public Issues Education In Agriculture And Natural Resources, UF/IFAS PIE Center, Webinar

Media Alert: Camp Cherry Lake groundbreaking celebration marks next chapter for Florida 4-H  

by Jamie Groh
July 28, 2026

What: Campers, alumni, families, community members and supporters are invited to join Florida 4-H and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) at Camp Cherry Lake for a ceremonial groundbreaking celebration ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Blog Community, Camp, Events, UF/IFAS
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Alumni, 4-H Camps, Camp Cherry Lake, Camp Improvements, Community Engagement, Experiential Learning, Featured, Florida 4-H, Florida Communities, Florida Youth, Groundbreaking Ceremony, Leadership Development, Madison Florida, Outdoor Education, Positive Youth Development, Special Topics, Summer Camp Programs, Top News, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Workforce Development, Youth Development, Youth Leadership
Aerial photograph of Cedar Key, Florida.

Film Screening and Panel Discussion to Explore Hurricane Recovery and Community Resilience in Cedar Key

by Karlibeth Leitheiser
July 27, 2026

Documentary short and community conversation highlight how Florida's coastal communities adapt, recover, and rebuild after repeated storms GAINESVILLE, Fla. (September 1, 2026) – The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Disaster Preparation, Events, UF/IFAS
Tags: Bob Graham Center, Bob Graham Center For Public Service, Cedar Key, Coastal Communities, Community Development, Disaster Recovery, Disaster Resilience, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Season, Live Event, Livestream, Nature Coast, News, PIE Center, SCCAHS, Southeastern Coastal Center For Agricultural Health And Safety, Storm Season, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS PIE Center, University Of Florida
Tres loncheras abiertas con alimentos variados y saludables sobre una mesa de madera. La primera contiene frutas, frutos secos, galletas, verduras y un wrap. La segunda incluye sándwiches de pan integral, uvas, arándanos, kiwi y un pretzel. La tercera contiene un sándwich integral decorado como un animal, verduras, tomates, fruta y un pequeño pastelito.

Más allá de los útiles escolares: una experta de UF/IFAS ofrece ideas de comidas saludables y económicas que puede preparar en minutos

by Luz Bahder
July 27, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Aunque el verano sigue en pleno apogeo, ya empiezan a verse las primeras señales del nuevo año escolar. Los anuncios ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Blog Community, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Alimentacion Saludable, Espanol, Fibra, Inicio Del Año Escolar, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Saludable, Spanish

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