On Nov. 2, District 8 Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen-Higgins will inaugurate Miami-Dade Farmers Month at the 10th annual One Night in the Tropics. This much-anticipated UF/IFAS philanthropic event will take place from 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) — the research center that has contributed to the nation’s food security by assisting farmers in growing tropical fruit and vegetables sustainably for nearly a century.
As title sponsor, Cohen-Higgins will join other South Florida leaders and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to pay homage to those who harvest the fields of food that feed our communities. At the same time, the event will raise funds for graduate student needs at TREC.
The event will occur amid tropical fruit-filled orchards and ornamental plants that grace the campus grounds at 18905 SW 280th St. in Homestead. Attendees will enjoy a vibrant blend of local cuisine, drinks, live music, entertainment and silent auctions, providing an unforgettable evening with some of the world’s top scientists and faculty.
One Night in the Tropics also serves a larger purpose — raising critical funds for the completion of the Pauline O. Lawrence Student Residence at TREC. With the need for affordable housing for graduate students at an all-time high, the residence will provide a much-needed solution to a pressing challenge.
“In 2019, we embarked on a mission to construct dormitories for our graduate students,” said Edward Evans, TREC’s director for the past eight years, citing this as part of his vision for the center. “Lack of appropriate campus housing has limited our ability to recruit highly qualified graduate students, who are critical to advancing agricultural research across Florida. Our students are pioneers in research focused on tropical and subtropical crops, traditional vegetables, ornamental crops and natural resource conservation.”
To date, TREC has raised over $500,000 of the $1.7 million needed to complete the dormitory. The support from generous donors has prompted UF/IFAS leadership to provide the remaining funds, allowing construction to begin in March 2024 with an anticipated completion date of February 2025.
However, additional funds are still needed to furnish the dormitory, cover appliances and enhance amenities such as landscaping. Supporters are also invited to contribute toward scholarships for deserving students.
Donations of $5,000 or more will be recognized on a permanent memorial plaque at TREC, while gifts of $20,000 or more may qualify for naming opportunities. Donors will also have the unique chance to meet with students and learn about their groundbreaking work during an annual stakeholder event.
Sponsors joining this year’s celebration so far are:
- Title: Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins
- Diamond: Railroad Nursery, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Schneider
- Platinum: Accursio Farms, Mix’d Greens
- Gold: Dade County Farm Bureau, Brooks Tropical
- Silver: DiMare – Homestead, Silver Vase
- Bronze: SouthState Bank, NPK Plus, Quantum Leap
To become a sponsor, donate auction items or contribute to the Pauline O. Lawrence Student Residence, please visit this link.
Registration for the event is also available via this link.
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By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
ABOUT UF/IFAS TROPICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
The mission of UF/IFAS Tropical Research & Education Center (UF/IFAS TREC) is to develop and disseminate science-based information about tropical horticulture and natural resource sciences through teaching, basic and applied research, and extension, to sustain and enhance the quality of human life and the natural environment. Established in 1929, UF/IFAS TREC is the only state university research and education center in the continental U.S. focusing on tropical and subtropical crops. Our faculty, support scientists, and students conduct cutting edge research and disseminate findings to the public in areas such as crop and plant breeding and biotechnology, sea level rise, soil and water management, environmental conservation, climate change, invasive plant pests and disease management, agriculture and ecosystems sustainability, and much more. The Center’s unique location—between Florida Bay and Everglades National Park—strategically situates research to the Caribbean region, Latin America, and tropical regions around the world.
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