In celebration of Manatee County's strong agriculture industry

Manatee County enjoys an economic windfall with an agricultural industry that ranks seventh in Florida by harvesting a $2.29 billion economic impact.

While tomatoes reign with more than 18,000 acres of field, overall the county is home to about 30,000 of vegetable crops -- including snap beans, watermelons, cucumbers and potatoes. Smaller production comes from pepper, cantaloupe, squash, oriental vegetables and other minor and specialty crops. Vegetable production and marketing accounts for $290 million in economic impact. Nurseries that grow woody ornamentals, foliage, floral crops, sod and more pump $60 million annually into our county. Add citrus, fisheries, timber, cattle and other endeavors, and the big agricultural picture -- occupying some 240,000 acres -- is quite impressive.

This is the time of year to celebrate the industry, second only to tourism in Manatee County's economy. The annual Farm City Week, this year from Nov. 9-20, spotlights the importance of agriculture not just to our economy but to our wellbeing and quality of life.

Farmers and ranchers built Manatee County from the very beginning. That heritage and the ongoing agricultural contributions to our community merit an annual celebration.

Several trends point to the growing importance of this industry. Farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable dining and agritourism are all flourishing as the public embraces healthier lifestyles and supports best practices.

Community gardens have sprouted up across the county with government fertilizing efforts with a committee to promote awareness of the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables and pinpoint plots for possible crops fields. As the Herald reported in June, residents are asking the county to help plant a community garden, and the Manatee River Garden Club is on board with expert assistance. (For more information on developing a community garden, contact the county extension office at 941-722-4524.)

These gardens will help supply the "food deserts" that exist here where super markets and farmers markets do not exist, and residents in poorer neighborhoods lack the means to access healthy food. A mobile farmers market is now in the works to help serve those impoverished areas.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau recognizes the value of agritourism, creating an award-winning guide with its marketing agency, Aqua Marketing and Communications Inc. The guide won a bronze medal in September's Visit Florida annual contest. Tour companies, gardens, parks and government agencies are also working to highlight locally produced food as well as green accommodations. One new Sarasota-based nonprofit, Ecko, offers four-day excursions focused on sustainability, the value of dining on local food and more.

Restaurateur Ed Chiles has been at the forefront of sustainability and local agriculture for years. His Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key restaurants specialize in serving "localvore" food from produce to fish as more diners want to know where their food selections are coming from.

"The localvore movement is the most important movement I've seen in my industry in the 34 years I've been in business," Chiles told the Herald two years ago. He's invested in farms in the area to gain fresh organic greens heirloom tomatoes and other produce. He also supplies his restaurants with locally sourced meat and fish, including most recently adding mullet -- the "ultimate sustainable seafood" -- to his menu. Much of the mullet harvest is wasted as fishermen keep the grey mullet roe but toss the males back into the sea.

This year's edition of Farm City Week features a well deserved theme, "Women in Agriculture," with a variety of community events highlighting the importance of agriculture to Manatee County's past, present, and future. For more information,

The celebration starts Nov. 9 with the soil speech contest. Ag Venture will follow on Nov. 12, but only for 1,000 invited third-graders. Other highlights include the beef workshop and prospect show for 4-H and FFA members on Nov. 14; the Kiwanis luncheon on Nov. 17, when the Agriculturist of the Year will be named; and the Hall of Fame luncheon on Nov. 19. The Nov. 20 farm tour, which is open to the public, will be mostly focused on the Duette area with stops at Gary Reeder's farm, Bunker Hill Vineyard and Winery, Duette Preserve, and Ellenton Tree Farm. Details: 941-722-4524.

While Manatee County's farm and ranch acreage continues to give way to residential and commercial development, the agriculture industry remains strong. Thanks to all who nurture and work in this significant arena.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "In celebration of Manatee County's strong agriculture industry ."