Grown in Florida

At Farm to People, most of what we sell is grown within 300 miles of New York City. Supporting local and regional farmers is the priority. Some things don’t grow in the Northeast at all, and others are out of season here for much of the year. For those we look farther afield, and we try to follow the season rather than work around it.

Citrus is the clearest case. Orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime trees need a climate the Northeast doesn’t have, so there is no local citrus season for them to come into. What citrus does have is a season where it grows, and Florida is one of the places it grows well. We buy from Florida while the fruit is at its best there, not because a closer option ran out.

Florida also carries us through the stretch when our own fields are empty. It is a long drive, but a domestic one, and the produce is in season where it was grown.

Grown in Florida is a region, not a single farm. The growers behind it change with the crop and the week, which is why we name the state rather than a farm we can’t guarantee.

Whether it’s grown an hour away or a long drive south, every item we sell has to meet the same quality standards.