Field Notes: June 11, 2005

Near Plant City: On 60

Tall. Chubby. Buzz cut.  Light hair.  Young Face. Shy at first, but finally warmed up and introduced himself as Ryan.

Ryan told me that this is everyone’s slow time of year.  

I asked if this was why so many stands and farms were closed.  

He said yes and told me that the owners of those places did not live in Florida throughout the year.  He also thought that since 2005 was a particularly bad year for strawberries, many of the businesses may have packed up early.

Field Notes: June 25, 2005

Branch Forbes Road

Large. Covered. Fans and plastic baskets.

Wooden tables. Picked up free ag mag.

On my second trip to this produce stand I spoke with a man who gave me advice about picking the ripest pineapple on the table.  The secret is in the smell of the bottom and a light tug at the center leaf.  If the bottom smells sweet and the innermost leaf slides out with ease, you have a pineapple that is ready to be cut open.  

He also talked about Florida growing seasons and their impact on roadside stands.  Many stands get produce from a wholesale market during the summer because this is not Florida’s prime growing season.  

“Most people think that in Florida, the summer is when we grow all of the food.  But it isn’t till winter that we get the good stuff.”  

He explained the stands that stay open throughout the year often supplement the produce they grow with produce that is purchased at a wholesale market because they want to offer their customers some variety. He speculated that produce stands that are only open seasonally grow all of their own food.