Project Helps Sell South Florida Produce

April 2020

South Florida farmers are spearheading a pilot project to sell more than 380,000 pounds of fresh produce to state correctional institutions.

The project has been organized to help market locally-grown squash, green beans, cucumbers and lettuce during a period of disrupted distribution channels under COVID-19 emergency measures.

Accursio & Sons Farm of Miami-Dade County, TKM Bengard Farms of Belle Glade and 5 Brothers Produce Company of Florida City will provide the vegetables to 38 correctional facilities across the state.

Active support from state Sen. Jeff Brandes, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Dade County Farm Bureau made the volume sale possible. Dade County Farm Bureau Executive Director Tyra Phillips said work by Brandes and the state agency “raised the awareness and the focus needed for the team to execute quickly.”

Reduced prices offered in the sale will lower operational costs for the Florida Department of Corrections.

For more information about the project, send email to [email protected].