For the last few weeks, one message has been particularly stressed to America’s consumers: support small and local businesses. While restaurants need your support through take-out orders, and other small businesses need an army of online shoppers, one branch of local business has frequently been forgotten: local farms.
While they may not get much attention, Sarasota’s farms provide the produce that makes up a significant component of the food we eat in restaurants and at home. If farms cannot survive, we won’t have a choice between local or imported produce. Even if you don’t always buy local, it is beneficial for every community to have a reliable, local farm that provides some of the freshest produce possible. Below are some local farms you can choose to support through online orders and pickups.
Worden Farm
Located in Punta Gorda, Worden Farm is a frequent stop for Sarasotans at the downtown farmers’ market. While the farmers’ market has been postponed indefinitely, you can still support Worden farm by purchasing one of their $25 veggie boxes, which include an assortment of organic vegetables, salad greens, cooking greens, roots, fruits and herbs. The boxes can be picked up in multiple locations, including Sarasota’s WSLR station and the Bay preserve at Osprey.
Due to high demand, the boxes are frequently sold out, but you can visit their website at https://www.wordenfarm.com/collections/organic-veggie-boxes to sign up for an update when boxes are available.
Homestead Hydroponic Farm
Located in Myakka City, this farm provides much of the produce used in Sarasota County Schools’ lunches. They grow their produce hydroponically and with zero pesticides. To order your produce online, go to https://the-homestead-hydroponic-farm.square.site. There, you can order the produce for pickup at Indigenous restaurant in Sarasota on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Honeyside Farms
This farm, located in Parrish, offers pickup at two locations: Clark Road and State Road 64. The farm has a wide variety of certified organic produce available, and is also offering ground beef and honey. All produce and meat is available online for pickup at one of their two locations. To order, visit https://honeysidefarms.com/shop/ols/products.
Albritton Fruit Farms
Located 5 miles east of I-75, this farm allows families to enjoy a fun family activity: picking blueberries. “U-Pick” dates this week are April 22, 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the blueberries are $5 per pound. Pre-picked blueberries can also be purchased online and are available for pickup at the farm. Visit https://www.albrittonfruitfarms.com/u-pick-blueberries-1 to order online.