Farm Tour set for Nov. 17
Posted On: October 26, 2023
City slickers can see how the country folks live during the 42nd annual Farm Tour Friday, Nov. 17. Residents can learn about farming and pick up some fresh produce as they visit six of the more than 1,500 farms in Volusia County, along with a brewery and nature preserve.
As the silent engine of Volusia County’s economy, the agricultural industry creates jobs, feeds families and contributes more than $780 million to the local economy each year.
The UF/IFAS Extension and Volusia County Farm Bureau have partnered with local producers to highlight their farming techniques, products and passion for agriculture. Everything from growing vegetables to raising livestock will be highlighted at this year’s event.
Residents can visit as many sites as they wish during this self-guided tour.
WEST VOLUSIA
8:30 to 9:30 a.m.: Evans Fish Farm, 1195 E. Washington Ave., Pierson. This 100-acre aquaculture facility is home to the nation’s first farm-raised sturgeon. Check out the farm’s Anastasia Gold Caviar and see several species of sturgeon and other varieties of fish.
10 to 11 a.m.: H&H Greens, 1990 Reynolds Road, DeLeon Springs. Monaca and Tanner Campbell run this family farm, which specializes in fresh-cut Florida greens, including leatherleaf fern, magnolia trees, and seasonal varieties.
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Common Ground Farm, 1330 E. Taylor Road, DeLand. What started out as a small garden in 2008 has grown into a sizable farm that produces organic vegetables and herbs. Owners John and Pat Joslin also offer classes ranging from canning to baking bread.
1 to 2 p.m.: Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co., 1635 Patterson Ave., DeLand. Robbie Carelli and Andy Sistrunk made their dream a reality in 2014 with the opening of their first brewery and taproom in DeLand. Since then, they have opened four additional locations. See how they make beer by adding hops in stages to affect the bitterness, flavor, and aroma.
EAST VOLUSIA
8:30 to 9:30 a.m.: Yaupon Brothers American Tea, 504 Pullman Road, Edgewater. Byron and Kyle White established this organic operation in 2015 and now have 10,000 yaupon trees in the ground at four tea plantations. The brothers produce several varieties of tea, all based on the yaupon holly, the only naturally caffeinated plant in North America. Each leaf is hand-plucked, carefully dried or fire-roasted, graded and milled, and hand-packed in their Edgewater facility.
10 to 11 a.m.: Benedict Farms, 705 Airport Road, New Smyrna Beach. Established in 1934, this farm is built on family tradition. After many years of producing hay for their cattle, Bill and Sheryl Benedict are expanding the farm by growing seasonal vegetables, just like their grandparents did.
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Innovation Arabians, 2552 Tomoka Farms Road, Port Orange. This picturesque farm was designed in the 1980s as a training and breeding facility for Arabian and half-Arabian horses. Today it offers boarding for all breeds, riding lessons, a farm school, community garden, poultry breeding and sales, and a dairy operation with goats and cows.
1 to 2 p.m.: Longleaf Pine Preserve, 3736 E. New York Ave., DeLand. Climb aboard Volusia County’s eco-buggy to tour this 12,005-acre preserve, which features mesic and wet flatwoods, cypress strands, cypress domes, scrub, and two marked trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders.
For more information about the Farm Tour, contact the UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County at 386-822-5778.
