Small farms on the rise in Tampa Bay area

The narrow, fenced-in site sits between industrial lots. A few years ago, the property was littered with cast-off hot tubs. Now, it grows everything from leaf lettuce to broccoli and tomatoes. The farm reflects a movement that has swept the country in recent years: eating from local sources. The rising demand for locally grown food has inspired communities across the region to set up farmers' markets.

"We're seeing an increase in the amount of land in production because of newer small farms," said Don Buckloh, a spokesman for the Farmland Information Center, a branch of the nonprofit American Farmland Trust. "There is a resurgence of people raising food crops for direct sale."  Across the Tampa Bay region, small-scale farming operations are producing everything from fruits and vegetables to beef, poultry and eggs. Growers sell directly to customers, either at local farmers' markets, by offering "u-pick" sessions on their farms or by subscription – selling shares of their crops in advance of the growing season. Websites such as LocalHarvest.org also help growers find buyers.

For growers and customers alike, buying local is a way to support local agriculture while reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals and their carbon footprints. Cutting out the middle man also increases growers' profits.  Florida has a long history as a farm state. Along with California, it provides much of the winter produce that fills grocery stores elsewhere in the country. Until recently, though, Florida's farms focused most of their energy on shipping food out of state.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/08/small-farms-on-the-rise-in-the-tampa-bay-area/news-money/