Urban Farming Program Demonstrates Sustainable Practices for Increasing Local Food Production

Abstract

Orange County, FL, is rapidly urbanizing with a population of 1.2 million. It had a long tradition of diverse agricultural production until recently. In 1998, 20,000 acres of local vegetable production was shut down due to concerns about phosphorusladen water discharges into Lake Apopka. The county moved overnight from a net exporter to an importer of vegetables. The educational objectives of the Urban Farming Extension Education Program are to identify, demonstrate, and encourage the adoption of sustainable agricultural production methods that can be used
in and around urban centers to take advantage of local markets.