The Voice of Agriculture

Fall | 2012The Offical Publication of the Dade County Farm Bureau

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dade-agriculture.org

Farm Family of the YearThe LaRocca Family

Salvatore and Maria LaRocca came to this country in the spring of 1928 from Sicily. Faced with hardships in their country, they ventured to America with the prospect of a brighter future.

With a firm conviction that honest, hard work and the support of a loving family were the prerequisites to success in America, they began farming. The LaRocca’s farmed onions and lettuce in the dark, rich mucklands of Hannibal, New York.

Driven by opportunity, Salvatore came to Florida City in 1939 to farm the winter season. They began working with a farmer named Mr. Kloninger. In the fall of 1939, Salvatore decided to farm on his own. Despite a disastrous crop loss due to a freeze his first year, he was not discouraged. With his 7-year-old son, Joseph, at his side, Salvatore successfully grew squash and tomatoes in the East Glades. Joseph learned to help his father on the farm by working many hours a day planting and harvesting the crops while simultaneously attending school. He remembers preparing the virgin land with mules to make furrows for planting their crops. After working the summer seasons in New York and the winter seasons in Florida, times improved enabling them to purchase a small tractor. In 1956, Joe married Frances Finocchiaro. Frances met Joe through another farming family, the Nicotras in New York.

Dade County Farm Bureau1850 Old Dixie Highway

Homestead, Fl 33033www.dade-agriculture.org

Phone (305)246-5514 Fax (305)245-9170

Important Contact Information

Major Events in Month 2010: Dates and times are subject to change Please check our website for latest information

Dade County Farm Bureau1850 Old Dixie Hij Highway Homestead, Florida 33033

Frances, Russ and Sadie Finocchiaro traveled to America at an early age without their parents in 1949. They traveled by ship from Italy and processed at Ellis Island. Their mother Josephina was born in America and moved to Italy. It was there she met and married Salvatore Finocchiaro. After having the children the couple decided to move to America. They had problems with passage and made a decision to send the children on to America. Despite their young age, Russ, Frances and Sadie needed to work. They found work on farms in New York with the Nicotra family. The Nicotra family also farmed in Florida City where the children decided to go to after summer harvests to work on the farms during the winter. (Continued on page 4)

Features and Publisher’s Note

Publisher’s Note

The Voice of Agriculture is the quarterly publication of the Dade County Farm Bureau, Miami-Dade County’s oldest and largest agricultural organization. The Farm Bureau was established in 1942 to collectively solve agricultural issues in the regulatory, legislative, economic and social arena. For advertising or membership information please contact Debbie Brady at (305) 246-5514.

Debbie Brady demonstrates how to make pumpkin pie in a bag during Growfest at the Fruit and Spice Park, October 13, 2012.

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IssueIN THIS

President’s Message

It’s November with Thanksgiving and then Christmas on the horizon. Halloween and hurricane season is behind us and agriculture in South Dade is cranking up production. There simply is not a better place on earth to spend the winter months. Coming out of the rainiest summer on record, Lake Okeechobee is full and Water Management is happy. We have many things pointing to a great growing season ahead.

I am starting this newsletter out talking about the season and weather for a very good reason. I just returned from a business trip to Europe. My trip focused 11 days around two trade shows and numerous greenhouse plant breeders, vegetable production, flower producers, and plant producers. I traveled to four countries; Holland, Germany, Denmark, and Belgium. What I saw and experienced there was how to deal with the climate and resources that are available to you.

I had heard prior to my trip that Europe had a highly mechanized industry due to high labor costs there. Labor costs in the U.S. are rising as well, so I observed with a new level of interest as to what I could improve and possibly mechanize. In most European greenhouse facilities, machines do 90% of

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the manual labor. Automation is present from the first planting motion, all the way through to harvest, packaging, and shipping. Two laborers were the norm for a fifteen acre plant facility producing millions of units per year.

European morning temperatures this time of year were 2 degrees Celsius. Sun intensity was much lower than we have here. European growers create the perfect environment that each plant needs with technology. Humidity, temperature, fertilizer rates, light levels, day length, all monitored by computers. They have every aspect of growing mastered and they utilize the sophisticated houses to trick ornamental plants to bloom when the grower wants them to, not when the plant normally blooms by playing with light levels. That is like having a steady crop of new Mango trees coming in bloom 12 months a year. They always have crops to sell when the market is hungry for them. They were even harvesting tomatoes 12 months a year utilizing technology.

Therefore, the main lesson I came back having learned was, never quit thinking about how to improve and never say the word “can’t”. We have better weather which is a free resource. So, rethink a few challenges and you never know, it could help your bottom line significantly.

Sincerely,

George ButlerPresident

1 Farm Family of the Year2 Features and Publisher’s

Note3 President’s Message4 Cover Story: The LaRocca

Family5 Florida Farm Bureau

Annual Meeting6 Teena Borek’s SAFFFE

Movement7 Sam & Philly’s Farmer’s

Market

The LaRocca Family

Their parents finally arrived 3 ½ years later to join them in 1953. Joseph and Frances both lived and worked in New York and Florida City and had not met until 1955. Ana Battiato Bono introduced the couple in New York.After months of exchanging letters by mail, Joseph proposed to Frances in December 1955 and they were married in April 1956.

Over the course of the next 29 years they raised four beautiful daughters. Even in the busiest of times, Joe and Frances always found the time to spend with their family. The parents managed family vacations even in the toughest years.

After his father’s retirement in 1961, Joe continued to farm in upstate New York and in Florida City, moving from the East Glades to the rocklands in the mid 1960’s. Rock plowing pioneers Sam Torcise, Fred Cardillo and Frank Sapp created land that became known as the rocklands.They would travel for 2 ½ days by car with the four girls every year, back and forth. In 1970, Joe sold his farm in New York allowing his daughters to attend a single school throughout the year. The love of family and farming kept them together.

He expanded his farm operation in the mid 70’s to include beans, squash and zucchini. His oldest daughter Angela began working with him in 1976. His daughter Joann took over the farm office full time in 1993.

Many friendships grew over the years, and also partnering in farming with Richard Natoli and Fred Musumeci. Their friendship is still going strong today.

The LaRocca Family receiving their awards and being honored at the 70th Annual Membership Meeting.

4Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting

Florida Farm Bureau’s 2012 Annual Meeting offered a full agenda for participants, including seminars, business sessions, a trade show and the adoption of policies by voting delegates.

Held at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach, Oct. 24-26, the event gave the organization ample opportunity to recognize Farm Bureau members for their outstanding work throughout the year.

FFB President John Hoblick expressed his appreciation for the achievements by the state board, county Farm Bureau leaders and state staff members. “I cannot think of another private or public group that has both so much human talent available and the same can-do attitude,” Hoblick declared during an Oct. 25 general session. Attending from Dade County Farm Bureau were: Carol and Jim Harris, Kelvin Moreno, Jessenia Rodriquez, Mark Wilson, Ray Timmons, and Debbie and Mike Brady.

Cover Story 70th AnnualMembership

Meeting

(Left to right)Ana Frenero, Ian Frenero, Kelvin Moreno, Jessenia Rodriguez

Peter Schnebly presents Lynda Bell with the Agriculture Advocacy adward

The 70th Annual Membership Meeting was a success. Board of Directors Vice President, Ivonne Alexander, welcomed guests and the LaRocca family was introduced as the Farm Family of the year by Robert Moehling. The election of officers took place with all those in office were reelected. Lynda Bell was honored with the Agriculture Advocacy Award for her dedication to help sustain the Agricultural industry.

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When asked how he managed through some tough years, Joe thanked Community Bank of Florida and Bob Epling for the financial support and trusting in him.In August 1992 Hurricane Andrew struck Homestead/Florida City and devastated both communities. Joe and Frances did not hesitate to plant that year, despite the fact that their tractors and farm were buried under the rubble. The whole family showed perseverance and resilience. The LaRocca Family harvested their crops and the season ended with the highest profit margin in their farming history.

Joe retired in 1998, turning the operation of LaRocca Farms to his two oldest daughters Angela and Joann. He now enjoys vacationing with his wife, Frances of 56 years and spending time with his seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Frances shared her thoughts on being a farmer’s wife,

“a farmer’s wife: hard work, and many thanks to God for the four beautiful daughters, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild and for all that He has created.”

After years of farming issues and thankful that they had survived, in May 2012 the sisters came to an important decision, they would shut down the family farm. The process of leasing land and selling the farming equipment is what they are doing this farming season.

As this farming family history was being told the family was planning a trip back to Sicily to visit family. A funny ring sounded in the room, it was their computer. Joann and Frances said it was their family calling in on the computer using Skype. They were instantly chatting and laughing about the need for some American food items when they visit. A box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes was shown, Frances said yes that is it and we need an American Coffee maker too!

Dade County Farm Bureau would like to wish our best to the 2012 Farm Family of the year, the LaRocca Family, as they journey into a new phase in life. We are thankful for the impact that the LaRocca’s have had in the farming community and are saddened that there will be one less farming family in America.

Dade County Farm Bureau accolades

• 2012 County Recognition Program- DCFB won all five categories: Legislative/Policy Implementation, Public Relations/Information, Organization and Management, Education/Promotion and Leadership Development• 2012 President’s Award• Kelvin Moreno- Winner Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet• Ian Frenero- 1st runner up Youth Speech Contest• Eduardo Munoz- Agent Membership Recognition• Kern Alonso- 4-year-old Kern was the poster contest winner

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Teena Borek’s SAFFFE Movement

Teena Borek of “Teena’s Pride” has a lot to be proud of. For the last thirty-five years, Teena has been an active member of the Dade farming community. She is a graduate of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources. In 2004, Teena was named Florida’s Woman of the Year in Agriculture by Commissioner of Agriculture, Charles H. Bronson. But Teena says the “pride” in “Teena’s Pride” stands for the pride she has in her sons and her product. Teena said, “Years ago there was no branding on vegetable boxes. Our produce looked so good and I was proud of it, so we decided to brand the boxes with Teena’s Pride.”

These days, Teena leaves most of the farming to her son Michael Borek. Teena dedicates her time to an effort she feels so passionately about. Teena wants to Save American Family Farms From Extinction (SAFFFE). SAFFFE is a grass roots effort to save family farms. It encourages people to eat local produce. “Getting South Dade families Redland produce is better for the families and farmers” Teena said, “We want to keep farmers ‘SAFFE’ and keep consumers ‘SAFFFE’. Imported produce contains chemicals illegal in the United States.” Teena believes in the use of Social Media to promote the movement. “Social media will save farmers,” she said. Social media sites, such as Facebook, offer a free way to gain awareness and put your products out for the public to see and share. It is important to Teena that the public becomes aware of what produce is in season locally. “If they know what is in season, they will go to the grocery store and ask for local produce. If local produce was in grocery stores people wouldn’t need to go to farmer’s markets. Family farms can’t sustain their businesses off of farmer’s markets.”

Above: Teena Borek and her son Michael Borek inside on of their greenhouses.

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The SAFFFE movement is quickly growing with many organizations making it a part of their “green” initiative program. Teena wishes to build awareness of this movement and keep consumers aware. “Local produce carries more nutrients than produce that travels,” said Teena. Once produce is picked, it stops receiving nutrients from the source plant. After days of traveling to the market, the amount of nutrients

in the fruit or vegetable already begins to diminish. It has also been proven that fresh fruits and vegetables are much more nutritious compared to those that have been transported for a long time. Foods that are not grown locally and have to travel for days or even a week before it reaches the market lose valuable nutrients in the process.

With Teena’s Pride Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) you will get nothing but the

freshest produce. They harvest the day before they ship so the produce retains all its nutrients. “CSA is a big family that supports family farms,” Teena said, “A CSA can only work if the community works together.” Teena’s Pride CSA only sells produce grown 5 miles within the farm. There are open houses that include: a farmer’s market, tastings and tours. Anyone can join the CSA and pick-up fresh, local produce from one of the many pick-up locations.

Teena wants people to get involved. Whether you’re a farmer or consumer, keep people informed through social media. Building awareness of SAFFFE will keep all of our farmers and families safe.

We want to keep farmers ‘SAFFE’ and

keep consumers ‘SAFFFE’.

Sam & Philly’s Farmer’s Market

Sam and Philly’s Market and U-pick is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 5:30 pm. Military receives a 10% discount.

November 9, 2012 was the grand opening of Sam and Philly’s, located on 168th and 177th Avenue. You can’t miss it. It’s a beautiful red barn with old classic charm. The red barn is filled with delicious local vegetables, fruit, honey and baked goods. It’s decorated beautifully with handmade cornhusk wreathes, bales of hay and handmade shelves. Outside the barn is a 5-acre U-pick strawberry field. One can’t help but feel a part of the family when walking into the charming barn. This market was the dream of Susie Ebersole and it came together with the help of her husband, Tim Ebersole; her brother, Sam Accursio; and her parents, Sam and Philly. Susie dreamed of opening a market where she could sell local goods. “Local is the way to go. Local is the freshest and the best way to get your food. It doesn’t sit in the supermarket for weeks,” Susie said. Sam and Philly’s Market and U-pick sells all sorts of local produce, most of which is grown right on the property. There is zucchini, corn, peppers, squash, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, tomatoes and cantaloupe all grown on the property with the help of Sam Accursio. “I couldn’t have done it without my brother. He is such a big help,” said Susie. Sam Accursio’s role is helping Tim Ebersole learn to grow all the vegetables himself. However, Tim Ebersole is no stranger to farming. His grandfather, Ira Ebersole, was one of the pioneering organic farmers in Homestead back in the 1940’s. He developed

Sam & Philly’s is open from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday

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the “ugly fruit” which is featured at Fruit and Spice Park. “Farming is in his blood,” Susie said about her husband, “I couldn’t have done this without my husband. We work so well together. I help him and he helps me.” Putting together this market was a true family affair. “The kids still have stain marks on their hands from staining the shelves,” said Susie. The property is owned by her parents, Sam and Philly, which is how the market got its name. “I’ve had the name ‘Sam & Philly’s’ in my mind for 20 years,” Susie said with a grin. Philly is glad to see her daughter’s dream come true. She comes to the market to help out behind the counter and spend time with her family. “Seeing it come together, it’s very nice. I’m happy for them,” said Philly. But for Susie, this is just the beginning. They plan to offer shakes soon made with fresh fruit. Susie also wants to offer Saturday tastings, where she can teach customers how to cook with vegetables. She believes if people knew how to prepare a delicious pasta and vegetable dish, more people would enjoy eating their vegetables. Picnic tables will also be installed. The family wants their market to feel like home to their customers. It’s a family friendly atmosphere for people to come and hang out. Susie is thankful her dream became a reality. “God blessed us. We are closed on Sunday’s for this reason. That is his day. God said the land is a blessing. And our land is a blessing,” she said.

Giant African Land Snail Update

Search teams have captured more than 80,000 giant African land snails since the discovery of the massive mollusk in Miami-Dade County on September 8, 2011. Agriculture officials credit continued public vigilance for the identification of new areas of infestation. Inspectors continue to respond to reports from the public, collecting the snails when they are found and applying bait in and around areas where snails have been detected.

Eighteen core areas , which delineate properties within one mile of a positive find,¬ had been established as of Sept. 12, 2012. Most finds result from calls made by the public to the Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry (DPI) Helpline, 888-397-1517.

The 80,000 snails collected in the past 12 months is more than four times the number collected over nine years during a previous eradication program in the 1960s. Back then, a boy smuggled three of the snails into Miami as pets. His grandmother released them into her garden. The resulting eradication effort cost $1 million in 1960s dollars and is the only known successful giant African land snail eradication program to date.The giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) is one of the largest snails in the world. It is also the most dangerous. It consumes at least 500 different types of plants, can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco, and, in rare cases, can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans, although no cases have been identified yet in the U.S. It can grow up to eight inches in length and more than four inches in diameter. An individual can live as long as nine years. Adults lay about 1,200 eggs in a typical year.Originally from East Africa, the snail has established itself throughout the Indo-Pacific Basin, including the Hawaiian Islands. It has also been introduced into the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe with recent detections in Saint Lucia, Barbados and South America. It is illegal to import Giant African land snails into the United States without a permit. Currently no permits have been issued.Anyone who believes they may have seen a giant African land snail or signs of its presence should call the Division of Plant Industry’s toll-free Helpline at 1-888-397-1517 to arrange to have the snail collected.

September 8, 2011: Date the giant African land snail was discovered in Miami

500: Number of agricultural crops known to be consumed by the snail

8” x 4”: Maximum size attained by the species Nine: Maximum years in life span of individuals

1,200: Number of eggs an adult can lay in one year

80,000: Number of GALS found since September 8, 2011

18: Current number of core areas where the snail has been found in Miami-Dade County

350: Number of properties on which snails have been found

36,105: Number of properties within a ½ mile arc of positive properties

Nine +: Number of years it took to eradicate the snail after it was found in Florida in 1966

17,000: Total number of snails collected in the 1966-1975 eradication program

$1 million: Cost of that eradication (in 1960s dollars)

2.6 Million: Estimated expenditure since Sept. 8, 2011 on the current eradication effort

One: Number of successful GALS eradication programs on record

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Giant African Land SnailBy the Numbers

The Vision of Agriculture

The vision of an urban agriculture community created a group of elite agriculture education students. The students selected from 4H and FFA club members would use The Fair™ to bridge the gap between the agriculture community and the everyday person of Miami-Dade County through the mission of the Agriculture Ambassador Program, which is to represent a new era in urban agriculture and instill a form of appreciation for the industry which has been a dependency for our everyday lives and to respect the traditions of American agriculture in hopes of inspiring those around us to be actively engages in all aspects of agriculture. These students are chosen from Miami-Dade County Public School Ag Education classes.

The Miami Dade County Fair and Exposition is proud to announce our newest Agriculture Ambassadors Team. This year the team consists of five young adults from three different agriculture schools, Coral Reef Senior, William H. Turner Technical Arts School, and Felix Varela Senior High. Brittney Ronda, from Coral Reef, joins us for a second term and is the new Lead Ambassador. Three newcomers join us from Turner Tech, Linett Martinez Secretary Ambassador, Dallely Rivas Social Networking Ambassador, and Christopher Mendoza Historian Ambassador. Hailing from Felix Varela, Kelly Lashbrook, serves a second term as our newly developed position of School Liaison Ambassador.

The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, known for generations as The Youth Fair, is a private, not-for- profit organization that has donated well over $10 million in scholarships, awards and cash premiums to Miami-Dade students and is dedicated to supporting education and South Florida agriculture. The Youth Fair will take place next spring, March 14-31, 2013. For more information, please visit www.fairexpo.com<http://www.fairexpo.com> or call (305) 223-7060.

FNGLA/DCFBHoliday Party

Last year’s toy giveaway at the South Dade Skills Center

The FNGLA/DCFB Holiday Party will be held December 13, 2012 at Schnebly’s Winery and Brewery. Collections will be accepted for the Farm Worker Children Toy Drive distribution. Last year 170 families received toys and we hope to provide even more families with toys this year. Donations for the toy distribution will be collected December 1 through 16 from each organization. Donations must be unwrapped toys for girls and boys.

Dade County Farm Bureau volunteering at The Fair in 2011

Support Local Support Local 1110

Support Local Support Local1312

Community Corner 14

Board of Directors 15

Events Calendar

November 16-18, 2012Nascar Races

November 24, 2012FNGLA Gives back

November 28, 2012Burr’s Berry Farm Reopens

December 4, 2012Board of Directors Meeting

December 13, 2012

FNGLA/DCFB Holiday Party

All Members Invited!

Visit dade-agriculture.org for all

Katie Edwards, Former Executive Director of Dade County Farm Bureau was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, District 98. We are all very proud of her!

George Butler, III, PresidentIvonne Alexander, President Elect

Phil Marraccini, SecretaryKelvin Moreno, Treasurer

Gary BirdRobbie Bishop

Teena BorekKern Carpenter

Leonard CavallaroAngela DelliVeneri

Larry Dunagan, Past PresidentRobert Epling

Sal FinocchiaroJerry Frye

Steve GreerDavid Hanck

Steve HovelandDavid Kaplan

Bill LosnerRobert MartensRobert McMillan

Steven MeeksRobert Moehling

Alice Pena, Past PresidentHerb PiersonTom Rieder

Diego RodriguezPeter Schnebly

Erik TietigTom Vick

Mark Wilson, State DirectorGeorge Cooper, Director EmeritusJohn Fredrick, Director Emeritus

Kenneth Graves, Director EmeritusVito Strano, Director Emeritus

Dade County Farm Bureau

Member Services Staff

Ray N. Timmons, Agency Manager Debbie Brady, Executive Director Hal Arve, Jr., Agent Donna Alfaro, Receptionist Dawn L. Baird, Agent Hilda G. Davila, CSR Judith M. Fernandez, Office Manager Eddy Munoz, Agent Ronald D. Herbert, Agent Sonia Perez, Executive Assistant Theresa Smith, Associate Director Elena Serna, CSR