2025 Conference Highlights
Thank You for Joining Us!
We had a blast connecting with schools, producers, distributors and community partners from across Florida as we celebrated our 2025 Conference theme, Cultivating Connections. More than 300 attendees and 20 speakers came together for dynamic activities, sessions and farm tours centered on the three pillars of Farm to School:
- School Gardens
- Agricultural Education
- Procurement
Our program reflected the tools you need to participate in and promote Florida Farm to School, to in turn help increase students’ access to fresh Florida commodities in our schools and get students involved with nutrition and agriculture education.
The Farmer's Market Expo at our 2025 Florida Farm to School Conference was a resounding success! Held on March 6, the Expo brought together Florida farmers/producers, business and organizations who serve Florida schools to meet with school nutrition professionals, educators and stakeholders to share their products and services.
One exhibitor shared: “This was a great show and would love to attend the next one! There was a large turnout and everyone showed interest in our products!”
Thank you to all who participated and made this event memorable, including our exhibitors:
- 4Roots
- FDACS – Division of Fruit and Vegetables
- Feek Family Citrus
- Finn Foodservice/Cambro
- Florida Organic Growers
- Florida Agriculture in the Classroom
- Fresh from Florida
- FM Meat Products LP
- Fork Farms
- Green Life Farms
- M&B Products, Inc.
- Mister Landscaper, Inc.
- R.C. Hatton, Inc.
- School Garden Support Organization
- Traders Hill Farm
- Quincey Cattle Beef
- University of Florida
- Verti-Gro, Inc.
Farm Tour A: 4Roots Farm Campus
The team at 4Roots invited Conference attendees to tour their Farm Campus, where we learned about 4Roots’ mission, programs, sustainability initiatives and regenerative agriculture practices.
Attendees got a sneak peek into their state-of-the-art greenhouse, equipped with nine different innovative growing systems, including an aquaponics system designed to mimic nature.
We wandered through a food forest, comprised of over 100 diverse edible plant varieties, where the 4Roots team demonstrates permaculture principles that maximize soil and ecosystem health.
The 4Roots Mobile Market was also on site for attendees to stock up on fresh Florida produce and merchandise!
Farm Tour B: Southern Hill Farms
Attendees also took a tour of Southern Hill Farms for a fun and educational agricultural experience! Southern Hill Farms is a 120-acre family-owned and operated agritourism farm growing u-pick blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, seasonal vegetables, sunflowers and zinnias in their respective seasons, along with commercially harvested blueberries and strawberries. Their blueberries were originally commercially harvested only, until they opened the farm for their community to enjoy in 2014.
Today, Southern Hill Farms is a beloved destination within Clermont and the Greater Orlando area, welcoming guests for their winter and spring u-pick seasons and annual fall festival. Southern Hill Farms offers the community a chance to know their local farm and love their local farmer.
