Martin County

Recommended Native Landscape Plants for Florida's Treasure Coast

Sandra B. Wilson, Judith A. Gersony, Keona L. Nolan, Janice C. Broda, and Edward A. Skvarch, Jr.

Martin County, Florida Food System Study

Yvette Goodiel, William A. Messina, Jr., Lisa House, and Carol Roberts

Martin County, Florida has a rich agricultural history with farming and cattle ranching being important economic drivers since the early 1930s. Nevertheless, the county struggles to meet the balance between food supply and demand. Farmers often face challenges finding sizable, secure, well-paying markets, and the most consumers do not participate in local food transactions. This article summarizes two studies conducted to examine agricultural production in Martin County and its food processing, distribution and marketing systems and infrastructure to better identify potential constraints and opportunities for the local food system.

On-Farm Safety Training Video Resources for Florida Growers

Yvette Goodiel

Agricultural work carries significant risks to health and safety both on and off the farm. Among all occupations, farming, forestry and fishing have the highest fatality rate (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022). Agricultural workers interact with heavy equipment, restricted use pesticides, roadway and on-farm transportation, extreme heat, and physically demanding tasks. The workers’ health […]

Hurricane Season: Know your risk and prepare early

Yvette Goodiel

As we enter the period when our Florida hurricane season gets more active, the National Weather Service (NWS) has offered a series of webinars, sharing guidance and tools to help keep ourselves and our communities safe. I’m highlighting a few key takeaways in this article and providing resources to explore further. Think more “How do […]

Bulimulus Snails: Ghoulish New Florida Residents

Yvette Goodiel

The ding of my phone recently alerted me to a message from one of our vegetable growers in Martin County. He noticed a proliferation of snails climbing his papaya trees and wanted to know what they were. He shared a photo (at right) showing the snails covering a papaya trunk and leaves, splotches of snail […]