Every day, people enjoy the fruits of farmers’ labor, but most people know little about the behind-the-scenes of farm life and practices. Without an understanding of how their food is grown, consumers miss the opportunity to appreciate the effort that goes into producing nutritious and tasty products. However, residents of Lakewood Ranch and surrounding areas are fortunate to live near local farms dedicated to providing high-quality farm products that not only feed the community but also raise awareness about the vital role that farms play in all aspects of life. 

Blumenberry Farms

Opened in 1995 by owners Mitch and Colleen Blumenthal, Blumenberry Farms is a certified-organic farm in Sarasota. Blumenberry grows around 80 types of vegetables, like varieties of romaine lettuce, beets and kale. They also raise chickens and ducks to provide fresh eggs to consumers. “All the manure from the chickens and ducks is used to create an on-farm fertilizer,” says Mitch, “which helps improve the soil quality and yields perfect plants.” These crops are sold to consumers as part of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes. Customers pay an up-front investment in the farm, then receive a CSA box of produce grown by the farm. They can choose to order boxes on a seasonal, biweekly, monthly or weekly basis, and non-CSA members can also purchase boxes. Consumers can choose to customize their boxes based on produce availability, or opt for a box of items chosen by the farm. The boxes are dropped off for consumers to pick up at seven locations across Sarasota-Manatee, and include surprises like fresh flowers. For people who prefer dining out, Blumenberry supplies products to Crop Juice, Meliora, Indigenous Restaurant and Fork & Hen SRQ. “I’m a strong believer in knowing your farmer, and it’s nice to have a relationship with my customers,” adds Mitch.  2151 Dog Kennel Rd., Sarasota, FL, 941-504-9474, blumenberryfarms.eatfromfarms.com.

Blumenberry specializes in cultivating around 80 types of fresh and delicious vegetables. 

Hunsader Farms

Located in Bradenton, Hunsader Farms has been in the Hunsader family since 1967. David and Kim Hunsader own the farm, where their daughter, Rachel Hunsader-Sliker, is a manager. Beloved for holiday events like the Pumpkin Festival, the farm offers fun activities all year, including a petting zoo, a tiny town for kids and farm games. Passionate about debunking the mysteries of farming, Rachel runs buggy rides around the farm most Saturdays. “People don’t understand how expensive farming can be,” she says, “and there’s more to it than just beans and water and fertilizer.” During the buggy tours, she explains the need for tractors, labor and water for the crops, many of which can be harvested as part of U-pick programs.

Visitors can pick fruits and vegetables like strawberries, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, peppers and peas depending on the season. Beginning in March, they can also frolic in fields of sunflowers, zinnias and wildflowers which they can take home as a souvenir. For the ultimate immersive country experience, Hunsader is home to a KOA campground, with sites for RVs, tents and cabins. At the farm market, produce grown onsite is sold along with other local products, like honey that could come from the same bees pollinating the farm’s plants. “I love that the public can see the farming experience,” adds Rachel, “and even if the town surrounds us, we’ll always try to keep Hundsader country.”  5500 C.R. 675 Bradenton, FL, 941-504-9474, hunsaderfarms.com.

With its countryside atmosphere,Hunsader Farms is a welcome retreat for visitors of all ages. 

Gamble Creek Farms

Ed Chiles, the former CEO of Chiles Hospitality and owner of Gamble Creek Farms in Parrish, opened the farm in 2013. Supplying to consumers as well as Sand Bar, Beach House and Mar Vista, all Chiles Hospitality restaurants, Gamble Creek is committed to sustainable farming practices. “Wherever we find waste streams on the farm, like fuel or fertilizer, we thoughtfully find ways to give it a second or third life,” says farm manager Zach Rasmussen. For example, water released by air conditioning units is used to irrigate the banana garden. The farm also trucks all the food waste and compostable products from the Chiles restaurants back to the farm to be used as compost. In all the farming practices, the goal is to use products that will be completely consumed by the plants, avoiding runoff and the need to purchase expensive fertilizers.

These sustainable techniques maintain competitive prices for the farm’s products, like specialty lettuces, candy cane beets and sungold tomatoes. Along with produce, shoppers at the Gamble Creek Farm market can purchase premium pork products, baked goods and more. The bacon, from pigs raised by Toffer Jacob, is so popular that people drive an hour to Parrish to purchase it. Due to the high-quality of the soil, Gamble Creek’s produce is so nutritious that, through a partnership with FreshPoint, it’s a staple on the menu for patients at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital cancer center. For Rasumussen, the cyclical nature of growing nutrient-dense crops expresses itself in a myriad of ways. “In supporting local farms, you support the local farm community, decrease your carbon footprint and consume more flavorful food, which also has a powerful impact on your gut microbiome and your overall health.”   14950 Golf Course Rd, Parrish, FL, 941-548-4805, gamblecreekfarms.com.

At Gamble Creek Farms, farm manager Zach Rasmussen and his team do everything they can to keep farming practices sustainable. 

Mixon Fruit Farms

Husband and wife Janet and Dean Mixon own Mixon Fruit Farms in Bradenton. Dean’s family founded the farm in 1939, starting with a roadside fruit stand and supplying downtown Bradenton hotels with fresh produce. In 2006, Janet and Dean took over the farm, expanding it to include orange grove tram rides, a larger deli, a children’s area and venues for weddings and other events. Mixon is also home to a wildlife rescue, where visitors can meet and greet creatures like alligators, as well as a large koi pond. In terms of crops, the farm specializes in oranges, tropical fruits and organic bamboo, a Mixon-family favorite. 

Visitors of all ages can enjoy the hour-long tram tours through the orange groves. “We go through the grove, where we have old equipment, and discuss the farm’s history, giving people an idea of how the fruit used to be picked,” says Janet. Eager to experiment with different crops, Janet leads visitors out into the fields to pick exotic produce like star fruits. The farm offers U-pick programs for other fruits, like grapes. No day at Mixon is complete without trying the orange juice-infused ice cream, a fan-favorite among visitors, many of whom came to the farm as children and now bring their grandkids to experience it. “Dean and I both lost spouses to cancer before ending up together,” adds Janet, “and our goal with the farm became to make memories, because when you lose a spouse you realize how important the memories are.”  2525 27th St E, Bradenton, FL, 941-748-5829, mixon.com. 

Visitors to Mixon Fruit Farms can enjoy many products, like fresh juice, from the farm store.