The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. While extending into every community of the state, UF/IFAS has developed an international reputation for its accomplishments in teaching, research and extension.  Because of this mission and the diversity of Florida’s climate and agricultural commodities, IFAS has facilities located throughout Florida.

Florida Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services

The mission of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is to safeguard the public and support Florida's agricultural economy by: ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food and other consumer products through inspection and testing programs; protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices and providing consumer information; assisting Florida's farmers and agricultural industries with the production and promotion of agricultural products; and conserving and protecting the state's agricultural and natural resources by reducing wildfires, promoting environmentally safe agricultural practices, and managing public lands.

Florida A&M University/CESTA
The College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) is the land-grant arm at Florida A&M University. CESTA offers unique opportunities for students to grow professionally and build on their dreams for the future. For more than 100 years, CESTA continues a rich legacy of "Excellence with Caring" through its tripartite land-grant mission to provide collegiate teaching, extension and outreach that is global in scope and recognized both nationally and internationally.

Verti-Gro® specializes in vertical growing and vertical gardening to utilize space, water and energy in an efficient manner. Our systems provide for high density production for the commercial grower and space saving for the hobbyist or home gardener. Whether for the purpose of small farms, large scale agricultural operations or research, the advantages are significant with Verti-Gro.

SARE is a competitive grants program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote research and education about sustainable agriculture. The objective is to enable farmers and ranchers to move profitably toward production systems compatible with the goal of sustainable agriculture, including promoting good land stewardship, protecting the health and safety of people and animals, enhancing quality of life, and strengthening rural communities.

ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2009 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 260,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries.

We believe in supporting local farmers and producers. We have a Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP) that provides up to $10 million in low-interest loans to small, local producers. We want to make it easier for you to grow your business and bring local products to market. Find out more at wholefoodsmarket.com.