Innovative Farmers Awarded

Punta Gorda-based Worden Farm was honored with the Florida Innovative Farmer Award, which was presented during this year’s Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference in Kissimmee.

Founded by the husband and wife team of Chris and Eva Worden, Worden Farm is a certified organic family farm producing more than 50 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers.

The award, created by UF/IFAS, recognizes farmers and ranchers based on the following criteria:

Success in making farming systems more profitable over the long term.
Ability to use farming practices that enhance, rather than harm, natural resources.
Leading - or participating in - activities that support viable communities, either through economic development or contribution to regional food systems.
Effective outreach and/or education about sustainable agriculture ideas and practices to others, such as producers, community leaders, agricultural educators and the general public.

The Wordens were recognized along with Trish and David Strawn of Deep Creek Ranch in DeLeon Springs and George Owens of Owens Farms in Chipley.

To read the March 2008 Florida Grower cover story on Worden Farm, click here.

For more about the conference, visit http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/.

Successful, eco-friendly ag leaders recognized at small farms conference.