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A variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, seed packets, and gardening supplies are arranged together in a colorful display.
Classes, Events, and Donations Join us at one of our classes or events or support UF/IFAS Orange County Extension by making a donation.

LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

Supporting local food systems helps connect farmers with the people who buy their food. It also supports small and family farms and keeps local agriculture strong. Local food systems help protect crop diversity, natural resources, open land, and wildlife habitats. One goal of UF/IFAS Extension Orange County is to improve food security and strengthen our community by encouraging people to value and support local food.

Rows of leafy green and reddish vegetables grow in neat lines in an urban garden with houses in the background.

Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture helps provide fresh, healthy food and adds green space to our communities. Today, up to 15% of food is grown in or near cities. As more people move to urban areas, growing food close to home becomes even more important. Urban agriculture helps improve food security and gives people better access to fresh, nutritious food.

Honeybees cluster tightly on a honeycomb filled with open and capped hexagonal cells.

Backyard Honey Beekeeping

We offer workshops, presentations, mentoring, and other resources for people who want to keep backyard honey bees in Orange County, Florida. Our programs share research-based information on how to care for honey bees and support wild bees in our state.

A yellow chicken looks toward the camera from inside a metal cage, with the bars visible in front.

Backyard Poultry

More people in cities want to know where their food comes from and how it is produced. Because of this, keeping backyard chickens is becoming more popular in many urban areas. Raising chickens at home gives people a hands-on way to learn where their food comes from and how it is produced.