In South Florida, a new University of Florida initiative is bringing the concept of “Food is Medicine” to life by helping farmers grow nutrient-dense, culturally relevant crops that reflect the region’s diverse consumer preferences.
That concept takes root at AgroEco Park, a three-acre vegetable and herb farm in the heart of Homestead, where rows of crops stretch as far as the eye can see. The farm sits on the Tropical Research and Education Center of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
Xiaoying ‘Shawn’ Li, an assistant professor of horticulture vegetable crops at UF/IFAS, leads the community ethnic vegetable UF/IFAS Extension program, which advances a “Food is Medicine” approach. Li’s role is to work with growers to identify and produce culturally relevant, nutrient-dense crops that meet consumer demand and support both public health and a more sustainable, resilient agricultural system.
The initiative, established in 2025, addresses a key challenge: many culturally important vegetables remain underrepresented in local production systems despite increasing consumer interest.
READ: Trump Scraps DEF Sensor Mandates To Save Farmers And Truckers Billions
UF/IFAS photo by Laura Vasquez, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County.
“This program addresses the evolving needs of the subtropical and tropical vegetable horticulture industry in South Florida,” said Li.
The region’s vegetable sector is undergoing a major transition, from conventional production systems toward more sustainable, efficient and climate-resilient practices. It is also shifting away from reliance on a narrow set of traditional crops toward high-value specialty vegetables that reflect the growing consumer demand from Asian, Caribbean and Latin American communities, she said.
Li and her team are identifying crops that thrive in South Florida’s subtropical conditions, including heat and limestone‑rich soils, while promoting low-input farming practices such as cover cropping, integrated pest management and planting schedules.
“Through applied research, on-farm trials, and Extension outreach, my work delivers practical, science-based solutions which strengthen growers’ ability to compete in local, regional, national and global markets while reducing the environmental footprint of vegetable production,” Li said.
Over three growing seasons — spring and fall 2025 and spring 2026 — the program evaluated 56 types of vegetables and cover crops to determine which are best adapted to local conditions and when they should be grown.
READ: Tech Harvest: New Bipartisan Bill Puts AI And Robotics In The Hands Of Florida Farmers
Early results show increased grower interest, early adoption of alternative crops and improved awareness of sustainable management practices. One notable example is edamame, a nutrient-dense crop rich in plant-based protein, fiber and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that support cardiovascular health.
“This program represents the first effort to introduce edamame into South Florida production systems, and local growers have already begun adopting it, expanding from zero to more than 10 acres of production in 2025, using both hand and mechanical harvesting methods,” said Li.
The program also reflects broader changes in the region’s agriculture, including a more diverse group of producers and growing interest in alternative crops and diversified systems. Through these efforts, growers, particularly organic and urban producers, have also begun cultivating crops such as ube, red mustard and specialty peppers, all of which are rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds and are valued for their distinctive flavors and culinary versatility.
“At the same time, the producer landscape is changing, with increased participation from younger and more ethnically diverse growers and growing interest in alternative crops and diversified production systems,” said Li. “My program responds to these shifts by developing and demonstrating innovative production systems that support the successful adoption of emerging and highly nutritional crops.”
Community engagement is vital to the effort. The vegetable garden is growing more than 40 crops and varieties, many of them underutilized plants with high nutritional and medicinal value, offering a hands-on resource for education and outreach.
Recently, Li partnered with UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County and TREC colleagues to host a large-scale field day that brought together 80 participants, including growers, home gardeners, students and community members. The event highlighted sustainable production practices, ethnic vegetable production in low-input systems and organic pest management along with the use of native resources such as trees and pollinators.
Attendees also took part in a U-pick activity and a taste test of newly developed UF/IFAS calabaza varieties. Organizers distributed 250 vegetable seed packages extending the program’s reach to local communities.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
