TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ newest “Fresh From Florida” partner, Louisiana-based Rouses Supermarkets, is currently featuring Florida peaches in its 45 stores across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is excited to be partnering with Rouses Supermarkets to promote one of Florida’s newest crops – peaches,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Their commitment to carry high-quality fruits and vegetables is a perfect match for our ‘Fresh From Florida’ products.”
Florida peaches are one of Florida’s newest crops, a result of extensive work by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) to develop peaches that required fewer chill hours to thrive. Florida growers now plant more than 1,230 acres of peaches and produce more than 2.8 million pounds each year.
Currently, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ “Fresh From Florida” program partners with more than 12,000 retailers in 65 countries around the globe. Florida’s $4.2 billion in agricultural exports last year generated a total economic impact of more than $13 billion and supported more than 109,000 jobs. Florida agriculture has an overall economic impact of more than $120 billion and supports 2 million jobs.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services