Need to find qty organic peppers in SW FL

15 years ago

Hi all,

I would like to find an organic farming operation.... or farmer's market stand... in southwest florida where I can buy large quantities of organic hot peppers like jalepeno (red ripened), cayenne, etc. Does anyone know of any? Also qty organic herbs. I have so many people asking for my dried herbs and peppers as Christmas presents and don't have enough right now!!! If I can locate some and at least tell my friends that they are organic and locally grown they may let me live - lol.

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Comments (9)

veggrljo
15 years ago
Where are you located in SW Florida?
If you are in Bonita Springs you can try the Promenade farmers Market on 41 Saturday mornings from 7 to 12. Farmer Mikes Produce is the only one I know of there that is locally grown.
Also on Saturday Morning in Naples at the Promenade( yes Naples has one too) there are 2 local vendors who grow there own. Unfortunately, I don't remember the names but one of them is organic. Same time frame as well. Unfortunately, most of the produce around is not organic nor is it local. Good Luck!
Jo
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ladyfish_fl
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi veggrlio,
I am in the Cape, but am willing to go wherever needed to get the qty I need. Thanks for the suggestions. I seem to recall there was an organic farmer from Punta Gorda at the Cape Coral Farmers Market a couple of years ago but can't remember the name of the farm and googling it doesn't help.

We probably have a lack of organic farms here because of the blasted bugs that overwinter here. Heck, the pickleworms have already taken out my squash and cukes! I started growing veggies and herbs last year, and have a growing list for my "bug of the day" club. Spend a lot of time researching what the heck each one is. A new one this year is eating tiny holes in the leaves of my tomato and pepper seedlings - odd because that didn't happen last year. Sigh.

My hubby is pushing me to throw in the towel and use chemicals on my plants, but I am still being stubborn and point out that the chemicals won't help with the whitefly problem anyway. Argh.
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annafl
15 years ago
Hi ladyfish,

You are probably thinking of Worden Farm out of Punta Gorda. They are an organic farm that sells lots of peppers and herbs and carry their produce to farmer's markets within a certain radius of their farm. They come to Sarasota and I love buying their wonderful produce. I don't know if they have your specific needs, but they have a very nice website and I'm sure you can contact them through that. Good luck!

Anna
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veggrljo
15 years ago
With the abundance of farmers markets in the area you should be able to find something. There was an article in the Ft. Myers News Press a week or so ago. I copied this over for you. Hope it helps!
Wednesdays-
Worden Farm Greenmarket:
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. January through March at FishermenÂs Village, off Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda.

Saturdays-
Alliance for the ArtsÂ GreenMarket: Fresh vegetables Â most locally grown and some organic Â as well as fresh fish, natural salsas and chutneys, locally produced honey, bakery goods, native plants, gourmet cheese, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 939-2787.

Cape Coral: Fresh fruits and vegetables, Gulf seafood, baked goods, native plants and trees, Wisconsin cheeses, fresh roasted nuts and more. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. October through May at Club Square off S.E. 47th Terrace and S.E. 10th Place. 549-6900.

Pine Island Tropical Fruit Market: Tropical fruit, plants, organic vegetables and greens. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday (also 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays June-September). Stringfellow Road at Ficus Tree Lane, Bokeelia.

I pulled the ones that are local for you.
Good Luck!!!
Jo
P.S. I am with you on the bugs :)
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ladyfish_fl
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow - Anna and Jo... thanks so much! Worden is what I was searching for.... Too bad they don't come to the Cape any more but I am sure I can arrange to buy some stuff from them directly. The only organic I have been able to find at the Cape market is the plant guy but when I bought some plants from there last year they all had either grubs or cutworms in them which then became my first bug ID foray :-). I only plant from seed now and mix my own potting mix so at least that's under control.

And thanks for the tip on the PI market too!
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keiki
15 years ago
I am in Cape Coral also. The farmers markets Jo listed are great if you are free on Saturday mornings, I am not so I have found a few others. On Thursday there is one under the bridge in downtown Fort Myers by the Post Office. On Wednesday there is one at the old drive in movie theater in North Fort Myers on n cleveland ave.
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ladyfish_fl
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi keiki,
The problem is buying organic from the markets. Few and far between opportunities for that.

Side note: what is really weird is that the garlic I have seen at the markets is all from China!!! I have to go to Sweetbay to even get US garlic. I have had no trouble growing it so I wonder why no one grows it around here for a fresh market?
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jay-wpb
15 years ago
I need to make a note of this. My wife trimmed her herbs last week. She had a wheel barrow full of the stuff and we threw it out. She wants it fresh from the garden. Next time she is in the trimming mood I will post it so that anyone wanting it can pick it up. (She had rosemary, Basil, Thai basil, time and some stuff whose names I do not know. Of course I do have lots of curry leaves if ever anyone needs it.
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ladyfish_fl
Original Author
15 years ago
Jay-wpb - what a great idea! I dehydrate herbs and veggies... as surely many of us do... that would be awesome to let others know so they can be used instead of thrown out!
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Need to find qty organic peppers in SW FL

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Need to find qty organic peppers in SW FL

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veggrljo

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