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Where to get seasonal produce in Lakeland
LAL-plant-city-farm-and-flea-market-2019
Don’t squash your chance at getting these seasonal produce items. | Photo by @cfproduceinc
Happy (almost) harvest season, Lakeland. As we gear up for the fall, our produce palates are changing with the seasons — even if the weather isn’t quite yet. Studies show that not only does seasonal produce taste better overall, but eating in season can also help the environment.

Let’s take a look at what produce will be in season in Florida over the next several months, as well as some local farms that you can support.

A downtown Lakeland street lined with tents selling farmers market goods. Trees hang over the street.

We can’t wait for September to visit the Downtown Farmers Curb Market every Saturday for our produce again.

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Photo by @ashley_kent77

According to Fresh From Florida, a resource from Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, September’s seasonal produce is packed with crops such as:
  • Avocado
  • Blackberry (last month in season)
  • Cucumber
  • Guava
  • Mango (last month in season)
  • Mushrooms
  • Oranges
  • Peanuts
  • Radishes
  • Squash
  • Star fruit
  • Tangerines
Starting in October, the list grows even longer with the additions of cabbage, celery, eggplant, grapefruit, leafy greens, peppers, snap beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, and watermelon.

Grab a mango milkshake at Parkesdale Market before they go out of season.

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Photo by @bon.voyage.cher

Now that we’ve got you good and hungry, here are a few local farms + stands where you can find seasonal produce around Lakeland. Note: If there’s a specific item you’re looking for, we recommend contacting the farm directly to see what crops they’re growing right now.

🥑 Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market | Head to one of the market’s many produce stands when it reopens on Saturday, Sept. 7.

🥑 Fancy Farms | Mark your calendars for when this family-owned farm and market reopens for the season in October boasting seasonal produce, plants, and desserts.

🥑 Parkesdale Farm Market | This Plant City farm reopens today, offering fresh produce + frozen concoctions.

🥑 Walker’s Produce | After grabbing lunch at Catfish Country, stop by this produce stand to stock up on your fresh fruits + veggies for the week.

Did we miss your favorite farm or stand? Drop us a line — we’re always about shopping local.
Asked

Do you prefer to shop for produce directly from local farmers or through a grocery store?
A. Directly from the farmers — I like to know who is growing my produce.
B. Through a grocery store — I’m all about convenience.
Veggie out and weigh in
Your CBD Store Lakeland
 
Events
Wednesday, Aug. 21
  • Bridge | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 12:30-4 p.m. | Peggy Brown Building | $0-$5 | Bring your own Bridge game, play with a group, or take a class to learn how to play.
  • Women’s Self-Defense Class | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 6-7 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center | $12-$38 | Enhance personal safety and learn self-defense techniques in this class for women ages 15 and up.
  • Salsa y Bachata Class Plus Dancing at the Park | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | $10 | Learn beginner moves, practice with a partner, then show off in a social at Munn Park.
Thursday, Aug. 22
Friday, Aug. 23
  • Hope House Grand Opening | Friday, Aug. 23 | 4-6 p.m. | Hope House | Free | Drop by + take a tour of this home in Bartow for expectant mothers.
Saturday, Aug. 24
  • Sunrise Guided Hike | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 6:30-8:30 a.m. | Se7en Wetlands | Free | Chase the sunrise in this 3.5-mile educational hike — the view will be worth it in the end.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Family

This local nonprofit helps with childcare costs + pre-K prep
A group of children sit on a rug in a classroom listening to a story.
Fun fact: By the time a child enters kindergarten, 90% of their brain is already developed | Photo provided by the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County
Early childhood can be as challenging for caregivers as it is critical for kids’ development.

That’s why we’ve connected with the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County to highlight local resources + programs designed to support new families around Lakeland.

Let’s take a look:

Find childcare, clothes + more

The Early Learning Coalition has a dedicated Child Care Resource and Referral team that helps connect families with quality childcare providers.

They also offer assistance with finding essential resources like food, clothing, and child safety equipment.

Apply for financial assistance

The cost of childcare is a serious burden for many families. The Early Learning Coalition’s School Readiness Program is here to help lighten the load, providing financial assistance to eligible working caregivers and students.

Get a free head start

For the extra-young youngsters, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a fantastic free program available for all Florida 4-year-olds.

VPK curriculum is designed to prepare children intellectually + socially for kindergarten and can be an effective way to boost a child’s early development.
Explore more free resources
News Notes
Civic
  • The results are rolling in. More than 70,400 Polk voters turned out for Florida’s primary election yesterday. Keep an eye on the races for property appraiser, county commission, school board seats, and more as we await official results.
Real Estate
  • Haus 820 is considering purchasing the entirety of the 820 N. Massachusetts Ave. property from the Lakeland CRA after ART/ifact Studios announced it will close in September. The CRA may also accept proposals from other businesses at a later date. (LkldNow)
Number
  • More than 1,700. That’s how many students are enrolled at Florida Poly for the fall 2024 semester — the highest enrollment the university has had to date. The college opened a new 137,000-sqft residential building last week to meet the increased student count.
Opening
  • Sports bar chain Twin Peaks will open its first-ever Lakeland location in the former Smokey Bones off of Highway 98 North on Monday, Sept. 16. The 7,800-sqft eatery will feature 50 TVs, 32 beers on tap, and a pub-style menu. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Traffic
  • Slow your roll. PCPS will release preliminary numbers of driving violations captured by its new school bus cameras this week, according to Superintendent Fred Heid. Police are also urging drivers to adhere to school zone speed limits + proper turning during school hours. (LkldNow)
Answered
  • On Monday, we asked you to guess what the US scored for overall home buyer difficulty in 2024 according to the NBC home buyer index. The correct answer was 83.8, guessed by 34% of respondents. See how Polk County fared on the index.
Cause
  • Help raise awareness for suicide + mental health services by joining the fourth annual Rally & Ride Out of the Darkness event on Saturday, Sept. 28. Motorcyclists from 37 states will ride from Roscoe’s Chili Challenge to the SUN ‘n FUN campus for a rally featuring 70+ vendors. (The Ledger)
Ranked
  • Florida ranked No. 1 on WalletHub’s 2024 list of Most Fun States due to its number of restaurants, attractions, and festivals per capita. Looking for where to find some of that fun in Lakeland? We’ve got you covered.
Festival
  • Dust off your dancing shoes. Puerto Rican bomba fusion band El Laberinto del Coco will headline Bonnet Springs Park’s Bienvenido a BSP event on Saturday, Sept. 28. See what else is in store for the free celebration of Hispanic heritage.
Finance
  • Finance experts call this card a cash rewards dream: unlimited cash rewards on purchases, $200 bonus after spending $500, long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers + more.*
Older Adults
  • Wanted: Local retirees to grocery shop with neighbors, tutor local students, help in community gardens, and more. Get the info on local activities.*
Cause
 
History

🎶 Getting groovy at Sunfest

Looking back on the Florida Sunfest music festival of 1977
The band Canned Heat performs onstage at a music festival
Canned Heat is pictured here, performing at Woodstock two years after Florida Sunfest. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Before there was Coachella, there was the Florida Sunfest. On April 2, 1977, thousands flocked to Lakeland to hear big names in rock music play throughout the night. It was, at the time, the largest music festival to take place in the state.

The event took place at the Lakeland International Speedway (later known as the USA International Speedway), located off of State Road 33 near I-4. While 20 artists made up the lineup, it was Jimmy Buffett who had the crowd in the palm of his hand. He was fresh off the release of his album “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” and sang hits like “Margaritaville” into the early morning.

Bonus: Camp Margaritaville Auburndale will honor the legendary singer’s memory with a Day of Service on Friday, Aug. 30.
Keep reliving that old time rock 'n roll
The Buy

The Buy 8.21.24 (Affiliate)
A foldable hand vacuum. Perfect for hard-to-reach spaces, this cordless vacuum cleaner features a pivoting design, powerful suction, and two brush attachments + a crevice tool that support multi-surface cleaning capabilities.
More worth The Buy
 
The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
While I typically opt for the convenience of a grocery store when buying my produce, I also love supporting local farmers when I can. I’ve been able to find some truly out-of-the-box produce finds at the farmstand — my personal favorite being the pink pineapple.
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