June 11, 2012:

Eat Near: Herb-an Outfitters at Dufour Family Farms

Cooper Levey-Baker (Ticket Sarasota — June 11, 2012)

This may be the “worst time of year” for Florida veggie growers, according to Vaughn Dufour, but you wouldn’t know that from a glance at his herb-stocked booth at the downtown Sarasota farmers market. Three different varieties of mint jockey for space with shiny green and purple basil leaves. Oregano, chives and tarragon pop out of plastic containers. Meanwhile, over at the wooden stand just a short stroll away manned by Vaughn’s brother, Dean Dufour, all those herbs share space with catnip, thyme and curly and flat-leaf parsley.

So yes, while summer’s broiling sun means tough times for Southwest Florida growers, Dufour Family Farms is doing just fine.

Dean began gardening organically 15 years ago, when few people cared. He thinks the recession has pushed Americans toward local food: “When the economy did what it did, a lot of people, out of necessity, started gardening again.” They offer customers plenty of advice on how to help their greens thrive. “Morning sun, afternoon shade” is the mantra I hear repeated to all those who stop by the brothers’ booths.

Dufour Family Farms gives you every opportunity to catch a whiff of their plants by making the rounds at multiple farmers markets each week: Phillippi Farmhouse on Wednesdays, Englewood on Thursdays, downtown Sarasota on Saturdays and, newest of new, Lakewood Ranch on Fridays. Vaughn says he’s “very proud” of the new San Marco Plaza market, which he is helping run.

View the complete article at Ticket Sarasota

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