April 13, 2011:
Faces of Local Food: Worden Farm
Eva and Chris Worden at Worden Farm in Punta Gorda, Fla.
Under the street lights, in the dark before dawn, a truck pulls up to an assigned spot at the Downtown Sarasota Farmers’ Market. Chris Worden jumps out and assists his 4 a.m. skeleton crew with unloading a plethora of produce and market supplies. In a few hours, the market will be bustling and the staff will be racing to keep the Worden Farm stand stocked with freshly picked produce.
As market regulars know, if you show up too late, you likely will have missed out on favorite items that the early birds have already gobbled up. Depending on crop availability, there may still be some fantastic fennel to ogle over, a few large heads of romanesco to be amazed by, different types of kale to consider, and let us not forget the lettuces!
Back at Worden Farm in Punta Gorda, Fla., looking at all the beautiful lettuces of varying greens and reds, frilly curly leafs and nestled butter heads shimmering in the sunlight, it’s no surprise that Chris’ favorite produce is lettuce. Just sample the varied lettuces, and you’ll see why it’s a favorite of market-goers and Worden potluck attendees: It requires no dressing, and is delicious on its own accord.
Potluck hosts Chris Worden, Ph.D., and Eva Worden, Ph.D., co-founded the family-owned and -operated Worden Farm in 2003. Since that time, they have been providing U.S. Department of Agriculture certified organic produce to Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market customers and to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members. Currently, the Wordens are actively growing on 38 acres of their 85-acre farm and this season’s (2010-11) CSA membership includes more than 350 members.
The Wordens grow more than 50 different kinds of certified-organic produce at their farm.
The Wordens grow more than 50 different kinds of certified organic produce at their farm.
Touring the farm in Punta Gorda and observing the behind-the- scenes action at the farmers market, it’s easy to see that this is not the Wordens’ first produce rodeo. Chris, originally from Maryland, grew up on a small farm and worked on neighboring produce farms. He met Eva, a Florida native, during their Masters studies in horticulture at the University of Maryland. A very complementary couple, they have been farming together since 1998. Prior to setting up shop in Punta Gorda, the Wordens farmed for a few years in the area of Homestead, Florida. While there, they assisted Eva’s family at their avocado farm and helped form Redland Organics, a CSA that is still active today.
Like most land/home purchases, establishing the Worden Farm in Punta Gorda was all about location, location, location. Chris likes having the farm in a small town that is in close proximity to several larger communities. There are few similar farms in the area, which reduces pest pressure on the crops, and being in Charlotte County affords some protection from the cold during the winter growing season.
Although cold spells still may ruin some crops and temporarily dwindle harvest, they are not the biggest challenge to the strategically planned plantings at Worden Farm. In a world demanding consistency and perfectly shaped produce, the difficulty comes in imparting customers’ understanding that the beauty of a vegetable is in its natural imperfections. Having a deeper connection to our food and farmers may enable us to see beyond—or even the beauty within—the imperfections.
Growing Community
In addition to interacting with customers at farmers markets, the Wordens cultivate community and nurture the connection between people and their food and farmers through farm-feast potlucks, farm tours (which sell out quickly), and culinary and gardening workshops.
It is important to Eva that the connection between farm and community is satisfying for everyone. Their customers report to them constantly “how enriching and satisfying their experience is with eating local, organic food and interacting directly with their personal farmers,” Eva said. And the Wordens, as farmers, appreciate the support of the people for whom they are growing crops.
Diversity
The Wordens grow more than 50 different varieties of certified-organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. You’ll find them all listed on their website, along with relevant recipes. Many of the crops you may be very familiar with—broccoli, carrots, squashes, potatoes and peppers, to name a few—but the Wordens also grow a number of wonderful nutrient-dense greens—omatsuna, kina savoy, and tat soi—not readily found in the average grocery store.
Worden Farm Romanesco, a colorful member of the cauliflower family.
Another unique and popular favorite is romanesco. This strikingly beautiful lime-green vegetable of the cauliflower family often creates a buzz around the market stand.
Availability of produce is weather and growing season dependent, and you may not always find the same items week after week. So, it’s recommended to live like variety is the spice of life, and try something new to support local agriculture.
Diversity is just one key to successful organic farming, Chris explains. The Wordens have instituted a number of different ecological techniques to conserve and protect soil and water resources—from using micro-irrigation and strategically graded fields to creating micro-climates using mini-greenhouses and planting more than 2,000 trees as wind breaks. The Wordens share their knowledge of organic farming through consulting, workshops, and an apprenticeship program.
As market day wraps up, the remaining produce is put to good use—it’s Worden Farm’s common practice to donate a sizeable portion to local soup kitchens—and customers head home to enjoy the fruits of labor of two amazingly inspiring people.
For more information on Worden Farm, visit their website or see their listing in Greater Sarasota’s EAT LOCAL! Resource Guide & Directory.
Tags: farms
