Urban Ag growing in Florida and its local impact

TAMPA, Fla. — Most people who grow fruits and vegetables do so on large properties. But imagine growing them right outside your front door…it’s a method known as urban farming. It’s a form of farming growing in popularity among communities in our state.

Nestled in a growing community, lies a farm unlike any other in New Port Richey.

“There’s no tractors here it’s all handwork,” Tanner Johnson said.

Standing outside his front door, Johnson is the owner of Theo’s Harvest, an urban farm. Where he grows everything from parsley to broccoli to beets. 

It’s a unique way of farming that he wanted to learn more about, and that led him to taking over this farm in 2023.

It was originally founded by Jim Kovaleski in 2007.

“We’re growing it on wonderful soil, which in itself is creating a nutrient-dense food, but then we’re getting to a consumer within a day of harvest,” Johnson said.

He sells his products to 10 local restaurants and to community-supported ag members who are members of the community that support his farm.

Small farms like Theo’s Harvest make up 90% of all farms in Florida. And they make up about 15% of all farm product sales.

For Johnson, the farm lends itself to providing education to the consumer too.

“Usually one of us are out here harvesting, they’re walking out with their food, and then we do run some hands-on classes,” he said.

Seeing the growth of his produce gives him hope for the future of urban agriculture.

“There’s totally this reimagining we can do to feed a lot of people and give a lot of people good work to do,” he said.

Theo’s Harvest also houses a homeschool on its property, providing education about the farm to about 12 kids.