Established in 1994, the Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award is annually presented to growers who produce agricultural goods that Florida residents rely on, while also committing to the protection and preservation of the Sunshine State’s natural resources. On April 24, the 2024 winner was announced by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson as Costa Farms.
“Horticulture plays a vital role in Florida’s agricultural landscape, contributing to our economy, food supply, and natural beauty. It is a thriving industry thanks to our favorable climate and innovative growers like Costa Farms, says Commissioner Simpson.
Costa Farms is located in Miami, FL, and is one of the largest commercial plant growers in the U.S., with a staff of more than 5,000 professional growers and helpers. The company has also been family-owned and operated for more than 60 years and was No. 1 on Greenhouse Grower’s Top 100 Growers list of 2023.
One of the factors in Costa Farms being presented with the 2024 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award is the company being a certified member of More Profitable Sustainability (MPS). MPS is a recognized standard in the horticultural industry for creating and supporting more sustainable practices. That includes ways to better balance and minimize pesticide usage, providing resource tracking and management, and promoting a variety of conservation efforts.
Costa Farms has more than “34 acres of conservation easements, 16 acres of water storage and retention areas, and over 60 acres of wetlands on the National Wetland Inventory,” which is part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Additionally, the company has a “water moisture program” to help conserve water and minimize fertilizer overflow in potted plants. Lastly, Costa Farms reuses plant trays and recycles plant materials and discarded pallets for use as soil addiments and potting mix chips respectively.
In addition to its status as a 2024 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award winner, Costa Farms will also be recognized by Commissioner Wilton Simpson at the Fresh From Florida Breakfast at the Florida Farm Bureau annual meeting held on Wednesday, October 30.
