Floridians encouraged to get out and garden with free starter seed packets

ORLANDO, Fla. — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced on Monday that they are providing free starter seed packets to Floridians at locations across the state as part of the new Unity Gardens Initiative.

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Starting Monday, Floridians can pick up their free seed packets from one of 59 locations of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences across the state.

People can receive up to three seed packets and an IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide to start their own Unity Garden.

The mission of the Unity Gardens Initiative is to bring Floridians together to encourage positive community engagement, and to connect with our food systems and production.

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Florida gardeners are invited to share pictures of their Unity Gardens on social media using the hashtag #FLcommUNITYGardens.

Eggplant, corn, sweet peppers, cucumbers, zucchini and three different varieties of tomato seeds will be available.

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For more information on the Unity Gardens Initiative and where you can pick up your free seed packets, click here: Plant Kindness, Grow Together: Fresh From Florida (followfreshfromflorida.com).

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