Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of more Florida farmland through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. More than 540 acres of agricultural land located in Flagler and Putnam counties is being preserved through a rural lands protection easement on Singleton Family Farms, a multi-generational farming operation.
“Protecting working farms like Singleton Family Farms ensures that Florida’s agricultural heritage remains strong,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “This easement supports a family that has invested generations into feeding our state, while also safeguarding critical land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It’s a win for agriculture, a win for conservation, and a win for Florida’s future.”
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases the development rights to agricultural properties through voluntary rural lands protection easements, which prevent the future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
Singleton Family Farms
Singleton Family Farms is a working potato farm producing chip potatoes under contract with Frito-Lay. The family operation also includes a small cow-calf operation on the original homestead property, managed by a younger member of the Singleton family. The project site is enrolled in the department’s Best Management Practices (BMP) program and lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, further enhancing its conservation value.
Source : fdacs.gov