Worden Farm
Vendor
About
Worden Farm is an 85-acre certified organic family farm in Southwest Florida, founded and actively run by Chris Worden, Ph.D. and Eva Worden, Ph.D.
Our produce is 100% USDA-certified organic and available directly to the local community in season, Fall through Spring, at farmers markets and through a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm membership program.
Worden Farm's tours and events educate the public, and an apprentice program and agricultural consulting services help aspiring and fellow farmers to succeed in organic crop production and marketing.
Worden Farm has been featured widely in the media, including PBS, The NBC Nightly News, Daytime, America’s Heartland, USA Today, Living, Bon Appetit, American Farmer, The New Pioneer, Florida Grower, and Florida Trend.
Certifications
Production Practices
All of the crops grown at Worden Farm are USDA Certified Organic, and certified by Quality Certification Services (QCS), an independent, USDA-authorized certification agency. The farm is managed with a variety of sustainable methods for conserving and enhancing natural and human ecosystems. Worden Farm founders and owners, Chris Worden, Ph.D. and Eva Worden, Ph.D., are recognized widely for their use of innovative organic farming techniques.
Worden Farm has partnered with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) on micro-irrigation and other water conservation projects for improving environmental quality. Thousands of trees have been planted at Worden Farm for soil and water conservation, windbreaks, and wildlife habitat.
Soil building and conservation is achieved through the use of cover crops and an organic soil fertility program. Several renewable energy projects have been completed, including the conversion of an Allis Chalmers "G" cultivating tractor from a gasoline engine to an electric motor. Fourteen acres of pine flatwoods adjoining the farm were acquired in 2010, expanding Worden Farm's land conservation and environmental stewardship.
Crops at Worden Farm are grown organically with attention to both environmental health and human health. The farm maintains a food safety program of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), following recommended guidelines from University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Cornell University, Department of Food Science National GAPs Program. In addition, members of the Worden Farm staff have obtained Certified Food Safety Manager status with the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals.
Located in an area of cattle ranches, orange groves, and pinelands, the farm neighbors the 79,000-acre Babcock/Webb wildlife management area, and is 1 mile from Shell Creek, a tributary of the Peace River. The abundant sunshine, mild climate, and pure environment contribute to a bountiful, healthful harvest.
Location
St. Petersburg, FL
Manager
Eva and Chris Worden
Husband and wife team Chris Worden, Ph.D. and Eva Worden, Ph.D. are Co-Founders of Worden Farm. Since 2003, the Wordens have been growing fresh, local, organic produce for the local Southwest Florida community and distributing it through farmers markets and through a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm membership program.
Thousands of people have been taught about organic food and agriculture by the Wordens, in educational videos, television shows, workshops, farm tours, university courses, conferences, consulting and an intensive farm apprenticeship program. They have promoted agricultural development and community greening projects within the United States and internationally.
The Wordens are recipients of the Florida Innovative Farmer Award, and have been recognized as Organic Farmer Experts by the Organic Trade Association and the United States Department of Agriculture.
They both hold Masters of Science degrees in Horticulture from University of Maryland. Chris Worden’s doctorate is in Crop Science from University of Connecticut, and Eva Worden’s doctorate is in Ecosystem Management from Yale University.
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