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Winn-Dixie and Second Harvest bring Thanksgiving meals to Apopka families

Winn-Dixie, the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida partnered with Patmos Chapel for a Thanksgiving food distribution in Apopka on Thursday. The effort aimed to help 500 families prepare a holiday meal amid continued demand for food assistance. more

From Staff Reports | 11/12/26

Turning purchases into purpose: A path to nonprofit sustainability

As demand for services grows and traditional funding becomes less predictable, nonprofits are looking for additional ways to sustain their work. Derrick Chubbs shares how Second Harvest’s Plate Above Catering turns meal purchases into support for hunger relief in Central Florida. more

By Derrick Chubbs, Second harvest Food Bank of Central Florida | 11/4/26

Foundation for OCPS receives $400,000 to expand school food pantries

The Foundation for OCPS has received a $400,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to strengthen school-based food pantries and expand access to nutritious food. The funding will support students and families facing food insecurity throughout Orange County Public Schools. more

From Foundation for OCPS | 11/3/26

Eligible Duke Energy Florida customers can earn a $7.50 monthly bill credit by charging their electric vehicles during designated off-peak hours. The program requires a Level 2 charger and allows customers to enroll up to two EVs per account.

Orange County residents dig into food waste composting pilot

Orange County’s residential composting pilot drew interest from more than 600 people, with more than 220 residents participating through free composting bins or food waste collection service trials. Enrollment has closed, but participant feedback will help guide potential improvements and expansion. more

From the Orange County Newsroom | 10/22/26

From the fields to the family table: Farmworker Association plans Apopka community dinner

The Farmworker Association of Florida invites the community to a family-style dinner featuring harvests from its gardens on Friday at the Apopka Community Center. The evening will also include live entertainment, a raffle, an auction, and a market of local makers. Tickets are still available. more

From the Apopka Farmworkers Association | 10/19/26

After Frozen Dumplings, the Next K-Food: Meet Bugak, a Crunchy Traditional Korean Snack

Discover bugak, a traditional Korean snack made with seaweed and a thin grain-based coating, and learn how Trader Joe's brings its crispy texture to K-food fans. more

By TK | 10/9/26

Peanut Butter Challenge returns to fight hunger; Orange County looks to build on winning effort

The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is collecting donations to stock local food pantries, and Orange County hopes to expand its impact after winning last year’s competition. Residents can donate sealed, unexpired peanut butter at participating Extension offices during October, with collections continuing into November in some counties. more

From UF/IFAS | 10/4/26

Florida Blue Foundation awards $3.1 million to combat food insecurity

The Florida Blue Foundation is awarding $3.1 million to eight community-based initiatives addressing food insecurity across the state. The programs will serve students, farmworkers, uninsured residents, people experiencing homelessness, and rural communities. more

From the Florida Blue Foundation | 9/22/26

Are food recalls becoming more common? UF expert puts the numbers in perspective

A steady stream of recall notices and social media posts may make the nation’s food supply seem less safe, but a UF/IFAS expert says current recall numbers are generally consistent with previous years. Consumers should review the specific products, brands, and lot numbers involved rather than avoiding an entire category of food. more

From UF/IFAS | 9/15/26

Bojangles opens a new Apopka restaurant on State Road 436

Bojangles has opened a new restaurant at 3050 State Road 436 in Apopka. The location is the Carolina-based chain’s seventh restaurant in the Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne market. more

From Bojangles | 9/14/26 | 1 comment

AdventHealth grants will help 13 nonprofits serve more than 123,000 Central Floridians

AdventHealth is supporting 13 Central Florida nonprofits working to improve housing stability, food access, transportation, and maternal health. The grants are expected to help the organizations serve more than 123,200 people, including families in the Apopka area. more

From AdventHealth | 9/10/26

Second Harvest calls on Central Florida to take action against hunger

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida asks residents to take at least one action to fight hunger in September. Community members can donate, volunteer, attend an event, advocate for hunger relief, or wear orange for Hunger Action Day. more

From the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida | 9/1/26

Hope CommUnity Center seeks donations as emergency food pantry supplies run low

Hope CommUnity Center is asking the Apopka community for donations as supplies at its emergency food pantry begin to run low. Residents can purchase needed items through an Amazon Wish List, deliver food to the center or contribute financially. more

From the Hope Community Center and Staff Reports | 8/20/26

Can you sue a grocery store for a slip and fall?

Grocery store slip-and-fall accidents can cause serious injuries. Learn about common hazards, store responsibilities and the legal requirements for premises liability claims. more

By David Resnick for David Resnick & Associates, P.C. | 8/14/26

Beyond School Supplies: UF/IFAS expert shares healthy, affordable meal plans you can prepare in minutes

Back-to-school preparation extends beyond purchasing notebooks, backpacks and other classroom essentials. A UF/IFAS expert offers practical ways families can prepare healthy, affordable meals in minutes. more

From UF/IFAS | 8/10/26

While U.S. produce prices are rising across the board, tomatoes are among the most affected.

A perfect storm of factors is driving up US produce prices, but shoppers can still save

Prices for tomatoes, lettuce and other fresh produce have climbed substantially over the past year as disruptions ripple through the agricultural supply chain. Shoppers can reduce costs by choosing less-affected foods and substituting canned or frozen produce when appropriate. more

By Elizabeth Canales, Mississippi State University | 7/20/26 | 2 comments

Florida reports 50 cyclosporiasis cases amid nationwide outbreaks

Florida has recorded at least 50 cyclosporiasis cases across 24 counties since May 1 as infections rise nationwide. The foodborne intestinal illness can cause diarrhea, appetite loss, and weight loss, with symptoms sometimes lasting more than a month. more

By Merrilee Gasser, The Center Square | 7/16/26

Ideal Nutrition Expands Healthy Meal Delivery to Orange County

Ideal Nutrition has expanded its healthy meal delivery service to Orange County, offering more than 40 chef-prepared meals with home delivery or pickup at its Lake Nona location. more

By Thomas Brown | 7/16/26

Goodwill, WFTV launch annual summer food drive to help Central Florida families

Goodwill Industries of Central Florida and WFTV 9 Family Connection have launched their annual summer food drive to help combat food insecurity across the region. Community members can donate nonperishable food items at participating Goodwill stores through July 11. more

From Goodwill Industries of Central Florida | 7/5/26

PhenoSeg focuses on segmenting individual strawberry plants from drone imagery – essentially isolating each strawberry plant from the background so scientists and growers can count plant-level fruit and flowers more precisely.

UF researchers develop AI-powered tools to help strawberry and tomato growers predict yields

University of Florida researchers have developed two web-based applications that use artificial intelligence and drone imagery to help strawberry and tomato growers predict yields. The tools, known as PhenoSeg and PhenoSnap, aim to reduce the time and labor required for traditional crop counting while improving forecasting accuracy. more

From UF/IFAS | 6/16/26

Rising food costs are forcing many Florida families deeper into debt, poll finds

A new poll suggests the rising cost of groceries is placing growing financial pressure on Florida households, with many families taking on debt just to afford food. While some items, such as eggs, are expected to become less expensive this year, shoppers are likely to see continued price increases across many other grocery categories. more

By Merrilee Gasser, The Center Square | 5/31/26

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has launched Career Pathways, a new workforce development initiative designed to connect more residents with stable employment opportunities.

Second Harvest Food Bank launches Career Pathways program to expand workforce training opportunities

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is expanding its workforce development efforts with the launch of Career Pathways, a new training model designed to prepare residents for in-demand jobs. The expanded program adds a customer service track while continuing the organization’s successful culinary training initiative. more

From Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida | 5/24/26

Customers browse the fresh produce at a Wilkes-Barre, Pa., farmers market in June 2025.

Who shops at farmers markets in the US?

A new study examining U.S. farmers market shoppers found consumers generally fall into six categories based on their motivations, habits, and level of engagement. Researchers say most shoppers are driven by a desire for healthy food, support for local farmers, and the enjoyment of the experience itself. more

By Bret R. Shaw, University of Wisconsin-Madison | 5/14/26

How a tropical bean could help treat Parkinson’s tremors

Researchers at UF/IFAS are studying velvet beans as a potential plant-based treatment for Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The project aims to better understand how the plant produces L-DOPA, a key compound used in current medications. more

From UF/IFAS | 4/22/26

Florida citrus forecast ticks up in April, but long-term decline continues

Florida’s citrus outlook improved slightly in the latest USDA forecast, with orange production increasing by 2% since January. Gains across several citrus categories come as the industry continues to battle freezes, hurricanes, and long-term decline. more

By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix | 4/13/26

Apopka’s next City Administrator: A promise, a placeholder, and unanswered questions

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