S. Florida farmers see a fresh profit in organics

As the market for organic produce expands from health food stores to mainstream groceries, farmers are taking notice.

While no statewide records are kept on organic production, Florida farms devote an estimated 12,000 acres to organic cultivation of rice, citrus, watercress, blueberries, mangoes and avocados, said Marty Mesh, executive director of the Florida Organic Growers Association. And organic farming is exploding in Southwest Florida, according to Gene McAvoy, a Hendry County-based extension agent.