AVON PARK -- Local residents and snowbirds alike know about the small hydroponic farm located just off C.R. 17 between Avon Park and Sebring, and they come for the freshness, uniqueness and lower prices, according to owner Mike McCracken.
"Everyone should grow their own food. This is about family, about nature and about being healthy," said McCracken while he was walking between rows of hydroponicaly grown plants.
The quiet, well-kept area gives you plenty of time to wind down from the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you wonder throughout the U-pick rows stacked in unique pots bursting with greenery.
Cars came and went about every five minutes as Lois, Mike's mom, handed out the produce, smiles and advice about cooking for growing.
"A lot of folks come over from Highlands Ridge to get the fresh stuff. You can't golf all the time, so many of them play a round and stop by," McCracken said.
McCracken farms started in 1985 with U-pick oranges. John, Mike's father, moved the family from Minnesota in 1982, and after 15 years of just citrus, the family decided to install potted blueberries.
"It all started with U-pick oranges at $3 per bucket," said McCracken. "Then we went to blueberries, and now we are trying new technology."
But, it was just in the last four years that the family expanded to hydroponic farming.
Hydroponic farming includes the way the plants are tended, not just the typical idea of growing without soil, McCracken said.
"It's about using the water in a certain way, and in this case using less water," he added as he walked by giant broccoli plants.
The smaller plants are stacked in quad-planters from about 2 feett off the ground up to about 5 feet. The top plants receive the water first, and then the water trickles down in about fifteen minutes to the plants stacked below.
The method allows the same water to be filtered down into about 20 plants at one watering, not just the one plant traditionally watered in a typical farm set-up.
"This type of farming can be set up anywhere. It doesn't take a lot of space. We are currently growing about 16,000 strawberry plants in a quarter acre of land," McCracken said.
Many of the plants are watered three times a day, but with the hydroponics setup where the water trickles down from the top to the bottom, McCracken gets better results with less water than traditional farming.
"If you water just once per day and you skip a day, you can stress the plants, and that can stunt the growth. We water them often but water them less. We put less than a quart of water on 20 plants. The micro jets run for less than two minutes per row."
It is not only the growing methods, but the family atmosphere that keeps folks coming to the farm.
"We are set up for U-pick, not for mass production," said McCracken.
"We like to keep it simple. All of our business is driven by word of mouth. We don't want a big show on U.S. 27. We are off the beaten path, and want to stay that way.
"It's like finding those hidden restaurants here in Florida. You know, the ones that only the locals know about that are hidden around a lake or back in the undeveloped areas. That's where the best food can be found," McCracken said as handed out homemade pineapple and vanilla ice cream samples.
"This is a new product, but we make it with 10 percent milk instead of the 5 percent found in stores. Makes it creamier," McCracken pointed out.
Along with tomatoes, peppers, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and collard greens, McCracken farms also offers unique vegetables like kale, kohlrabi and other cabbages and lettuces.
"There is a lot of cultural diversity in Highlands County, and with that diversity comes different tastes," McCracken explained as he pulled up an alien-looking kohlrabi.
The taste and texture of kohlrabi are similar to those of a broccoli stem or cabbage heart, but milder and sweeter, McCracken said.
The freshness, family and variety are certainly a plus, but McCracken also boasted that the prices are what is driving a lot of business.
"The prices for fresh vegetables are less than those in your traditional grocery section.
"Where you would pay about $2.50 for 5 ounces of lettuce in the grocery store, we give you half a pound for $2," he said.
"And this is healthier for you. For the first three days after being picked, lettuce gives you 100 percent nutritional value. So imagine how little nutrients are left in grocery store lettuce, which is kept for several days before it hits the shelf," McCracken asserted.
Even though the farm boasts 15-20 different varieties of lettuce, there is no milk, no cheese and no meats.
"We tried seafood for awhile, but that didn't work out. But we do have free-range chicken eggs. We can't keep the eggs in stock even overnight. As soon as we gather those, they are gone."
The farm even boasts a discount aisle.
"Well, there are those that need a bit of a break on even our prices. We set this up to help out with the cost aspect," McCracken said.
"This is a place where you can come and get your greens without a lot of spray, and you can pick your own. It's really a simple process really. You supply plenty of sunlight, consistent water, and very little fertilizer and you get healthy plants. And healthy vegetables leads to healthy people."
To visit McCracken Farms, travel C.R. 17 to Powerline Road and turn to the east. Go a quarter of a mile to Harnage Road and turn to the north, then travel to the end and the barn is on the right.
If you get lost, give Mike a call at 381-6147 or call the farm at 382-4348.
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"Everyone should grow their own food. This is about family, about nature and about being healthy," said McCracken while he was walking between rows of hydroponicaly grown plants.
The quiet, well-kept area gives you plenty of time to wind down from the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you wonder throughout the U-pick rows stacked in unique pots bursting with greenery.
Cars came and went about every five minutes as Lois, Mike's mom, handed out the produce, smiles and advice about cooking for growing.
"A lot of folks come over from Highlands Ridge to get the fresh stuff. You can't golf all the time, so many of them play a round and stop by," McCracken said.
McCracken farms started in 1985 with U-pick oranges. John, Mike's father, moved the family from Minnesota in 1982, and after 15 years of just citrus, the family decided to install potted blueberries.
"It all started with U-pick oranges at $3 per bucket," said McCracken. "Then we went to blueberries, and now we are trying new technology."
But, it was just in the last four years that the family expanded to hydroponic farming.
Hydroponic farming includes the way the plants are tended, not just the typical idea of growing without soil, McCracken said.
"It's about using the water in a certain way, and in this case using less water," he added as he walked by giant broccoli plants.
The smaller plants are stacked in quad-planters from about 2 feett off the ground up to about 5 feet. The top plants receive the water first, and then the water trickles down in about fifteen minutes to the plants stacked below.
The method allows the same water to be filtered down into about 20 plants at one watering, not just the one plant traditionally watered in a typical farm set-up.
Many of the plants are watered three times a day, but with the hydroponics setup where the water trickles down from the top to the bottom, McCracken gets better results with less water than traditional farming.
"If you water just once per day and you skip a day, you can stress the plants, and that can stunt the growth. We water them often but water them less. We put less than a quart of water on 20 plants. The micro jets run for less than two minutes per row."
It is not only the growing methods, but the family atmosphere that keeps folks coming to the farm.
"We are set up for U-pick, not for mass production," said McCracken.
"We like to keep it simple. All of our business is driven by word of mouth. We don't want a big show on U.S. 27. We are off the beaten path, and want to stay that way.
"It's like finding those hidden restaurants here in Florida. You know, the ones that only the locals know about that are hidden around a lake or back in the undeveloped areas. That's where the best food can be found," McCracken said as handed out homemade pineapple and vanilla ice cream samples.
"This is a new product, but we make it with 10 percent milk instead of the 5 percent found in stores. Makes it creamier," McCracken pointed out.
Along with tomatoes, peppers, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and collard greens, McCracken farms also offers unique vegetables like kale, kohlrabi and other cabbages and lettuces.
"There is a lot of cultural diversity in Highlands County, and with that diversity comes different tastes," McCracken explained as he pulled up an alien-looking kohlrabi.
The taste and texture of kohlrabi are similar to those of a broccoli stem or cabbage heart, but milder and sweeter, McCracken said.
The freshness, family and variety are certainly a plus, but McCracken also boasted that the prices are what is driving a lot of business.
"The prices for fresh vegetables are less than those in your traditional grocery section.
"Where you would pay about $2.50 for 5 ounces of lettuce in the grocery store, we give you half a pound for $2," he said.
"And this is healthier for you. For the first three days after being picked, lettuce gives you 100 percent nutritional value. So imagine how little nutrients are left in grocery store lettuce, which is kept for several days before it hits the shelf," McCracken asserted.
Even though the farm boasts 15-20 different varieties of lettuce, there is no milk, no cheese and no meats.
"We tried seafood for awhile, but that didn't work out. But we do have free-range chicken eggs. We can't keep the eggs in stock even overnight. As soon as we gather those, they are gone."
The farm even boasts a discount aisle.
"Well, there are those that need a bit of a break on even our prices. We set this up to help out with the cost aspect," McCracken said.
"This is a place where you can come and get your greens without a lot of spray, and you can pick your own. It's really a simple process really. You supply plenty of sunlight, consistent water, and very little fertilizer and you get healthy plants. And healthy vegetables leads to healthy people."
To visit McCracken Farms, travel C.R. 17 to Powerline Road and turn to the east. Go a quarter of a mile to Harnage Road and turn to the north, then travel to the end and the barn is on the right.
If you get lost, give Mike a call at 381-6147 or call the farm at 382-4348.
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