MALABAR, Fla. – It's a destination for organic food lovers from around Central Florida.
Florida Fields to Forks owners travel the state to bring back what they say is only the freshest, seasonal products available.
[WEB EXTRA: More information on Fields to Forks]
It's no secret fresh organic food is something more and more people are looking for when they go to the grocery store.
But those fruits and vegetables often come with a high price and they can be shipped from thousands of miles away.
Now there is an organic alternative.
Every Thursday brings a pilgrimage to Jan Pence's barn in Malabar. Her farm sits on 17 acres but on delivery days she could use a bit more. Parking is at a premium.
Beth Sloss traveled from Vero Beach for her produce share. "I'd call it a co-op," she says. "Pulling all the organic farms together and being able to distribute to their members."
She says she can't get this kind of variety in her local grocery store.
"Everything here is organic. They say it's kind of more than organic, you know everybody is taking the extra steps to go a little bit further," Sloss says. "Everything is fresh from Florida, you know organic farmers doing it the right way."
"Healthy food is my passion," Pence says as she sorts through a bag of freshly picked vegetables, straight from a farm in Okeechobee. It's just one of the 7 or 8 locations she and her son visit weekly to gather provisions.
"We work with a combination of ranch partners," she says. " Pretty much anything that you can get from a farm in Florida, that's what we do, provide healthy food for our members."
Florida Fields to Forks offers Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy and baked goods.
Michael Howell was picking up fruit and vegetables for his family. "It's unique," he says. "Everybody wants the best for their kids so that's why I'm here."
We found customers who traveled quite a distance for the opportunity to purchase fresh items but Pence offers pick-up locations throughout Central Florida. For those in the Orlando area there is a Lake Nona drop-off as well as one in the Ocala area.
For more information on membership fees and food pricing visit their website FloridaFieldstoForks.net