Like most growers, Alan and Leslie Jones don’t like all the fingers pointed at farmers for problems the community faced. The natural impulse when activists and some elements of the media say you’re polluting the air and waters in your area is to point your finger right back at them. But the Joneses, owners of 2017 American Vegetable Grower SM Grower Achievement Award-winning Jones Potato Farm, are taking a different approach.
Although none of these anti-farm types have yet turned attention to their businesses, with its seven locations in Florida, the Joneses decided a knee-jerk rejection to these rants wasn’t for them. If you peel back to the core issues these activists are touting, it’s hard to disagree that being stewards of the land is a good thing. The real problem with activists is that they often don’t really understand farming. So the Joneses weighed how to answer these two questions: How could Jones Potato Farm be part of the solution when it comes to sustainable farming? And, how could it teach the public about farming? “What can I do to develop and implement best management practices that will not only help my ag business, but also enable other […]
Full article: Saving 1 Million Gallons of Water a Day: Sustainable Lessons From Jones Potato Farm