Our Story
Florida food. Real connections.

2020 | It started with a Facebook group.

Florida farmers had crops without buyers. Families were lined up at overwhelmed food banks. Local produce stands, pop-ups, and delivery services were stepping in, but people needed help finding them.

So I started a small Facebook group to connect the dots.

Ask questions. Share resources. Make introductions. 

Help someone realize their next grocery stop could be a farm down the road.

2021 | This community showed up.

We launched our Facebook page and our sellers-only sister group, Brand Building by Florida Farm Finder, to help producers connect and support one another.

Together, the community raised:
Nearly $8,000 for Backwoods Farm as they navigated code and zoning issues surrounding their pandemic-built produce stand.
$13,000 for Noble Roots Farm after a devastating fire destroyed their infrastructure.

Then we took those connections offline.

Our first Meet Florida Meat in Groveland filled the entire parking area twice.

Apparently, quite a few people wanted to meet their farmers.

2022 | Bigger group. Bigger gathering.

Our Facebook community grew from 20,000 to 40,000 members, and our producer support group reached 500 members.

Meet Florida Meat moved to Long & Scott Farms, now known as Great Scott Farms, beginning a partnership that continues today.

Despite a rainy forecast, vendors reported huge sales totals and experienced extraordinary sellouts.

2023 | Word was getting around.

The group reached 50,000 members, with content reaching more than two million people annually.

Meet Florida Meat returned November 11–12, bringing more online introductions into real life.

More people were asking where their food came from and how to buy directly from Florida producers. We kept helping them find the answers—and the farmers.

2024 | Seventy thousand people and counting.

Our community reached 70,000 members, and annual content reach exceeded five million.

What started as a place to share farm information had become a place people turned to for connections, education, and help finding Florida food.

2025 | Springtime #Steakation.

The group surpassed 95,000 members, and Meet Florida Meat moved into spring with our first springtime #Steakation festival.

Along the way, Florida Farm Finder expanded into farm directories, educational resources, producer outreach, and my children’s book, Florida Is For Food.

More ways to help people get to know Florida agriculture and the people behind it.

2026 | Growing it twice.

By October, our original Facebook community had grown to nearly 100,000 people.

Then the group was compromised, and I lost access.

Losing years of conversations, connections, and daily work has been heartbreaking. I recognize the names. I know the farms. That community has always been personal to me.

But when we opened our new group, familiar names started showing up. Farmers I’ve worked with for years. People who had quietly followed along. Friends bringing friends and asking how they could help.

I would have preferred to skip this particular character-building exercise. I had other things on my list.

But we’re here, making our resources easier to find, strengthening our connections beyond Facebook, and growing a new gathering place together.

2027 | More farmers to meet.

Meet Florida Meat returns April 3–4 at Great Scott Farms in Mount Dora.

I’m still here asking questions, sharing farms, and helping you find good things to put in your cooler.

We’re growing it twice. I’d love for you to grow with us.

->>> [Join our new Facebook community] <<<-

Thank you for looking for local. 

Jillian
Founder, Florida Farm Finder