UF IFAS Extension Manatee County Family and Consumer Sciences

06/17/2026

Hey Manatee County Residents!

Looking to buy locally grown 🍓fruits and 🥔vegetables, locally raised 🐂 beef and 🐖 pork, locally caught 🦀 seafood, local 🍯 honey, or Florida-grown 🪴 plants?

We've got you covered!✅

Check out our ✨NEW✨ UF/IFAS Manatee County Food Systems Directory to find your nearest farmers market, local farm, seafood vendor, or nursery. Support local, eat fresh, and strengthen our community!

👉https://www.mymanatee.org/.../experiencebu.../experience/...

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences UF IFAS Extension Manatee County Manatee County, Florida Government See less

06/10/2026

Older adults are more likely to have heat-related health problems. Being too hot for too long can cause hyperthermia, a heat-related illness 🌡. Here are some tips to stay safe in hot weather this summer! ☀️

Watch for these signs of hyperthermia:
🤯 Dizziness
🦵🏽 Muscle cramps
🦶🏻 Swelling in the ankles and feet
🤢 Nausea and weakness
🩺 Rapid pulse

Tips to prevent hot-weather illness:
💧 Drink liquids
☕️ Limit caffeine and alcohol
👗 Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes
🧘🏻‍♀️ If it’s too hot, exercise indoors
Learn more here: https://www.nia.nih.gov/.../staying-safe-hot-weather...
UF IFAS Extension Manatee County Manatee County, Florida Government

06/03/2026

🌀 Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. The best time to prepare is now! Make sure to replenish or freshen up your disaster kit from last year, or, if you are new to the area, build one now.

Here are a few things that you will want to include in your disaster kit:

🍽️ 7-day food supply; high energy, low salt & nonperishable
💧 One gallon of drinking water per person, per day, plus water for cooking and washing (minimum 7 days).
🔦 Flashlights & batteries
🩹 First aid kit
📻 Portable radio
🥫 Non-electric can opener
🛞 Instant tire sealer
⛺️ Plastic tarp
💦 Water purification kit
📄 Important papers (driver’s license, special medical information, insurance policies, property inventories, photographs, etc.)
🧻 Toilet paper and paper towels
🔌 Emergency charger
💵 Cash
.
For a complete checklist, visit➡️: https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/build_a_disaster_kit

For more disaster preparation information, visit➡️: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/entity/topic/disaster_preparation

Sign up for Alert Manatee here➡️: https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/alertmanatee
Manatee County, Florida Government University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences UF IFAS Extension Manatee County

05/13/2026

Right now, lawn and landscape irrigation is limited to one day per week based on your address. This is a requirement for everyone in our area, Manatee County, Florida Government.

A small irrigation issue can turn into a BIG surprise...

Our Mobile Irrigation Lab recently visited a homeowner after an unusually high water bill revealed that irrigation zones had been running for extended periods overnight without the homeowner realizing it. Situations like this are a great reminder to regularly check your irrigation timers, seasonal settings, and zone run times—especially during our current Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage restrictions.

Right now, lawn and landscape irrigation is limited to ONE day per week based on your address:
• 0–1: Monday
• 2–3: Tuesday
• 4–5: Wednesday
• 6–7: Thursday
• 8–9/no address: Friday

Watering is only allowed from 12:01am–4 a.m. OR 8pm–11:59 p.m. for most residential properties.

Our Mobile Irrigation Lab offers free irrigation evaluations to help residents identify leaks, improve efficiency, and make sure systems are operating correctly. A quick check today could help save water, protect your landscape, and prevent unexpected utility bills tomorrow. Call our office at (941) 722-4524 for more information about our Mobile Irrigation Lab.

05/08/2026

04/28/2026

April is 🤯National Stress Awareness Month which serves as a reminder of the negative impact stress brings to our lives. It’s critical to recognize what stress and anxiety looks like so we can take steps to build resilience and reduce it. Here are a few great stress relivers if you find yourself getting overwhelmed.

🏋️‍♀️Exercise or take a walk
😮‍💨Take deep breaths
🕯️Light a candle
🧘Meditate
💗Connect with friends or family
🧘‍♂️Take a yoga class
💤Get plenty of sleep
📘Keep a journal
🎶Listen to music
🗣️Seek counseling
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences UF IFAS Extension Manatee County Manatee County, Florida Government UF IFAS SMARTCouple

04/22/2026

Frozen 🍓fruits and 🥦 vegetables as nutritious as fresh produce? The short answer is YES! Since frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at the peak of ripeness and flash ❄️ frozen, their nutrients are locked in and their flavor, texture and color are preserved. Frozen veggies also tend to be more 💵 affordable, and they last longer than fresh produce as they can stay frozen for up to 8-12 📆 months before they deteriorate in quality. Just be sure to check their labels to make sure they are not high in saturated fat or contain added sugar and🧂salt

UF IFAS Extension Manatee County University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Manatee County, Florida Government

04/15/2026

Sunglasses 🕶️ are a must here in the ☀️ sunshine state, but are you wearing the right ones? Sunglasses need to do more than just reduce brightness and glare; they need to block the ultraviolet (UV) rays, the radiation energy produced by the ☀️ sun as well! Just because your sunglasses are polarized doesn’t mean they block UV rays; make sure they're labeled “100% UV protection” or “UV absorption up to 400nm”. Contrary to popular belief, the lens color does not matter for UV protection, and dark-colored lenses don’t necessarily block more UV rays than lighter lenses. When purchasing a new pair of 😎 sunglasses, select larger frames as they provide more coverage and protection for your 👀 eyes. Remember, an inexpensive drugstore pair of sunglasses labeled with “100% UV protection” is far superior to an expensive designer pair with no UV protection!
For more tips on how to select a proper pair of sunglasses, visit➡️: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/sunglasses-3
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Manatee County, Florida Government UF IFAS Extension Manatee County American Academy of Ophthalmology

When you shop for sunglasses, carry this list with you. Sunglasses with these features can help prevent sun damage, keeping your eyes healthy and your vision strong.

03/18/2026

Spring is here, which means it’s time to do some spring 🧹 cleaning! Having a clean and organized 🏡 home will help ease seasonal allergy 🤧symptoms, reduce 😩 stress, and can help prevent 🤒 illness. If you need help getting started, here are a few items on our spring-cleaning 🧼 checklist!

✔️ Wash your windows and screens
✔️ Clean your sliding door tracks
✔️ Clean overlooked surfaces like baseboards, door frames and walls
✔️ Clean out your medicine cabinet
✔️ Clean your rugs, pillows, and carpet
✔️ Clean under furniture and appliances
✔️ Refresh window treatments
✔️ Dust light fixtures
✔️ Donate unwanted items
✔️ Touch up interior and exterior paint
✔️ Power wash your exterior surfaces
✔️ Clean out your gutters
✔️ Reseal grout lines
✔️ Clean your outdoor furniture
✔️ Clean your solar panels
✔️ Clean out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry
Manatee County, Florida Government UF IFAS Extension Manatee County University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida See less

03/12/2026

Registration is open for the 2026 Spring Conservation Farm Tour! 🚜

The Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District (MRSWCD) has been planning a spring farm tour, and we hope you will join us!

The farm tour has several planned stops (subject to change):
🌿Palms Farms Nursery, a local nursery
🐄Pentecost Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in Manatee County, where they will also be hosting a movie set that we hope to tour
🍓Detwiler’s Farm, the fruit and vegetable grower that supplies the Detwiler’s grocery stores
🌸Palmer Orchids, a local orchid grower

The Manasota Service Center will be coordinating the event for the Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District. To make a required reservation we will need the names, mailing addresses, and phone numbers of everyone in your group. No credit card payments, checks only.
Contact: Will Weis (941) 444-3144 or [email protected]

Please note that we will be visiting working farms and facilities. Please wear appropriate footwear for potentially rough terrain and dress appropriately for the weather.