Palm Beach County produces vegetable crops on nearly 83,000 acres, with an annual production valued at more than $400 million[1], making it the leading vegetable‑producing county east of the Mississippi River.
The county supplies a major share of the nation's winter vegetables, including sweet corn, lettuce, celery, radishes, cabbage, snap beans, bell peppers, and herbs, thanks to its subtropical climate. This production system is strongly shaped by soil type: rich organic muck soils in western Palm Beach County support large-scale production of leafy vegetables and sweet corn while sandy soils in eastern Palm Beach County are well suited for high-value fruiting vegetables. However, the same climate that enables robust vegetable harvests from the fall through the spring also fosters intense insect, disease, and weed pressures, creating daily pest‑management challenges for growers.
Proximity to international ports of entry increases the risk of invasive exotic species, making early detection and strong stakeholder collaboration essential for preventing establishment and managing emerging threats. Additionally, soil conservation and water quality remain major environmental concerns in southern Florida, highlighting the need for research‑based fertilization and irrigation strategies that reduce environmental impacts while meeting regulatory requirements. Fresh‑market vegetable growers also face stringent food safety mandates, including compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act, creating a continuous demand for educational programs to ensure regulatory compliance. Finally, emerging technologies such as AI-driven ultra-high precision sprayers have been entering the marketplace, necessitating unbiased Extension guidance to support informed adoption and implementation by growers.
Meet the agent:
Anna Mészáros, University of Florida Commercial Vegetable Production Extension agent works closely with large-scale growers, crop consultants, industry representatives, and UF/IFAS research faculty to develop applied research and Extension programs, with a strong emphasis on rapid response to invasive insect pests, integrated pest management, best water and fertilizer management practices, and food safety.
She is responsible for providing educational programs to support vegetable and fruit production in Palm Beach County and to offer continuing education units (CEUs). In collaboration with growers, industry members, and UF/IFAS faculty, she designs, conducts, and evaluates studies that assess improved weed and pest management tactics and crop response to fertilizers. She collaborates with other extension agents to respond to training needs of growers, harvesters, and packing house personnel regarding the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). She is also responsible for preparing educational publications while promoting agriculture via multiple platforms.
For more resources, please visit the Commercial Vegetable Production website:
https://commercialveg.ifas.ufl.edu/