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OPEN: FRI 8am - 6pm, SAT/SUN, 8am-5pm | Donate on GoFundMe!
Get to Know Us!
Local. Fresh. Organic.
NEW MARKET HOURS: Fri 8-6 | Sat 8-5 | Sun 8-5
Jessica’s Organic Farm has been growing a sustainable Sarasota through organic agriculture since 1979. We are one of the original organic growers in all of Florida. We proudly offer the absolute best, most varied selection of organic produce in the Sarasota area - every single weekend, at our very own onsite market. Customers come from around the block, from across the bay, and some from many miles away. We also offer wholesale pricing to several restaurants and co-ops (contact us if you're interested).
Farm Facts:
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5 Acres Certified Organic by QCS
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Growing Season: September - June
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We Accept: Cash / Check / Credit / Debit / EBT
Whether grown in our fields or imported from other farms,
nearly everything sold at Jessica's is Certified Organic, grown using organic methods, or made with organic ingredients. We proudly have the very best, most varied organic selection in Sarasota. There are no genetically modified organisms, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers in our organic produce, and no antibiotics or hormones in our dairy. We offer local, grass-fed raw milk* (sold as pet food, per Florida regulations) from Myakka City, and eggs from Amish pasture-raised hens.
During the harvest season, on our market days - Friday, Saturday & Sunday - produce is harvested continuously right before your eyes, and is available for sale within hours, or even minutes of being picked. Because it hasn’t spent days in transit and commercial coolers, our farm-fresh produce will last up to two weeks in your fridge! This is the definition of farm-to-table.
On the weekend, our farm and market is open to the public, and you can see one of Florida's premiere organic farms in action. Both professional and amateur photographers enjoy the scenery, while ordinary folks and kids like to pose in front of our beautiful fields and gorgeous produce. We're also pet-friendly!
Visit us for a cool family experience and the best produce in town!
Jessica’s Organic Farm & Market is one of the original organic growers in all of Florida. We offer the widest selection of organic produce in the Sarasota area. Visit our in-person market on the weekend.
We believe that local, fresh food is fundamental to health and happiness. Our mission is to grow quality, nutritious, organic produce for Sarasota, and support other local growers.
We believe it's important to give back to the community. In the past, we've donated large quantites of fresh produce to All Faiths Food Bank (about 50,000 lbs per year). We've supported gardening programs for kids, and have given away an estimated 170,000 starter plants to local schools. This past spring and summer, when the Covid-19 pandemic started, we worked with the non-profit "Second Chance Last Opportunity" and distributed fresh food to 400 Newtown families each week. We also started supporting a number of needy households directly, through pickup and delivery orders via our new online store. We currently donate to a group of students and young people involved in community outreach with the homeless, as well as to a neighborhood mutual aid group in Sarasota.
History
Bill and Pam Pischer began leasing the five-acre property in 1978 and purchased it several years later. Jessica's Stand started out as a strawberry "U-pick," where customers picked their own berries, weighed them, and left payment in a cash box.
With the help of local builder/carpenter Michael Lasche, the Pischers constructed many of the buildings on the property, including the pole barn which today houses the farmstand. Lasche also helped to create the rear guesthouse/office, which was originally a barn, and participated in building our seed shed and the first plant nursery.
A more modern nursery was built in 2017. The new nursery suffered damage in September 2017 during Hurricane Irma, but was repaired with the help of donations from the community.
In March of 2020, Jessica's remained open as an essential business during the Coronavirus pandemic, and began offering produce delivery and pickup to reduce crowding and serve those isolating at home. A Covid-19 relief fund was established to help reduce food insecurity in the community.
For a period of time, Jessica's partnered with the non-profit "Second Chance-Last Opportunity," to distribute fresh food to 300-500 Newtown families every week. In addition, several families received free produce deliveries and pick-up orders directly through our new online market.
In the fall of 2020, the farm itself had to ask the community for help, after a very unfortunate incident on August 10th. That Sunday night, just after a busy market, the farm was robbed and about $5,000 in cash was stolen. The Sarasota Police Department was called, an official case was opened, but the funds were lost for good. The community answered the call, and we quickly raised more than the amount lost. Fundraising continues for other projects.
Reviews
Fantastic!! Its like being on the farm..the freshness, the smells..well I guess that's because it is the farm!! Almost all, maybe everything, Is organic. Lots of local grown. A long term sustainable part of our local community. Refreshing!! And on a beautiful cool Sunday afternoon, the place was hopping.. with a cool friendly vibe.
Kirk M.
BEST farm EVER! Been here for decades... small, family owned, quality organic produce. They grow much of what they sell right there and get a lit from other local organic farms as well. Great prices and quality! Their lettuce is AMAZING and their spinach .... OH MY! Try it, and you'll be addicted!
Goddess T.
I love supporting local small businesses. Shopped here for many years and find their food to be so fresh and much of it is grown and picked right there... They help me build the best salads, and provide me with the best quality produce for my 'juicing routine,' which helps ward off the major diseases that afflict so many! They say 80% of our diet should be raw and fresh, and Jessica's certainly helps me with that! My saying is: 'Juice not drugs!'
Judie M.
