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"America's Heartland is made 
possible by..."

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CropLife America. 
And it's member companies

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and associations in the 
crop protection industry

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including:

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The American Farm Bureau 
Foundation for Agriculture.

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Dedicated to building 
greater awareness and

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understanding of agriculture 
through education

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and engagement.

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More information at: 
agfoundation.org

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Farm Credit - financing 
agriculture and rural

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America since 1916.

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Farm Credit is cooperatively 
owned by America's

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farmers and ranchers.

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Learn more at 
farmcredit.com

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The Fund for Agriculture 
Education - A fund created

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by KVIE to support 
America's Heartland programming.

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Contributors include the 
following:

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High there, I'm Rob Stewart.

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Do you buy your produce at 
the local farmers market?

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Well a growing 
number of people

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are doing that these days.

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So coming up, we'll 
take you down south to

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Alabama to see how some 
farmers are meeting consumer

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demands with fruits and 
vegetables grown close to home.

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Hi, I'm Sarah Gardner.

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Have you ever thought about 
becoming a farmer or a rancher?

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We'll head to New Mexico 
to take part in a unique

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program that helps people 
get a start in agriculture.

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Hi, I'm Sharon Vaknin. 
Sweet corn is a summer favorite

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but what if we show you some 
recipes where

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we kick in some "spice" 
when we serve it up?

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We have some unusual sweet 
corn recipes you're going to

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want to serve up 
at your house.

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Hi, I'm Jason Shoultz.

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Coming up next, 
a cattle roundup.

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But this time we're 
not head out west.

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We're going to go to 
the state of Florida.

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Take a trip with us to find 
out about a heritage breed

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known as Cracker Cattle.

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It's all coming up on 
America's Heartland.

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♪ You can see it in the eyes 
of every woman and man ♪

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♪ in America's Heartland 
living close to the land. ♪

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♪ There's a love 
for the country ♪

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♪ and a pride in the brand ♪

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♪ in America's Heartland 
living close, ♪

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♪close to the land ♪

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♪

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Many of the animals on 
farms and ranches

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across the heartland can 
trace their roots

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back explorers arriving 
here in the Americas.

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And here in Florida one 
unique breed of cattle has

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been roaming the countryside 
since the 1500's.

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♪ 
(cow mooing)

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These cattle grazing 
in the brushy

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Florida pasture have a name.

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And unless you're 
a Florida native,

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that name might just 
catch you off guard.

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These are "Cracker cattle."

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And William and Margaret 
Broussard are proud of this

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heritage breed of cattle 
that they are preserving

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here at the 
Crescent J Ranch.

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William Broussard is a 
10th generation cattleman.

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Without his family's 
efforts...

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and those of other ranchers 
in the Sunshine State,

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this historic breed might 
just have ended up as a

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footnote in the agricultural 
history of America.

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We decided to take part in 
trying to save the breed

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which is critically 
in danger.

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There are not enough of them 
to assure their survival.

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So we got started in the 
early 80's working on that.

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The original Cracker Cattle 
breed was brought to Florida

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by explorer Ponce de 
Léon in the 1500s.

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They wandered the swampy, 
brushy countryside for

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hundreds of years.

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Decades back...

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ranchers used"Cow Hunters" 
to work their herds.

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Preserving that 
ranching story

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is the job of 
Chester Newcomb.

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At the Lake 
Kissimmee State Park,

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Chester takes visitors back 
to the late 1800s

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when Cracker Cattle 
roamed the countryside.

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This part of Florida, we 
look at almost 300 years

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before man started to 
put a brand on a cow.

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I mean one of the reasons 
they called us cow hunters,

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you go out in the swamp here 
trying to find a cow

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be like trying to find hair on 
the belly of a frog.

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You know.

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The "cracker" name actually 
traces back to the way that

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cow hunters rounded up 
these bovine...

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by cracking their whips!

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(Sound of whip 
being cracked!)

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Now of course you will 
find in the big cities now,

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folks are starting to 
call us Crackers

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instead of cow hunters.

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As other cattle breeds were 
introduced and breeding

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improved, the original 
"cracker cattle"

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began disappearing... 
replaced with larger animals.

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It wasn't until they almost 
were extinct in the 1960's

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did an effort begin to 
save the "cracker breed."

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For the Broussard's, 
preserving the cattle breed

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and the ecology here, have 
a deeply personal meaning.

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In 1990 their 29 year 
old son Allan died of an

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infection following 
a heart transplant.

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Before Allan died,

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he had a conversation with 
his father in the hospital.

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...we got to talking a lot 
about the land just south of

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what is the 
Crescent J Ranch.

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Which was pretty much in 
good natural condition and

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how rare that was getting 
and how important it was

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to save things like that.

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So he asked me if I 
couldn't do something.

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So that weekend 
I promised him

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I was going to do my best 
to do that.

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That promise is realized 
every day

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as visitors tour the grounds

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of this nearly 5-thousand 
acre ranch and preserve.

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(Girl yells as she 
is lowered down)

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A low-environmental impact 
adventure park

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helps pay for the property and 
helps ensure the land

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will stay preserved for future 
generations.

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Would Allan be proud of 
his dream being realized?

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I would think so.

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Margaret: His widow said yes 
he would be proud of that.

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But the thing he would be 
most proud of is the way he

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changed his 
father's attitude.

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A father's enduring love for 
his son...

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forever linked to 
the enduring effort

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to save a breed of cattle 
with a history

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that stretches hundreds 
of years.

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♪

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Branding cattle didn't start 
in the old west.

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Early Egyptians were 
branding their livestock

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more than two 
thousand years ago.

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There are more than a 
billion cows in the world....

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India, alone, has 
some three hundred million.

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And just be glad that 
cows don't drive.

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Cattle are red/green 
color blind.

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Getting a start in farming 
requires you to take on new

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skills and a commitment 
to hard work.

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So, where to do you begin?

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Well, here in New Mexico 
a special program helps

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students get their 
interest off the ground.

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♪

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These residents from the 
small New Mexico town of

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Chaparral are 
taking the first steps to

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acquire farming skills.

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Growing their own fruits and 
vegetables will not only

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benefit the economically 
disadvantaged community,

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but help overcome the 
challenge of

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getting fresh produce when the 
nearest supermarket

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is nearly an hour away.

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And so we partnered with 
other community based

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organizations here in 
Chaparral to start a

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demonstration farm as a 
means of educating local

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residents about the types of 
crops and how to grow them.

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The training underway in 
Chaparral

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is being funded by the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture

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and taught through 
an extension program

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at New Mexico State 
University.

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It's locally 
known as El Solar.

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El Solar is a Spanish 
name for backyard garden.

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More than two dozen 
students at a time

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will work on this 
demonstration farm

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learning a variety of skills

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from proper planting to 
efficient irrigation.

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We've relied on the 
expertise of a number of

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individuals who've had 
experience with the drip.

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And it is, we couldn't do 
this without the drip system.

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There's just not enough 
water in the area

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to produce like this.

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And you were pointing out 
to me earlier

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obviously the chili will be 
fine because they thrive

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in the hot temperatures 
and the drier earth

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as well as the tomatoes.

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But, you don't get a stand 
of lettuce like this

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without the drip 
irrigation system.

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It's absolutely beautiful.

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The drip is very 
instrumental in keeping our

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leafy crops going this long.

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And, of course, we can 
provide shade as we've done

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with our radishes 
over there.

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And so, yeah, the drip 
allows us too to provide a

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variety of crops and 
regulate the water

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on each of the crops.

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A number of extension 
instructors assist

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with the agricultural 
education efforts.

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First you have to teach how 
to grow organic and for them

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to see the process from 
planting

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all the way through selling the 
product,

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and more than anything

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to teach them to that they can 
go and do it at their home

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One person who 
has benefited greatly from

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the course is Esperanza 
Briones

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She has turned her property 
into a farm

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that's filled with fresh 
produce.

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So tell me about the skills 
that you've learned

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in the urban farm.

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(translator repeats 
question in Spanish)

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I've learned to conserve water 
with this irrigation system.

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And it looks like it's paid 
off for the family because

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not only do you have 
fruits and vegetables

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that you feed your family,

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but you also sell a lot 
of what you grow.

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I do sell a little bit, and 
my husband helps me a lot

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so my biggest satisfaction 
is that I can

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provide for my family.

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Younger "apprentice" farmers 
are also active in the program.

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00:10:17,966 --> 00:10:19,200
The thing that I 
enjoy the most

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is probably helping 
our community

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do something with our land that 
we have here.

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And what I enjoy most is 
planting the plants and

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watching them grow so 
later on we can eat them.

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"You going to take all this 
to the farmer's market

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in Las Cruces, mostly?"

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Yeah.

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Another aspect of the 
training helps the

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new farmers see 
opportunities for marketing

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the produce they 
won't use themselves.

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You have to be able to 
market your product.

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You have to be able 
to plan ahead

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in terms of what you're 
going to market.

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It's not simply a matter 
of growing it

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and getting rid of it.

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There has to be a little bit 
of a business plan in place.

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The farming skills learned 
here provide not only the

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opportunity for 
economic benefits,

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but also show how 
agriculture can benefit

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the entire community.

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Instructors here hope 
programs like this

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can be successful 
in other areas...

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giving residents new 
opportunities to improve

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their diets and take a step 
toward self-sustainability.

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Ideally, we'd see more and 
more individuals that have

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the desire to start to grow 
fruits and vegetables on a

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scale that they can market 
to local grocers and/or

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create their own 
farmer's market.

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That would certainly be an 
indication

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of success in Chaparral

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to have a vibrant farmer's 
market right here in Chaparral.

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Sitting around 
seven thousand feet,

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New Mexico's capital of 
Santa Fe is the highest

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00:11:48,533 --> 00:11:50,733
state capital in the U.S.

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00:11:50,833 --> 00:11:52,800
And while all states 
have a state bird...

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or state flower, New Mexico 
also has a state "Question".

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It's Red or Green?

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Relating to your choice of 
Chiles to spice up your food

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00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:03,900
in the Land of Enchantment.

248
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,500
I'm Sharon Vaknin.

249
00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,366
Still ahead, we'll go from 
Farm to Fork with some tried

250
00:12:08,466 --> 00:12:12,500
and true recipes using 
very tasty sweet corn.

251
00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:13,700
I'm Rob Stewart.

252
00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:15,900
And still ahead, Let's go to 
Alabama to meet some local

253
00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,600
farmers who are meeting 
consumer demand for produce

254
00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:24,366
grown close to home.

255
00:12:24,466 --> 00:12:33,200
♪

256
00:12:33,300 --> 00:12:35,333
Hi I'm Paul Robins and 
here's something you may not

257
00:12:35,433 --> 00:12:37,333
have known about 
agriculture.

258
00:12:37,433 --> 00:12:38,733
If you were putting 
together a meal

259
00:12:38,833 --> 00:12:39,900
that was fit for a king....

260
00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,300
or if you just wanted to dine 
with Julius Caesar

261
00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:44,333
or Cleopatra, 
asparagus would

262
00:12:44,433 --> 00:12:46,466
definitely be 
on the menu.

263
00:12:46,566 --> 00:12:48,800
These thin green stalks 
have been a sought after

264
00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:50,300
vegetable for 
thousands of years.

265
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,200
And even better for 
you home gardeners...

266
00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:54,033
once you plant 
this vegetable...

267
00:12:54,133 --> 00:12:56,233
you can just sit back and wait 
for the harvest...

268
00:12:56,333 --> 00:12:58,233
again and again.

269
00:12:58,333 --> 00:13:01,133
That's because the asparagus 
plant is a perennial.

270
00:13:01,233 --> 00:13:03,666
Started with seed, farmers 
usually harvest their first

271
00:13:03,766 --> 00:13:05,800
crop after three years.

272
00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:08,100
But once planted, the 
asparagus plant can produced

273
00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,300
those tasty stalks 
for years and years.

274
00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:12,800
You'll find depictions 
of asparagus

275
00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:15,100
in ancient Egyptian 
wall decorations.

276
00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,200
The name itself is reported 
to have come from

277
00:13:17,300 --> 00:13:19,666
the Greek translation of a 
Persian word

278
00:13:19,766 --> 00:13:21,833
meaning shoot or sprout.

279
00:13:21,933 --> 00:13:25,500
As early as 200 BC, Roman 
writers had suggestions

280
00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,400
on how to effectively 
grow the plant.

281
00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:29,433
In fact some Roman emperors 
were so enamored

282
00:13:29,533 --> 00:13:32,766
of the vegetable, they kept 
special ships to deliver

283
00:13:32,866 --> 00:13:36,633
asparagus to Rome from growing 
fields in the north of Italy.

284
00:13:36,733 --> 00:13:39,266
Early colonists brought 
asparagus to the New World

285
00:13:39,366 --> 00:13:42,033
where its ability to grow 
in less than ideal soil

286
00:13:42,133 --> 00:13:44,833
conditions made it possible 
to keep green vegetables

287
00:13:44,933 --> 00:13:48,200
on the table even in less than 
perfect weather.

288
00:13:48,300 --> 00:13:51,166
Asparagus plants can be 
either male or female.

289
00:13:51,266 --> 00:13:54,700
The male plants grow larger, 
female plants grow seeds to

290
00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:56,600
produce new growing stock 
for the next season.

291
00:13:56,700 --> 00:13:58,900
And finally.... 
good news for dieters.

292
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,533
Asparagus has no fat, no 
cholesterol and is

293
00:14:01,633 --> 00:14:03,433
low in sodium. 
So Enjoy

294
00:14:03,533 --> 00:14:16,800
♪

295
00:14:16,900 --> 00:14:19,733
There are over 200 
varieties of sweet corn

296
00:14:19,833 --> 00:14:21,266
but most people only 
think about it

297
00:14:21,366 --> 00:14:23,500
as white or yellow corn.

298
00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,366
Rick, you grow both.

299
00:14:25,466 --> 00:14:27,000
Yep, we grow one 
variety of white,

300
00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:31,700
and one variety of yellow.

301
00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,366
So tell me a little 
about Davis Ranch.

302
00:14:34,466 --> 00:14:39,200
Davis Ranch started as 
Ed Davis Ranch in 1966.

303
00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:41,666
He was the one who mapped it 
all out and figured it out

304
00:14:41,766 --> 00:14:45,000
so we could have sweet corn 
over a long period of time.

305
00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:47,633
Even though we plant 
it in February,

306
00:14:47,733 --> 00:14:49,866
it starts about the end 
of June no matter what.

307
00:14:49,966 --> 00:14:52,266
And then it ends 
up in November.

308
00:14:52,366 --> 00:14:54,900
The first frost 
will kill it off.

309
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,066
Well this corn is so good 
right off the cob but I do

310
00:14:58,166 --> 00:15:00,733
have a couple of dishes that 
highlight this delicious

311
00:15:00,833 --> 00:15:01,933
sweet corn flavor.

312
00:15:02,033 --> 00:15:05,066
I'm making a mango and sweet 
corn salad plus

313
00:15:05,166 --> 00:15:07,200
zucchini and sweet 
corn fritters.

314
00:15:07,300 --> 00:15:08,000
What are you making?

315
00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:09,333
I'm going to 
boil sweet corn.

316
00:15:09,433 --> 00:15:11,333
I'm going to show you how to 
do it where you don't kill it!

317
00:15:11,433 --> 00:15:13,433
Wow, all right nice 
and pure, I like it.

318
00:15:13,533 --> 00:15:15,433
OK so let's get started.

319
00:15:15,533 --> 00:15:20,000
First we are going to want 
to chop up our butter lettuce.

320
00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:22,900
Why don't you slice 
up this mango,

321
00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:24,766
throw it right into 
our salad bowl.

322
00:15:24,866 --> 00:15:27,966
OK now I'm going to dice 
up this red bell pepper.

323
00:15:28,066 --> 00:15:31,000
We are going to get to 
our star ingredient now,

324
00:15:31,100 --> 00:15:33,833
your beautiful sweet corn 
that you picked today.

325
00:15:33,933 --> 00:15:36,866
Now all I'm going to do in 
order to preserve the flavor

326
00:15:36,966 --> 00:15:38,700
is grill it up a little bit.

327
00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,000
And we're going to add a 
little bit of olive oil.

328
00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:45,900
Oh look at that, that's 
the brown color we want.

329
00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,300
And just sprinkle 
that cayenne pepper.

330
00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:50,666
All right while 
these guys cool,

331
00:15:50,766 --> 00:15:52,300
let's make our dressing.

332
00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,533
A little white 
balsamic vinegar,

333
00:15:54,633 --> 00:15:57,066
you cut that lemon in half 
and squeeze the juice

334
00:15:57,166 --> 00:15:58,700
out of half of it.

335
00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,400
I'm going to add Dijon 
mustard, coarse salt,

336
00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:05,366
and last but not least we 
need to do our olive oil.

337
00:16:05,466 --> 00:16:08,066
You whisk while I pour.

338
00:16:08,166 --> 00:16:14,700
The next thing we need to do 
is take the kernels off the cob.

339
00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:19,500
I've got some herbs to chop 
so I have basil and mint.

340
00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,433
Why don't you go ahead and 
toss this salad and I'll

341
00:16:22,533 --> 00:16:29,166
drizzle in some 
of that dressing.

342
00:16:29,266 --> 00:16:33,433
Rick you're going to show me 
the purest way to prepare corn.

343
00:16:33,533 --> 00:16:35,333
All you want to do is put 
enough water

344
00:16:35,433 --> 00:16:37,166
in this pot to 
cover those ears.

345
00:16:37,266 --> 00:16:40,266
OK.

346
00:16:40,366 --> 00:16:41,233
Now what?

347
00:16:41,333 --> 00:16:42,900
Turn it up on high, 
put the lid on it.

348
00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:43,933
Wait, wait, wait.

349
00:16:44,033 --> 00:16:44,733
You don't want to salt it?

350
00:16:44,833 --> 00:16:46,500
No.

351
00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,233
This water is 
definitely boiling now.

352
00:16:49,333 --> 00:16:51,666
We want three minutes 
and they are coming out.

353
00:16:51,766 --> 00:16:53,433
All you want to do 
is get them warm.

354
00:16:53,533 --> 00:16:54,166
OK cover it?

355
00:16:54,266 --> 00:16:56,066
Yes.

356
00:16:56,166 --> 00:16:59,166
All right lets do it.

357
00:16:59,266 --> 00:17:01,500
They should look exactly 
like they were when they

358
00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:07,000
went in except they're hot.

359
00:17:07,100 --> 00:17:09,933
I'm going to use your corn 
in zucchini and sweet corn

360
00:17:10,033 --> 00:17:13,566
fritters with a little twist 
I'll show you what that is

361
00:17:13,666 --> 00:17:18,833
but first we're going to add 
3 cup of corn flour

362
00:17:18,933 --> 00:17:20,733
and 4 cup of 
all purpose flour

363
00:17:20,833 --> 00:17:22,100
that we're going to 
put in this bowl.

364
00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,133
Then we're going to add 4 
teaspoon of baking powder,

365
00:17:25,233 --> 00:17:27,766
garlic powder and salt.

366
00:17:27,866 --> 00:17:29,500
Mix these up a little bit.

367
00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,300
Half a cup of milk and I am 
going to scramble one egg.

368
00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,966
You can get started 
grating the zucchini.

369
00:17:37,066 --> 00:17:42,033
This is my secret weapon, a 
cup of pepper jack cheese.

370
00:17:42,133 --> 00:17:45,400
I'm going to slice up some 
green onion and if you could

371
00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:48,333
also get started getting 
those kernels off that corn.

372
00:17:48,433 --> 00:17:49,500
What is that?

373
00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,766
It's a kernel-removing 
tool that I brought.

374
00:17:52,866 --> 00:17:56,633
It kind of pulls the kernels 
off just about right.

375
00:17:56,733 --> 00:17:58,166
OK?

376
00:17:58,266 --> 00:18:00,100
Yeah that looks good and now 
we're going to mix

377
00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:01,433
this all together.

378
00:18:01,533 --> 00:18:03,133
So I think we're 
ready to fry these up.

379
00:18:03,233 --> 00:18:04,233
OK.

380
00:18:04,333 --> 00:18:05,700
Since we're frying I'm 
going to put an apron on.

381
00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:06,466
Do you want one too?

382
00:18:06,566 --> 00:18:07,600
No I'm fine.

383
00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:13,166
So I would say it's about 
2 to 3 minutes each side.

384
00:18:13,266 --> 00:18:17,933
That dark golden brown color 
is exactly what you want.

385
00:18:18,033 --> 00:18:19,766
Do you want to 
give it a try?

386
00:18:19,866 --> 00:18:22,533
No I don't have 
the apron on.

387
00:18:22,633 --> 00:18:25,900
Oh this is going 
to look good.

388
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:36,600
♪

389
00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:37,366
Lets dig in!

390
00:18:37,466 --> 00:18:38,833
OK.

391
00:18:38,933 --> 00:18:41,966
These fritters are 
so fresh and crispy.

392
00:18:42,066 --> 00:18:43,133
I like it, its good.

393
00:18:43,233 --> 00:18:45,366
Yeah can you taste the 
slight cheesiness in there?

394
00:18:45,466 --> 00:18:46,500
Yes.

395
00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:47,700
I want to try some 
of this salad,

396
00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:48,766
see how it turned out.

397
00:18:48,866 --> 00:18:49,800
Mmmm.

398
00:18:49,900 --> 00:18:51,066
Is that the dill in 
the salad I'm tasting?

399
00:18:51,166 --> 00:18:51,966
You know what it is?

400
00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:54,500
It's the basil and the mint.

401
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,033
That's what I wanted to do 
is highlight

402
00:18:56,133 --> 00:19:01,500
your delicious sweet corn.

403
00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:02,800
So tell me how that is.

404
00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:05,366
Mmmmm.

405
00:19:05,466 --> 00:19:07,533
Best way, isn't it?

406
00:19:07,633 --> 00:19:09,866
And you know the yellow 
corn does have a slightly

407
00:19:09,966 --> 00:19:12,066
different taste 
than the white corn.

408
00:19:12,166 --> 00:19:13,566
Yes, it does.

409
00:19:13,666 --> 00:19:15,833
It still has the old 
time corn taste to it.

410
00:19:15,933 --> 00:19:27,633
Cheers to your 
pure sweet corn.

411
00:19:27,733 --> 00:19:30,333
While native tribes in the 
Americas have been

412
00:19:30,433 --> 00:19:31,933
eating sweet corn for 
thousands of years,

413
00:19:32,033 --> 00:19:34,566
significant commercial 
production

414
00:19:34,666 --> 00:19:36,666
really didn't begin 
until the 1700's.

415
00:19:36,766 --> 00:19:38,566
And if you're thinking 
of planting some,

416
00:19:38,666 --> 00:19:40,700
one acre of good farmland 
can produce about

417
00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:45,633
14 thousand pounds 
of sweet corn.

418
00:19:45,733 --> 00:19:48,133
"Fresh" is the watchword 
when it comes to marketing

419
00:19:48,233 --> 00:19:50,933
local produce and that's 
part of the reason why

420
00:19:51,033 --> 00:19:54,100
farmer's markets are 
booming across the country.

421
00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:55,966
You know local and state 
governments have done their

422
00:19:56,066 --> 00:19:58,166
part to promote 
farmer's markets.

423
00:19:58,266 --> 00:20:00,833
And farmers are taking the 
lead on getting

424
00:20:00,933 --> 00:20:03,366
crops to consumers.

425
00:20:03,466 --> 00:20:11,333
♪

426
00:20:11,433 --> 00:20:12,833
(Sound of opening 
tailgate of pick-up truck)

427
00:20:12,933 --> 00:20:14,366
It's early morning and 
while many folks

428
00:20:14,466 --> 00:20:15,600
are still in bed,

429
00:20:15,700 --> 00:20:17,666
Alabama peach farmer Jimmy Witt 
has been up for hours...

430
00:20:17,766 --> 00:20:23,266
readying his daily 
deliveries for market.

431
00:20:23,366 --> 00:20:25,300
You get up 3:00, 3:30.

432
00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,333
It's a 45 minute 
drive there.

433
00:20:28,433 --> 00:20:33,233
So, I like to give 
myself an hour.

434
00:20:33,333 --> 00:20:34,833
But Jimmy's not the only 
Alabama farmer

435
00:20:34,933 --> 00:20:36,700
up before the sun.

436
00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,433
Dozens of other local 
growers start their day....

437
00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:42,800
headed for one 
particular farmers market.

438
00:20:42,900 --> 00:20:45,700
The public wants 
local products;

439
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:47,133
As long as you're 
an Alabama farmer

440
00:20:47,233 --> 00:20:49,433
you have somewhere to sell.

441
00:20:49,533 --> 00:20:52,300
If you grow your 
product here locally,

442
00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,500
you can come here to sell 
year round every day.

443
00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:57,033
Aint nothing we 
can do about it.

444
00:20:57,133 --> 00:20:58,800
He done got his 
mind made up."

445
00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:01,466
The Alabama Farmers Market 
began with 18 growers

446
00:21:01,566 --> 00:21:03,833
back in 1921.

447
00:21:03,933 --> 00:21:06,500
Today, a much larger number 
of growers sell their produce...

448
00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:08,733
wholesale and 
retail...

449
00:21:08,833 --> 00:21:12,600
on a sprawling 49 acre site 
in West Birmingham

450
00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:13,900
that's been home 
to the market

451
00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,033
for more 
than a half century.

452
00:21:16,133 --> 00:21:18,333
Owned and operated 
by Alabama farmers,

453
00:21:18,433 --> 00:21:21,933
the market generates some 
350 million dollars

454
00:21:22,033 --> 00:21:23,500
in annual sales.

455
00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,400
Normally on a daily basis we 
would have anywhere

456
00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:28,166
from 75 to a hundred 
farmers here.

457
00:21:28,266 --> 00:21:33,600
But, on an annual basis 
we would have 300 to 500

458
00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:36,333
farmers use this market 
to sell their product.

459
00:21:36,433 --> 00:21:39,466
There are a lot of people 
that have restaurants that

460
00:21:39,566 --> 00:21:41,800
do show up there to buy 
fresh produce

461
00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:42,966
for their restaurants.

462
00:21:43,066 --> 00:21:46,533
Lots of wholesale produce 
stands come in there early

463
00:21:46,633 --> 00:21:49,600
in the morning, buy their 
produce that they need for

464
00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:53,133
that day or the next day.

465
00:21:53,233 --> 00:21:56,266
One wholesaler buying from 
Jimmy this morning is

466
00:21:56,366 --> 00:21:57,733
Dorothy Orrick.

467
00:21:57,833 --> 00:22:00,166
She'll spend five hundred 
dollars on his peaches

468
00:22:00,266 --> 00:22:02,600
because of the quality 
produce she's purchased from

469
00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:04,700
Jimmy in the past.

470
00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:06,966
It's just really important 
because it's fresh.

471
00:22:07,066 --> 00:22:08,133
You know, they 
just picked it.

472
00:22:08,233 --> 00:22:09,900
It's real fresh.

473
00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,033
And we always want to try 
and keep the customers happy.

474
00:22:13,133 --> 00:22:16,300
Birmingham chef Matt Jones 
says the market allows him

475
00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,966
to find fresh vegetables 
and support local growers.

476
00:22:20,066 --> 00:22:22,233
Certain vegetables are 
sweeter than others.

477
00:22:22,333 --> 00:22:24,166
Some are more tart.

478
00:22:24,266 --> 00:22:27,200
Depends on the location 
where they're at.

479
00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:30,233
Self-sustained farms are 
very important with the

480
00:22:30,333 --> 00:22:34,466
flavors and stuff you 
get from the vegetables.

481
00:22:34,566 --> 00:22:36,666
Some of the farmers will 
actually take orders from

482
00:22:36,766 --> 00:22:39,033
their steady customers.

483
00:22:39,133 --> 00:22:40,566
The customers will 
say, "Hold me a box."

484
00:22:40,666 --> 00:22:42,733
They'll actually hold that 
customer a box of whatever

485
00:22:42,833 --> 00:22:46,033
they're looking for.

486
00:22:46,133 --> 00:22:47,833
While the experience of 
finding locally grown

487
00:22:47,933 --> 00:22:50,333
produce has long been 
a tradition here,

488
00:22:50,433 --> 00:22:52,800
that "consumer connection" 
has grown dramatically

489
00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:55,000
in all fifty states.

490
00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:57,300
The U.S. Department of 
Agriculture listed fewer than

491
00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,600
18 hundred farmers markets 
nationwide in 1994.

492
00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:04,533
Today, to meet a growing 
consumer demand for locally

493
00:23:04,633 --> 00:23:09,000
grown, fresh foods, there 
are just under eight thousand.

494
00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:10,566
Most of what they're looking 
for is they're looking for

495
00:23:10,666 --> 00:23:11,433
something quality and 
they're looking for

496
00:23:11,533 --> 00:23:14,066
something fresh.

497
00:23:14,166 --> 00:23:17,566
State and local governments 
have jumped on the bandwagon

498
00:23:17,666 --> 00:23:20,266
to create and support 
farmers markets.

499
00:23:20,366 --> 00:23:22,933
The efforts not only bring 
in tax dollars but also

500
00:23:23,033 --> 00:23:27,300
provide sales outlets for 
newer farmers just starting out.

501
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,366
But the growers here at the 
Alabama Farmers Market

502
00:23:31,466 --> 00:23:33,700
are very proud of one 
distinction

503
00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:35,433
that helps set them apart.

504
00:23:35,533 --> 00:23:39,900
It's one of the only 
farmer-owned farmers markets

505
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,100
left in the United States, 
which is very unique.

506
00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,166
After Jimmy Witt 
drops his delivery,

507
00:23:47,266 --> 00:23:49,866
he's back on his farm where 
his family's been picking

508
00:23:49,966 --> 00:23:55,233
peaches, and other 
produce, since the 1950's.

509
00:23:55,333 --> 00:23:57,566
Like many growers, he has 
a contractor who sells his

510
00:23:57,666 --> 00:24:01,266
produce so he can prepare 
for the next day.

511
00:24:01,366 --> 00:24:04,466
Whether it's peaches or okra 
or strawberries

512
00:24:04,566 --> 00:24:07,933
or whatever it might be.

513
00:24:08,033 --> 00:24:12,000
And the cycle starts again, 
in both Alabama and at

514
00:24:12,100 --> 00:24:15,300
thousands of farmers markets 
across the country -

515
00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:17,233
consumers finding 
fresh, produce,

516
00:24:17,333 --> 00:24:20,966
and farmers enjoying the 
fruits of their labor.

517
00:24:21,066 --> 00:24:24,133
You've got so many options 
to be able sell to the public.

518
00:24:24,233 --> 00:24:29,400
The warehouses, 
the grocery stores,

519
00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:31,600
just the opportunity 
is so wide here,

520
00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:33,533
that you would be able to.

521
00:24:33,633 --> 00:24:34,866
If you grow a 
quality product,

522
00:24:34,966 --> 00:24:35,200
you would be able 
to sell it here.

523
00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:36,966
♪

524
00:24:37,066 --> 00:24:38,700
And that's going to do 
it for is this time.

525
00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:40,400
We thank you for traveling 
the country with us on this

526
00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:42,700
edition of America's 
Heartland.

527
00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,200
We're always so pleased that 
you can join us as we travel

528
00:24:45,300 --> 00:24:47,833
the country to find 
fascinating people and

529
00:24:47,933 --> 00:24:50,533
interesting places.

530
00:24:50,633 --> 00:24:53,000
And remember that you can 
stay in touch with us 24/7.

531
00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:54,533
We make it easy for you.

532
00:24:54,633 --> 00:24:56,366
You can find us on some 
of your favorite sites,

533
00:24:56,466 --> 00:24:59,233
you can also access our 
stories and video on our

534
00:24:59,333 --> 00:25:01,600
website: Americas 
Heartland dot org.

535
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:02,866
That will do it 
for this time.

536
00:25:02,966 --> 00:25:06,966
We hope to see you on the 
next America's Heartland.

537
00:25:07,066 --> 00:25:10,100
You can purchase a DVD 
or Blu Ray copy of this program.

538
00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,033
Here's the cost:

539
00:25:13,133 --> 00:25:14,666
To order, 
just visit us online

540
00:25:14,766 --> 00:25:21,233
or call 888-814-3923.

541
00:25:21,333 --> 00:25:27,200
♪ You can see it in the eyes 
of every woman and man ♪

542
00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:33,100
♪ in America's Heartland 
living close to the land. ♪

543
00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,966
♪ There's a love 
for the country ♪

544
00:25:36,066 --> 00:25:42,266
♪ and a pride in the brand ♪

545
00:25:42,366 --> 00:25:46,266
♪ in America's Heartland 
living close, ♪

546
00:25:46,366 --> 00:25:49,000
♪close to the land ♪

547
00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:50,066
♪

548
00:25:50,166 --> 00:25:52,566
"America's Heartland 
is made possible by..."

549
00:25:52,666 --> 00:25:55,466
CropLife America. 
And it's member companies

550
00:25:55,566 --> 00:25:59,000
and associations in the 
crop protection industry

551
00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:03,433
including:

552
00:26:03,966 --> 00:26:06,733
The American Farm Bureau 
Foundation for Agriculture.

553
00:26:06,833 --> 00:26:08,866
Dedicated to building 
greater awareness and

554
00:26:08,966 --> 00:26:11,100
understanding of agriculture 
through education

555
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:12,300
and engagement.

556
00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,066
More information at: 
agfoundation.org

557
00:26:16,166 --> 00:26:19,633
Farm Credit - financing 
agriculture and rural

558
00:26:19,733 --> 00:26:21,733
America since 1916.

559
00:26:21,833 --> 00:26:24,000
Farm Credit is cooperatively 
owned by America's

560
00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:25,600
farmers and ranchers.

561
00:26:25,700 --> 00:26:30,000
Learn more at 
farmcredit.com

562
00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:33,300
The Fund for Agriculture 
Education - A fund created

563
00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,733
by KVIE to support 
America's Heartland programming.

564
00:26:36,833 --> 00:26:38,800
Contributors include the 
following:

565
00:26:38,966 --> 00:26:41,466
♪