SARASOTA, Fla. — After the hurricanes tore through the region, one local farm in Sarasota was left picking up the pieces.

Andrew Hudson, a farmer at Jessica’s Organic Farm, has been working there since 2008. But after hurricanes Helene and Milton swept through the area, his primary focus has been making repairs.

What You Need To Know

  • Jessica's Organic Farm received damages from the hurricanes, losing crops and thousands of dollars

  • The farmers are hoping to sell their produce at their farmers market 

  • To recover from the storms, the farmers are planting new crops

Hudson is installing a new irrigation system to water the crops.

“It’s just countless things you have to do. We had to deal with all the different trees that blew over. We’ve had a lot of crops, and each crop is different,” he said.

They grow a variety of 40 different types of crops, but some were destroyed by the hurricanes.

“You see that area? That was all cucumbers — almost all of it was wiped out,” he said.

Because of the damage, the farm lost thousands of dollars. But there are a few steps Hudson needs to take before planting new crops.

“This is the nursery, these are the babies. It’s a whole specialty to get them from a seed to beginning to grow,” he said.

Then, he digs out a small hole in a row and begins to plant.

“This is escarole. When you make pasta with greens, this is usually the green,” he explained.

However, the storms have left him behind schedule.

“We are at least two fields behind, probably three compared to this time of year. If you look over to that road, we should be planted out all the way to the road by now, but we’re only halfway,” he said.

Without selling produce at their farmers’ market, it’s difficult for the farm to make enough to pay their employees.

“We are continuing to pay people, and we’re not selling produce yet,” he said.

Still, Hudson is pushing forward — not only to support his team but also to provide food for the community.

If you want to buy organic vegetables, Jessica’s Organic Farm’s farmers’ market is open Friday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here are some of the items they sell:

  • Radishes
  • Parsley
  • Chard
  • ed Leaf Lettuce
  • Green Leaf Lettuce
  • Red/Green Oak Leaf Lettuce
  • Bibb Lettuce
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Lacinato Kale
  • Green Kale
  • Collards
  • Arugula
  • Dandelion
  • Sweet Turnips
  • Fresh-Cut Basil
  • Moringa
  • Sunflower Sprouts