Category: Food/Restaurants

Business Spotlight: Chautauqua Winery

Debbie Roney Smith on

Chautauqua Vineyards & Winery is Florida Farm Winery Certified. They produce wine from Carlos Muscadine and Noble Muscadine grapes that have been growing since 1979. Conveniently located next to I-10 in DeFuniak Springs, the winery offers free grape picking, a gift shop full of unique items, and a tasting bar.

The winery is family-friendly – bring the kids! Juices are served for anyone under the age of 21. Pets are welcome permitted they are leashed or held, and they are not allowed in the tasting area. They regularly host tastings and events, alongside being open daily (except for major holidays).

Want to place an order for home delivery or learn more about the Vineyards? Visit the official Chautauqua Vineyards & Winery website. 

Tupelo Honey

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The center of tupelo honey production is the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle which makes tupelo honey a local honey star! Tupelo honey is a very special form of honey that has a lower glucose content with a very small harvesting window which makes it a more expensive alternative to the general store-bought honey. It is also known as Ogeechee tupelo due to the popular growing region; there are thousands of hectares of Ogeechee tupelo have been planted in bee farms along the lower Apalachicola River and around swamps where it grows naturally.

Tupelo has an incredible amber color alongside a sweet taste and aroma. It is high-grade honey that is good for the digestive and immune system, as well as working for those dressing wounds. Tupelo honey gets its name from the tupelo tree species, a nod to the fact it is harvested from the specific tupelo tree species Nyssa ogeche. Tupelos are popular ornamental trees because they offer form, flowers from March to May, shade, and autumn leaf colors. Honey is only harvestable for a short period of 2-3 weeks and is heavily subjected to poor weather. 

Celebrating Prosecco

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Today is National Prosecco Day, an annual event founded in 2011 by Riondo Prosecco. It is a day dedicated to the celebration of prosecco, a sparkling wine perfect for a summer evening. It is a versatile wine that is bright and bubbly, often with pleasing fruit or floral flavor.

Prosecco Region

Prosecco is made from the Glera grape. It is believed to have been cultivated in the Italian village of Prosecco in Trieste circa the 16th century. Nowadays, the best prosecco is actually located about 2-3hours away from Trieste near Venice; this area is called the Prosecco region (also known as the DOCG Prosecco region). 

U-Pick Produce in Northwest FL Panhandle

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July is the end of U-Pick Produce at Jackson Farms for this growing season until October. U-Pick is a fun, cheap, and delicious activity for those of all ages. From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can pick a variety of peak produce including tomatoes, watermelons, peppers, snap beans, eggplants, pickles and more. 

Jackson Farms also offers packaged produce that offers the same freshness as picking produce yourself; this is because they are picked and sealed at peak ripeness instead of being picked early in order to be shipped to a secondary location like your local grocery store. They have been offering homegrown produce for over 20 years. Visit them in Grand Ridge or visit their official website for more information. 

Blueberry Muffins Day & Local Spotlight

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Today is National Blueberry Muffin Day! The benefits of blueberries are numerous, including being rich in antioxidants, aiding in weight loss and healthy digestion, boosting mental health, protecting against heart disease, managing blood sugar levels, improving skin clarity, and improving the strength of bones. 

Fun fact: the term ‘muffin’ was first printed in English in 1703 and was also known as a ‘teacake.’ Combined with the beginning of blueberry cultivation in New Jersey in the early 20th century, blueberry muffins were a long time in the making.

Want to enjoy the fluffy, flavor-bursting creation that is a blueberry muffin? Consider skipping Walmart and head to one of the Panhandle’s local blueberry farms: Blue Acres Berries!

Blue Acres Berries is a pick-it-yourself blueberry farm located in Sneads, and is currently reaching the end of its season. A gallon bucket costs only $10 to fill! Don’t want to pick the berries yourself? No problem, they offer to pick the gallon for you at $20 a bucket. Visit their Facebook site HERE for hours and more.

Blue Acres Berries

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Today’s local business spotlight is on Blue Acres Berries of Sneads, FL. It is a u-pick blueberry farm that has five Rabbiteye varieties: Climax, Brightwell, Tifblue, Savory, and Premier. The berries are all grown naturally. So visit to pick your own berries or call to place an order for them to fill for you. They are currently open every day, 8 a.m. -7 p.m. until the berries are gone or the July 4th weekend, whichever comes first. 

Pensacola Grand Carnival Parade

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Elaborate floats and outlandish costumes will lead the Florida-style pageantry for the annual parade which usually features more than 6,000 participants from Krewes, local organizations and marching bands.

The parade takes place on Palafox and Garden Streets in historic downtown Pensacola. The Parade starts at 2:00pm and continues until around 6:00pm.

Pensacola Grand Carnival Parade
May 29 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Visit the official Pensacola Grand Carnival Parade website HERE to keep up-to-date with event information.  

Martin’s Harvest Update

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The Marianna-based sustainable farm Martin’s Harvest is now doing deliveries, and will expand home deliveries to the Tallahassee area starting May 26th! Martin’s Harvest offers organic and sustainable goods such as hydroponic lettuce, micro-greens, produce, and more.
   If you are getting delivery, Martin’s Harvest works with other local businesses to deliver the following goods: Silver Oaks farm fresh eggs, Green Gate Olive Grove products & kombucha, and Smiley B Farms LLC goods. 
   Delivery is free to the workplace while home delivery is $10; both are available in the following areas: Dothan, Panama City, Marianna, Cottondale, Bonifay, and Chipley. Order online or learn more HERE. 

Blountstown Magnolia Street Festival

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Coming this Saturday, the annual Magnolia Street Festival! From 5 – 7 p.m., visit Main Street Blountstown and walk amongst the 50+ vendors including food trucks, plant sellers, baked goods, arts & crafts, and more! Additionally, there will be a 6 p.m. drawing; tickets are $5 and there are multiple baskets availble to win. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards projects to improve downtown Blountstown. Best of all, there will be free musical performances and kid-friendly activities such as an animal encounter. Hope to see you there in support of the close-knit Blountstown community!

 

North Florida Wildflower Festival

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This Saturday, April 24th, the 7th Annual North Florida Wildflower Festival will be hosted in Magnolia Square, Blountstown. It will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include plants, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, FREE kids’ activities, music, AND train rides on the Blountstown Rotary Train. 

For more information, visit the official festival website here or the Facebook event page here.