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Pride Beef marketed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and
Florida Cattle Ranchers, an association of cattle ranchers
who produce natural beef. Adams Ranch sells its natural
beef through both Florida Cattle Ranchers, which is sold at
Publix stores.
Simmons said the ranch works to balance the supply of
premium cuts versus products such as ground beef. “One
challenge we face is moving the entire carcass ourselves,’’
she said. “Certain middle meats are more popular than
other parts of the animal.’’
PRESERVING THE LAND
,t also has to battle fluctuating cattle prices and 0other 1ature.
´This year we we·re at war with drought and flooding,··
said 5obbie Adams, referring to a lack of rainfall in the Àrst
half of the year and an overabundance in the second half.
As the demands of development put pressure on agricultural
lands west of I-95 in St. Lucie County, Adams Ranch in
Fort Pierce has been placed on Florida’s Rural and Family
Lands Protection Program, designed to protect important
agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent agricultural
land conservation easements. 8nder the program,
the state purchases the development rights from the landowner,
while requiring that the land remains under agriculture
in perpetuity.
The purchase of development rights requires an appraisal
and approval from the legislature. Though Adams Ranch
is at the top of the list, the appraisal hasn’t taken place and
funding hasn’t been approved.
“We’d like to see agriculture 100 years from now,’’ said Lee Adams.
ED DRONDOSKI
3ilL *hLULy :iTTVUs ^ih TVT 3LL(UU :iTTVUs rLWrLsLUs hL fifh
generation of the Adams family to live on Adams Ranch west of Fort Pierce.
e in western St. Lucie County
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT