THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MIDTERMS, SOME EYES ARE ALREADY TURNING TO 2028, WE EXAMINE THE ROLE OF THE LATINO VOTE AND HOW IT COULD SHAPE FLORIDA AND AMERICAN POLITICS MOVING FORWARD TO.

GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH FLORIDA'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.

THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION THAT DETAILS ISSUES FOR THE STATE'S FARM WORKERS WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR ITS FUTURE.

>> I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO GO WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT LIVING THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.

A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE VERY MUCH IN HARDSHIP.

>> AND FINDING FAITH ANYWHERE.

THE TRAVELING CHURCH THAT IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY THROUGH HUMANITY.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

2 YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP MADE MAJOR GAINS IN 2 LATINO VOTING COMMUNITIES.

ACCORDING TO PEW RESEARCH, PRESIDENT TRUMP RECEIVED 48% OF THE LATINO VOTE THE HIGHEST FOR ANY GOP CANDIDATE IN HISTORY.

BUT THIS YEAR SAW A CHANGE.

A 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

VOTER POLL SHOWS FLORIDA LATINO VOTERS BACKED A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE RACES FOR GOVERNOR AND SEN AND FOR 57% OF THE RACES FOR U.S., HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED MORE ABOUT HOW THE IMPACT OF LATINO VOTERS MIGHT SHAPE THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA POLITICS.

>> SO I'M JOINED BY LISETTE OR LAWN ENGEL DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC POLICY AT UNIDOS U.S.

A LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO CAN YOU SHARE THE IMPACT THAT FLORIDA LATINO VOTERS HAD ON LAST WEEK'S ELECTIONS?

>> YEAH, WHAT WE SAW WAS A CLEAR SHIFT.

THE CAUGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND LATINO VOTERS IN FLORIDA.

WE'RE NO DIFFERENT.

WE SAW THAT ONE FOR FOR ONE.

THERE WAS A GREAT NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT CAME OUT AND VOTED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2022.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MOTIVATION AND WHAT FROM OUR POLLING?

IS IT THAT MOTIVATION WAS DUE TO THE ECONOMY.

SO THOSE POCKETBOOK ISSUES, WE SAW THAT OVER HALF OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS THAT WE POLLED IN FLORIDA ARE SAYING THAT THE COST OF LIVING IS WHAT THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IN THE WANTED TO GO OUT THERE AND RESPOND TO THOSE CANDIDATES THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER, THOSE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

>> SO NOW GOING INTO SOME PEW RESEARCH IN TWENTY-TWENTY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP GARNERED 48% OF THE NATIONAL LATINO VOTE ON ROUTE TO HIS RE-ELECTION.

BUT THAT KIND OF FLIP THIS PAST YEAR.

WHY ARE WE SEEING SUCH A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN ONLY A TWO-YEAR WINDOW?

>> AND WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING HAVE ANALYZED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IS THAT LATINO VOTERS ARE NOT JUST LOYAL TO THE PARTY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE LOYAL TO A CANDIDATE.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THOSE POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

THEY'RE REALLY FEELING THOSE CONSTRAINTS.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AND SAYING BY CHECK DOESN'T STRETCH ENOUGH AND THEY VOTED FOR TRUMP BACK IN 2024.

BECAUSE THERE WERE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS.

IF IT MEANT THAT THE CANDIDATE HAD PUT FORWARD.

NOW WE'RE SEEING 2 YEARS LATER THAT UNFORTUNATELY SITUATIONS HAVEN'T CHANGE.

WE'RE HEARING AGAIN OVER 50% OF THEM HAD SAID THAT THE THEIR SITUATION WAS ACTUALLY WORSE THAN A YEAR AGO.

AND HERE COMES A VAST SET OF OTHER CANDIDATES THAT ARE SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY.

THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IS HIGH FOOD PRICES AS HIGH UP PRICE OF GAS, WHICH ARE TOP ISSUES FOR FLORIDA VOTERS.

AND THERE WAS THAT SWING.

SO AGAIN, THAT WAS THE BIGGEST INSIGHT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SEE.

THAT LOYALTY IS NOT TO A PARTY BUT RATHER TO THEIR FAMILIES AND TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

>> WITH THE ENHANCED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WE'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY IN FLORIDA OVER THE PAST YEAR.

DO WE EXPECT NOW MAYBE TO SEE AN EASING OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS CONSIDERING THAT LATINO VOTERS HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL IN SWING VOTES.

NOW OVER THE LAST 2 CAMPAIGNS.

>> I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING SOME REAL DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE MAYBE PERHAPS MUCH MORE AND AMENABLE TO BEING HURT AND BEING BROUGHT TO BE BIPARTISAN.

I THINK THAT WHEN YOU PUT THE NUMBERS DOWN ON HOW THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S NOT JUST THE TENSIONS AND IT'S NOT JUST ICE RAIDS, BUT REALLY IT'S THE LACK OF INCLUSION FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SERVICES PROGRAMS OR CERTAIN TAX CREDITS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO MOTIVATE SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES THAT REALLY SAW THE IMPACT THAT HAD ON THOSE VOTERS THAT THE HELPER SECURE.

BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT IMMIGRATION EXPERTS HERE AND WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT WE ARE FEELING QUITE HOPEFUL THAT THERE WILL BE SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO LEAD TO SOME PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS.

BUT THEN THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT SIDE AND THEN ON THE ECONOMIC AND AFFORDABILITY SIDE.

>> AND THEN WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU THINK ARE GOING TO CARRY HIM THROUGH NOW THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE?

WILL WE BE SEEING MORE CAN ACHIEVE THING TRYING TO PIECE FOR THE LATINO VOTE AND DO YOU THINK THAT BY CREATING POLICIES AND PLANS SURROUNDING THESE COMMUNITIES THAT IT MIGHT HELP EITHER SWING AGAIN, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, DEPENDING ON THOSE POLICY CHANGES >> IF THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION WERE ANY THINK IT'S FOR ANY CANDIDATE MOVING FORWARD AND THE NEXT 2 YEARS TO REALLY BE CONSISTENT.

SO IF YOU HAD A PATH FORMING, YOU RAN ON A PLATFORM ON AFFORDABILITY, IN PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS ON MAKING PEOPLE'S LIVES MORE AFFORDABLE AND THOSE PROMISES NEED TO BE KEPT.

WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE LATINO VOTE NEEDS TO BE IT.

IT CAN'T BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED EVERY ABOUT EVERY YEAR.

A NEW 1.

1 MILLION NEW.

LET THE NOSE ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

SO THAT'S A BIG, BIG NUMBER.

AND I THINK THAT THE FLORIDA POPULATION, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK CAN BE A GREAT CASE STUDY ON HOW PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SHIFT.

IF THAT MEANS THAT THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO BE BETTER.

SO WE'RE REALLY HONING IN ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE ON AFFORDABILITY, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO BUY THEIR GROCERIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE LIVABLE WAGES.

SO I KNOW THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE QUITE SOON.

AND I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE SOME CONVERSATIONS AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SOME OF THE ICE ENFORCEMENT AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND HOW TO GET TO A POINT THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THAT WE WANT, WHICH IS SAFE COMMUNITIES IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PORTABLE.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL MISS ANGLED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR MORE ELECTION AND POLITICAL STORIES IMPACTING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP NEXT, A MOBILE CHURCH IS BRINGING HOPE TO THOSE WHO THE THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ARE FAST APPROACHING FOR MANY, IT IS A TIME FOR REFLECTION, HOPE AND JOY AND THE GRASSROOTS CHURCH IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS HELPING PEOPLE FIND SOME HAPPINESS.

EVEN AMIDST HARDSHIP.

WGCUS MIKE WALCHER REPORTS.

>> THEY GATHER MOST TUESDAY AFTERNOONS AT NORTH FORT MYERS COMMUNITY PARK.

MOST HAVE NO HOMES, LITTLE HOPE, BUT THEY COME FOR HELP FROM A CHURCH.

WHERE'S THE BUILDING?

YOU ASK?

WELL, THERE IS NOT PICKS UP THIS PRIVILEGE HIM.

THIS IS A CHURCH OF THE HEART.

>> SHE'S A SWITCH TO THE STREETS.

HE WENT TO THE PEOPLE.

SO WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT, TOO?

I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO GO WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT LIVING THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.

A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE VERY MUCH IN HARDSHIP.

>> ANGELA VALDEZ AND HER HUSBAND STARTED THEIR MINISTRY IN ST.

LOUIS, THEN SPREAD TO PLACES IN ILLINOIS.

AND RECENTLY A LEE COUNTY PEOPLE GET PLATES OF FOOD MOST BROUGHT BY MORE THAN A DOZEN VOLUNTEERS FROM CAPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

PEOPLE PICK UP CLOTHES, BEDDING, TOILETRIES, MOTION, DONATED BY CAPE CHRISTIAN FELDER SAYS SHE BELIEVES THE NEED TO THIS AREA IS GROWING.

>> FUNDING IS BEING CUT AND A LOT OF PLACES THEY'RE NOT GETTING SOME OF THE NEEDS MET THAT THEY HAVE.

>> 52 YEAR-OLD THOMAS GOLUB SAYS HE'S LIVED IN THE WOODS FOR MANY MONTHS NOW EVER SINCE A BUSINESS FAILURE AND FAMILY ISSUES OVERWHELM THEM.

>> IT HURTS TO SEE THAT THERE ISN'T MORE HELP FOR PEOPLE WHO DESERVE IT.

>> SO HOW DOES HE SURVIVE?

>> I COULD HAVE THE IN A WORLD WHERE MY OWN ISSUES, BUT TO CLEAR MY HEAD AND FEEL BETTER IN TURN MY DAY AROUND.

I CAN FIND SOMEBODY NEEDS HELP WITH SOMETHING AND DO IT AND I FEEL BETTER.

>> 70 YEAR-OLD AND SHE BURNHAM SAYS SHE'S BEEN HOMELESS OFF AND ON FOR YEARS.

>> YOU FILL EMPTY.

YOU FEEL LOST.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

>> SHE CREDITS A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE WAS TURNING HER LIFE AROUND.

>> I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS UP THERE PEOPLE.

I KNEW THAT IT PASSED FOR THERE.

A VOICE TOLD ME TO COME BACK AND FEED THE SHEEP IN A BRIGHT LIGHT.

AND I WAS BACK ON THE TABLE I'M HERE TODAY.

>> BURNHAM SAYS OUT OF THE BLUE SOMEONE GAVE OR AN OLD RV NOW, SHE FOCUSES ON HELPING OTHERS.

>> TAKES MY HEART AND JUST EXPLODES AT SOME DAYS.

>> WHEN I CAN PUT A SMILE ON SOMEBODY'S FACE AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING THEY NEED.

IT FEELS GOOD.

>> THIS MAN SAYS HE LEARNED TO CUT HAIR IN CUBA LATER CAME TO FLORIDA.

HE VOLUNTEERS HIS TALENTS HERE.

MOST TUESDAYS.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK, BUT I KNOW HOW TO GO AHEAD.

THAT'S WHY MY I WAS THINKING AS I GOT IT IS ON TO, YOU KNOW, IN THE HILLS.

THAT'S WHEN, YOU KNOW, HELPING PEOPLE EVEN A LITTLE MORE.

>> WELL, JANE ROOM OR BEAUTIFUL.

>> AND ALL KINDS.

>> ANGELA VALDEZ GIVE SOME WORDS OF INSPIRATION TO THE ROUGHLY 100 PEOPLE HERE.

>> TELL YOURSELF WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE HIGHS, MANY SAY SHUT UP DEVIL.

I KNOW WHO I AM AND PRIZED.

I KNOW OF A CHILD ON.

I KNOW ONE OF HOW YOU.

>> AND THOSE PEOPLE FINISH THEIR MEALS.

THEY TALK MAYBE EVEN SMILED.

>> AND LAUGHABLE.

>> WE FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SECOND CHANCE AND SO WE GO WHERE IT STARK AND BRING THE LIGHT.

>> LATER, PEOPLE GATHER WHAT THEY NEED AND THEY HEAD HOME TO THE WOODS TO OLD CARS MAYBE TO A COUCH AT A FRIEND'S PLACE.

THEIR STOMACHS ARE FULL AND THIS MINISTRY HOPES THEIR HEARTS ARE TOO KNOWING SOMEONE CARES.

SOMEONE HELPS.

WITH THE DR GRIFFEY BY AMANDA WOULD HAVE MORE FOR WGCU IM MIKE WALCHER >> SPEAKING OF KINDNESS, ALL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO SPREAD A LITTLE MORE KINDNESS, KINDLY, A LOCAL NONPROFIT HAS LAUNCHED A 10,000 ACTS OF KINDNESS.

CHALLENGE THE CAMPAIGN LOOKS TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO SPREAD KINDNESS IN MEANINGFUL EVERYDAY WAYS AND ANYONE CAN TAKE PART.

>> JOINING US IS KELLY FAIR, WHO FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT KINDLY.

>> TO HELP FOSTER KINDNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> LET'S FIRST START WITH THIS 10,000 ACTS OF KINDNESS, CHALLENGE THAT IS UNDERWAY AS WE SPEAK.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW DID YOU LAUNCH THIS EFFORT?

>> SO ACTUALLY, IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, THERE IS A GLOBAL KINDNESS ORGANIZATION CALLED THE K 20 THAT HELD A KINDNESS SUMMIT WITH THE ROCK CENTER AT FGCU.

THEY CHOSE ONE LOCAL ORGANIZATION TO PARTICIPATE.

THAT WAS US.

WE WERE SO PROUD TO DO SO.

AND NOW WE ARE LEADING THE 10,000 KIND ACTS CHALLENGE.

>> SO WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO TAKE PART IN THIS CHALLENGE?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> PARTICIPATION IS ACTUALLY REALLY EASY.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS.

>> COMPLETE A KIND ACT AND REPORT ABOUT IT REPORT ABOUT SOMETHING KIND THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS DONE FOR YOU.

>> OR REPORT ABOUT KINDNESS THAT YOU HAVE WITNESSED.

IT COULD BE COUNTED AND RECORDED IN ONE OF 2 WAYS.

FIRST YOU CAN POST ABOUT THAT KIND ACT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IF YOU WOULD TAG KIND LEAD AND USE OUR OFFICIAL HASH TAG HASHTAG KINDLY 10 K.

>> WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO CREATE THIS NON PROFIT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> SO IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF 2016 AND I WAS ABOUT TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.

I WAS SO HONORED THAT THE MEMBERS ELECTED ME TO THIS POSITION AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL FOR THEM IN MY YEAR.

SO WE BEGAN KINDLY AND WE HAD SCHEDULED ONE KINDNESS PROJECT TO OCCUR AROUND FEBRUARY 17TH, WHICH IS RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS, DAY.

BUT THE KINDNESS DID NOT STOP.

IT LASTED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR.

AND ANOTHER YEAR AND NOW WE ARE OUR OWN 501, C 3 ORGANIZATION.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION AGAIN, I AM JUST AS HONORED TODAY AS I WAS 10 YEARS AGO.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW FAST YOU'VE GROWN?

>> YES, YES, I AM.

I AM.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

AND FOR ME TO WATCH IT AND I'M SURPRISED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A PERSON WHO COULD GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, INSPIRED 10,000 ACTS OF KINDNESS.

SO IN THAT WAY, I'M SURPRISED.

BUT IN ONE LAND, NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE GIVING TO OTHERS CREATE SUCH A GREAT JOY.

YOU KNOW, IT BENEFITS THE PERSON YOU'RE GIVING TO.

IT BRINGS YOU GREAT HAPPINESS.

PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.

THEY END UP NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP IT GET SOME OF THEIR VALUE BACK WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THAT JOY OF BEING KIND IN THAT WAY, IT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME THAT THIS CHALLENGE HAS GROWN SO QUICKLY.

KELLY THAYER, FOUNDER OF KINDLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FOLLOW THE 10,000 ACTS OF KINDNESS, CHALLENGE BY FOLLOWING KINDLY SWFL ON FACEBOOK, FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM FLORIDA'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY SPANS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION TO FISHING AND HUNTING TO CROP PRODUCTION.

BUT HOW DOES THIS MASSIVE SECTOR WORK AT A LOCAL LEVEL WGCU REPORTER KATE CRONIN VISITED FARMS IN MANATEE COUNTY TO FIND >> AGRICULTURE PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN FLORIDA'S ECONOMY IN 2025 ALONE, THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY BROUGHT IN OVER 380 MILLION DOLLARS ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE AT ASTON FARMS TODAY TO FIND OUT HOW ALL OF THIS FOOD MAKES ITS WAY TO YOUR PLATE.

>> THIS ROVER IS THE ONLY THING THAT DOESN'T HELP.

>> WELL, THOSE ARE SOME BIG NUMBERS.

MUCH OF FLORIDA IS MADE UP OF SMALLER FARMS, ACCORDING TO THE 2022 CENSUS PLOT UNDER 179 ACRES COMPRISE 86% OF FLORIDA'S THAT MANATEE COUNTY REPORTS OF SMALL GROWERS ONLY MAKE UP 15% OF FARM PRODUCTS SALES IN AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE LOOKING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FARMS, THE MANATEE COUNTY FARM CITY WEEK AGRICULTURAL TORE LED BY COMMERCIAL HORTICULTURE U.S.

LEVERAGE.

KATE WENTZEL LAZO IS TAKING RESIDENTS IN THE FIELD TO SEE HOW FLORIDA FRESH STRAWBERRIES ARE GROWN.

>> AND WE TRY TO ADVOCATE FOR >> SUSTAINABLE AND LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCTION.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT HAS THE LOWEST FOOTPRINTS.

IT SUPPORTS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BRINGS OUR DOLLARS BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON IMPORTED COMMODITIES, BUT YOU CAN'T RELY ON THE PEOPLE YOUR NEXT DOOR, NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE CLOSE TO YOU.

>> THE TOUR INCLUDES STUDENTS WHO REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA'S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

LIKE 16 YEAR-OLD SV ALL TORO CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA AT PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOL.

>> AGRICULTURE DEATH ME IS LIKE THE REASON THAT IT'S THE HEART OF EVERYTHING LIKE IT'S THE REASON THAT WE HAVE CLOSED.

THE REASON WE CAN EAT LIKE EVERYTHING.

WE WOULD BE NOWHERE WITHOUT AGRICULTURE.

>> THE USDA REPORTS A CONSISTENT DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF FARM LABORER SINCE 2000 HAS MANY FARMS HAVE REPLACED HUMAN HARVESTERS WITH MACHINES STRAWBERRIES ARE FAR TOO DELICATE FOR MACHINES.

MEETING EACH PIECE OF FRUIT AT ASTON FARMS IS HANDPICKED.

THAT'S ONE DIFFERENCE THAT SETS LOCAL FAMILY-OWNED FARMS APART FROM LARGER FACTORY FARMS.

MADISON SALTER IS A 4TH GENERATION STRAWBERRY FARMER.

SHE SAYS THEY EMPLOY 100 PEOPLE YEAR ROUND TO HARVEST THEIR 18,000 STRAWBERRY PLANTS ANNUALLY.

>> EVERY PART THAT GOES INTO A STRAWBERRY ENDING UP IN THE GROCERY STORE HAS BEEN TRULY THOUGHT OUT AND CARED FOR.

THERE'S NOT A LARGE OF COMMAND IN AND PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS RIGHT HERE IN OUR FAMILY.

THAT'S MAKING EVERY DECISION THAT IT'S TAKEN PLACE BEFORE IT GOES OUT AND TO THE STORE.

>> SO CALLS FLORIDA THE WINTER STRAWBERRY CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY.

THANKS TO OUR TROPICAL CLIMATE.

BUT THAT ALSO BRINGS UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR FARMERS.

SO WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SEMI TROPICAL CLIMATE.

SO WE GROW REALLY WELL.

PLANTS GROW REALLY WELL HERE, BUT ALSO BUGS DISEASES AND EVERYTHING ELSE OCCURS REALLY WELL HERE, TOO.

>> SO THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE WITH FLORIDA IS OUR DISEASE AND PASS PRESSURE.

>> GROWERS ARE OVERCOMING THESE DIFFICULTIES BY SWITCHING TO DISEASE AND PEST RESISTANT PLANT VARIETIES TO KEEP THE PRODUCE COMING TO LOCAL SHELVES.

ASTON SALTER SAYS THEY'VE PLANTED VARIETIES CALLED ENCORE AMBER AND PINE BARRY, WHICH WILL BE HARVESTED IN ONE TO 2 WEEKS.

>> WELL, WHEN YOU SEE THE LABEL FRESH FROM FLORIDA AND WE HAVE THAT ON OUR CLAIM SHOWS THAT YOU SEE IN THE GROCERY STORE.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS PICKED IN FLORIDA.

AND NOT ONLY WAS IT PICKED IN FLORIDA, BUT IT WAS PICKED AND PACKED AND SENT TO YOU PROBABLY WITHIN 24 HOURS.

>> MANATEE COUNTY FARM CITY WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT MY NANA T DOT ORG FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M KATE CRONIN.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, CREATING SAFER ROADS BY BUILDING BETTER DRIVERS.

WE LOOK AT THE PROGRAM T IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR TEENAGERS WHEN THEY GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

BUT THE CDC HAS SOME SOBERING NUMBERS FOR PARENTS AND TEENAGE DRIVERS.

THE CDC REPORTS TEENAGERS FACE TRIPLE THE RISK OF A DEADLY CRASH THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP AT GREATEST RISK.

16 17 YEAR-OLD TO HELP KEEP YOUNG DRIVERS SAFE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THE COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OFFERS TEEN DRIVER CHALLENGE THE COURSE IS FREE AND TAKES PLACE THIS WEEKEND IN NAPLES.

HELPING TEENAGERS BECOME SAFE DRIVERS.

THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE TEEN DRIVER CHALLENGE IN COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SERGEANT MELVIN GONZALES INSTRUCTS THE PROGRAM IN COLLIER COUNTY AND JOINS US NOW IN THE WGCUS STUDIO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROGRAM IS?

>> SO THE TEEN DRIVER CHALLENGE AS A PROGRAM THAT WE USE TO BUILD THE CONFIDENCE OF A YOUNG TEENAGED DRIVER OR A DRIVER THAT JUST TURNED 16 IN.

THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.

AND THAT PROGRAM TEACHES AND DIFFERENT SKILLS SET.

WE DO DIFFERENT DRIVING COURSES FOR THEM TO ESSENTIALLY.

BRING UP THEIR CONFIDENCE TO BE ON THE ROADWAY.

>> WHAT IS THE PROGRAM LIKE?

I UNDERSTAND IT'S OVER 2 DAYS.

>> WHAT DOES IT CONSIST?

CORRECT?

SO WE HAVE CLASSROOM PORTION THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN.

IT'S A FIVE-HOUR COURSE THAT THEY GO THROUGH DIFFERENT PART OF THE BOOK TO LEARN ABOUT SAFETY.

TEXTING AND DRIVING.

DISTRACTED DRIVING INNOCENCE.

SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE THAT PREREQUISITE COURSE.

FIRST AND THEN ONS THOSE THAT USUALLY HAPPENS ON A THURSDAY EVENING.

AND THEN ON SATURDAY MORNING FROM 8 O'CLOCK TO ABOUT 02:00PM, THEY DO NOTHING BUT DRIVING.

SO WE DO ALL THE DRIVING COURSES WE HAVE ABOUT 6 COURSES, BUT THEY DRIVE THROUGH IN.

WE MAKE SURE THEY GET THROUGH THOSE COURSES SAFELY.

AND THIS IS LOCATED AT BARRON COLLIER.

>> IS THAT CORRECT?

ITS WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, BUT CURRENTLY IS AT THE BARRON COLLIER PARKING LOT.

>> SO COOK QUALIFIES TO TAKE PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

>> ANYONE THAT LEARNING TO DRIVE FROM 15 YEARS OLD ALL THE WAY UP TO 19 YEARS OLD.

IF YOUR FIRST BEGINNER DRIVER, WE ENCOURAGE THE PARENTS TO COME OUT AND BRING THEIR STUDENTS.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD AGE BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY LEARNING SO EVERYTHING THAT WE TEACH THEM.

IS BEING SO 10 AND THE OLDER DRIVERS SUCH AS A 16 TO 19 YEAR-OLD.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY THINK THEY KNOW A LOT OF DRIVING UNTIL WE START BACKING COURSES, CORNERING COURSES.

SO IT HELPS THEM DEVELOP A SKILL THAT THEY MAY HAVE NOT REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT.

>> AND WHY IS THIS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO OFFER?

>> IT COMES DOWN TO SAFETY ME.

I GREW UP IN NAPLES, HIM.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THE ROADWAYS ARE FILLED WITH A MIX OF PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE.

OLDER DRIVERS, SENIOR DRIVERS AND YOU HAVE YOUNG.

15 TO 16, 17 YEAR-OLD DRIVERS AND THAT COMBINATION COULD BE A LITTLE DANGEROUS BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO BE CORRECT.

EVERYONE WANTS TO THINK THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO DRIVE UNTIL WE TEACH THEM SOME CERTAIN SKILLS THAT WELL PREVENT, HOPEFULLY AN ACCIDENT.

>> NOW THIS PROGRAM COSTS MONEY, OBVIOUSLY, TOO.

PARENTS PAY FOR IT.

HOW IS IT FUNDED?

>> WE DO NOT TAKE ANY MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC.

SHERIFF RAMBUS ALLOWS THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE AT HIS BUDGET.

HE BUDGET THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME DONATIONS.

CHICK-FIL-A PROVIDES A LUNCH ON SATURDAYS, THEIR T-SHIRTS THAT WE GET DONATED BY A LOCAL VENDOR.

AND THEN BOOKS ARE BEING OFFERED BY FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION THEY USED TO BE BOOKS THAT THEY WOULD MAIL DOWN.

BUT EVERYTHING'S ONLINE NOW MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR US.

>> AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHY DO YOU ENJOY INSTRUCTING THIS?

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> IT'S BEEN ABOUT 14, 15 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN DOING IT I PARTICULARLY ENJOY IT BECAUSE IT HELPS OUR DEPUTIES KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE.

AND IF THESE KIDS GO THROUGH IT, THEY LEARNED SOMETHING FROM US.

THEY ALSO REALIZE, OH, THESE GUYS ARE.

NOT JUST OUT THERE GIVING TICKET TO HELP THEIR INSTRUCTING US AND SHOWING US HOW TO 2 THINGS THAT THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

AND FROM LIKE I SAID, FROM BACKING UP A CAR, TO, DOING A FIGURE 8 TO BASICALLY.

HANDLING A CAR THE WAY IT SHOULD BE HANDLED.

NOT IRRESPONSIBLE, BUT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

>> AND SAVING LIVES, WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE LOANS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

THANKS TO YOU, SERGEANT GONZALES, APPRECIATE IT AND APPRECIATE IT.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS HERE, BUT NOT EVERYONE WILL FEEL JOYFUL.

LONELINESS IMPACTS MANY OF OUR SENIORS.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY STEPS THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO HELP MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A HAPPY HOLIDAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES WITH A FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.