We're going to be running the above banner for a few days as we bring you highlights of the raw food scene in the beautiful Florida Keys.

Prior to heading into the Keys proper, we wanted to load up on some fresh organic foods for our weeklong stay. We posted a question on one of our favorite online raw communities, Give It to Me Raw, asking for information on sources for organic produce in southern Florida. That's when we learned about Glaser Organic Farms.

Jim Dee, Tracy Fleming (Owner), Wendi Dee, KDcat

Prior to leaving Pittsburgh, we phoned ahead and placed an order for the produce we'd be requiring for our week's stay in the Florida Keys. We were pleasantly surprised to find that they had every single item we wanted -- and many of the items were organically grown right there! The cost of our week's supply of groceries was comparable to what we spend here in Pittsburgh at our local Food Co-op. However, many of the items we picked up were exceptionally fresh, especially the avocados, coconuts, romaine, mangoes, and organges.

From their web site:

Established in 1980, we specialize in growing tropical fruits such as mango, papaya, lychees, bananas, avocados, rare and exotic tropicals, winter vegetables and herbs. Our practice of organic farming is one of exceptional quality, using only nutritive components on our trees, garden and soils. It is our dedication to working and living with nature that allows us the pleasure of offering you foods of such exceptional quality.

The avocados, like the coconuts, were enormous!

We had a short visit at Glaser Organic Farms, as we were running late on our way to our rental home in the Keys (it was already dark when we arrived at Glaser). However, during that brief time, we met and talked with the friendly staff, saw some of the animals they rescue (donkeys!), and much to KDcat's delight, petted some of the cats who reside near the main office.

KDcat with a Glaser Farms feline friend!

We learned that Glaser offers all sorts of great activities and services of interest to raw foodists. For example, they make prepared raw foods that can be ordered online or purchased at their Coconut Grove Saturday Organic Farmer's Market.

Tracy at the Farmer's Market

Tracy is also Glaser's Raw Foods Executive Chef, and leads classes on raw foods cuisine culinary arts. Information about Tracy's classes as well as information about their farm, their farmer's market, and their online store can be found at www.glaserorganicfarms.com. If you're ever traveling to the Keys, now you know where to source your raw foods supplies!