Stephen Basore Principal Owner of TKM Bengard Farms, LLC.

Courtesy photo

The month of May is recognized nationally as Lettuce Month, also known as National Salad Month. As we look ahead to summer backyard barbecues, what better time is there to celebrate the fresh, crunchy and delicious veggies?

At TKM Bengard Farms, we just wrapped up our lettuce harvest last month. Growing leafy greens is our passion and our family business grows everything from iceberg, romaine, and butter lettuce, to escarole, endive, and red leaf lettuce. Our farm sells produce to major processors and retailers that distribute these leafy greens across the country to grocery stores, schools, and restaurants.

Located in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), TKM Bengard Farms is proud to be the largest lettuce grower east of the Mississippi. In fact, the EAA region leads Florida in production of lettuce and is second largest producer of lettuce in the nation – contributing to the estimated 30 pounds of lettuce Americans consume per person each year.

EAA farmers have provided our local community, state, and country with a wide variety of homegrown foods for decades. In addition to leafy greens, EAA farmers also grow sweet corn, celery, green beans, radishes, rice and much more.

Our farming region is a significant contributor to our nation’s domestic food supply. This is in large part thanks to the sustainable farming practices we implement in the EAA.

As a family farm, we recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable farming because our legacy is the land. We recognize the hard work and great care that previous generations have taken to preserve and protect this land so that we may continue to grow wholesome and delicious foods for generations to come.

EAA farmers have played a leading role in integrating environmentally sustainable practices, pushing the boundaries of innovation to supply cleaner water and preserve our soil. Our nationally recognized Best Management Practices and modernized agricultural practices help ensure we protect the soil and water quality, conserve wildlife habitats, and increase energy efficiency.

The EAA is the most regulated farming basin in America and has been meeting – and exceeding – the strictest water quality standards in the United States for more than 25 years. In 2023, we farmers in the EAA achieved water quality goals for the Everglades with a 63% phosphorus reduction, more than double the 25% reduction goal in the Everglades Forever Act.

We will continue our efforts to safeguard the environment so that our supermarket shelves remain stocked with high-quality, safe and fresh produce.

As you garnish your burger or dig into a delicious salad, remember there’s a good chance it was grown with care right here in the EAA.

About the author
Stephen Basore Principal Owner of TKM Bengard Farms, LLC., the largest lettuce grower east of the Mississippi, located in Belle Glade.