SPECIAL-SECTIONS

Ag museum's fall festival focuses on local farm fare

Did you know that bok choy is grown in Bunnell?

Danielle Anderson Correspondent

It might not feel like it to some but fall officially started Saturday and the Spuds, Suds and Bok Choy Fall Festival at the Florida Agricultural Museum on Sunday helped kick off the season.

Country music provided the soundtrack as family members toured the museum grounds to get a look at the livestock, food trucks and crafts on display featuring vibrant orange and yellow leaves, Halloween decorations and, of course, pumpkins, in keeping with the fall theme.

Part of a pioneer family that has been farming their land for more than 100 years, Carmen Clifton talked with visitors about the fresh foods that Clifton Farm in Volusia County offers, including jams, jellies, butters and honey, and educating them about the importance of local agriculture.

“Today we’re showing all of the different things we make,” said Clifton, decked out in a honey bee apron. “If you don’t have the farmers, you’re not going to eat, just like you have to have the bees to pollinate. They’re a very important part of our agricultural system, too, and I try to educate people about honey bees.”

Balancing his overflowing plate of smoked brisket and baked beans from Cool Beans Barbecue food truck, Jeremey Wilson and his daughter Alexis grabbed a spot on a bench to have lunch while listening to the sounds of Sean Holcomb from the main stage.

Meandering through the grounds, four generations of the Morrell family enjoyed spending the day at the museum as Patricia Morrell corralled everyone together for a photo. She says the venue offers an affordable way for everyone to enjoy a relaxing Sunday together and they look forward to museum events.

“We’re here for family entertainment and just to get out of the house,” she said. “My family moved up from Delray Beach and we need a little bit of an escape, so here we are. It’s close to home and we’ve been to several of the functions they’ve had here and we enjoy coming.”

Running with the theme of spuds (potatoes from Bunnell), suds (beer from Budweiser) and bok choy (also grown in Bunnell), event organizer Kirk Keller, sales manager at Flagler Broadcasting, said the day provided an educational component to those asking questions about bok choy.

“Flagler County is well-known for potatoes, cabbage and we found out about bok choy, a Japanese cabbage with a different flavor and structure, that is grown here and that’s how we came up with the name,” Keller said. “Bok choy is made into a lot of Japanese and Chinese dishes but it’s really not flavorless like cabbage is — you can grill it, fry it or eat it raw ...

 “It think it’s very educational for people to realize what we do agriculturally in Flagler County," he said. "They think beaches and sand, but it’s also agriculturally known.”