Food forests of Florida: Enhancing ecosystem services and food security in the subtropical/tropical urban environment by Dr. Cara Rockwell Assistant Professor, Earth & Environment

Abstract

A popular trend in urban landscapes is the cultivation of edible species in multi-storied
home gardens, or “food forests”. The inclusion of high value edible tree species in
backyard gardens has the potential to enhance nutrition and well-being in urban areas,
where food deserts are common. Additionally, the partial shade conditions in these
tree-dominated systems provide protection and habitat for stressed organisms in an
increasingly hot climate. Florida food forest systems harbor a diversity of hardy tropical
edible species, including plant taxa that are considered “Forgotten Foods”, or those
species that have been underutilized by commercial food production. This presentation
of our food forest-related research will provide a comprehensive overview of the
cultivation of food forests in the urban landscape, where there is an increasing need for
resilient food production systems.