The Miller Family Blueberry Plantation – Dedicated to Community

July 15, 2015

In the lush Florida countryside resides the Miller Blueberry Plantation, a family farmstead dedicated to cultivating fresh blueberries since 1979. As one of the oldest commercial blueberry farms in Northern Florida, the Millers have been committed to making a positive impact in their struggling community of Putnam County. Their family farm is located in one of the poorest counties in Florida with 20% of the population living below the poverty line and an unemployment rate of 7.2% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).  The Millers who hire seasonal workers, realized early on they could make a difference by educating their employees with on-the-job training programs. They began paying their employees to arrive at work 30 minutes early each day to participate in “New Skills” training.  The Miller Family is not only dedicated to growing delicious, good for you blueberries, they are dedicated to providing the tools and support their employees need to secure a full time job once the harvest is done.


Naturipe Farms | CommunityNaturipe Farms | Community

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We have a mission to accomplish some good with our employees during the 6 weeks they are here, we also encourage our employees to make our training and support available to their other family members in need.” – Vohnda Miller

The Millers commitment to their community extends out to many different branches such as assisting in health education. They host a county health fair at their farm every year for locals across the county. Information at the health fair is focused around fighting diabetes, cancer and many other illnesses. The Miller family wants to encourage individuals take positive steps toward a healthier and happier life.
Naturipe Farms | CommunityNaturipe Farms | Community

 

Along with their dedication to their local community, they also follow sustainable farming practices to conserve water. The Miller Blueberry Plantation utilizes drip irrigation that uses lower volume and pressure to conserve water. They have also installed soil moisture sensors to help them determine a crop’s water usage and weather data to help make educated decisions on their farms water consumption.

You can learn more about the Miller Blueberry Plantation at www.millerblueberry.com

CTA_CWC-01