Florida Produce on Display in Annual Orlando Parade on Saturday

Submitted by Anonymous on December 30, 2011 - 10:08am

Florida produce -- from oranges and strawberries to sweet corn and bell peppers -- will be marching and floating down Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando on Saturday.

The annual holiday parade in its 32nd year, formerly known as the Orlando Citrus Parade, has its inaugural run as the Fresh From Florida Parade at 11 a.m.

The Fresh From Florida Parade is a great opportunity for Florida to celebrate our locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has stated in a release.

More than 100,000 pieces of agricultural-related products are going into the floats in the parade that will make its way down the two-mile stretch of downtown Orlando.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services paid $325,000 for the sponsorship -- in partnership with Florida Citrus Sports -- of the parade that is part Bowl week activities in Orlando.

The Champs Sports Bowl was held Thursday and the Capitol One Bowl is Monday.

The parade will be syndicated. TV broadcast times vary.

Spike Mendelsohn, of Bravos "Top Chef Chicago" and "Top Chef All-Stars" and the Food Networks "Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs," and Daphne Oz, co-host of ABCs "The Chew," will co-host the event.

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