Selling Quality Fresh Food: A Family Tradition for 100 Years

Jam's Farm Fresh Produce Market sells a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.

For a century, Danny Gargiulo's family has sold fresh food. The tradition started when Gargiulo's great-grandfather moved from Italy to New Jersey, where he opened a supermarket, Gargiulo said. Today Gargiulo and his wife, Nicole, own and operate Jam's Farm Fresh Produce Market on Clearwater-Largo Road. The current market is named for the couple's three sons, Josh, Adam and Michael. The Gargiulo Family has had a produce market in Largo since the mid 1970s, Danny Gargiulo said. Gargiulo, 35, says he was born into the produce business, and he loves it. "I like the excitement of it. The constant buy at the right time, sell at the right time. It's usually a gamble dealing with perishables. There's an excitement of that. I like the hands-on," …

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Best Fresh Produce: Vote For Your Favorite!

Patch readers nominated the best places for produce in Largo so vote to determine which one is the Reader's Choice 2012 winner.

Who has the best produce in Largo? Cast your vote to let us know. Patch is relaunching its Readers’ Choice program and we’re asking you to pick your favorite. Nominations were accepted through July 9 and include: Winners in all 24 Reader's Choice categories will be announced Aug. 24. Sign up for the Largo Patch newsletter to get community information and updates on the Reader's Choice contest. The poll will open to accept votes from registered Patch users starting on July 23 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 17.

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Green Living

Farmers Markets, Gardens Booming with Fresh Vegetables

Here's a guide to local markets, with recipes to make the most of the summer harvest.

July is a hot, sticky time in Florida. You have probably noticed that the wildlife is moving a bit slower, the rains have increased and the grass is growing faster. It is also a perfect time to harvest your plants, especially the ones that are about to reach their seasonal expiration. Most plants like banana peppers, green peppers, summer squash and okra are ready to be harvested and nearly out of season. Before you rotate your crop – which is ideal and healthy for the soil and plants – be sure to try one of the following recipes to gain the most from your harvest. Squash was not ever my favorite growing up, but in my adult years I have learned to love it. I enjoy the texture and the rich array of nutrients, some of which can help fight …

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