Fruitville Grove

"Nobody knows how food is produced and are becoming more disconnected."

A taste of old Florida and fresh citrus, Fruitville Grove offers a wide variety of local produce. Family-owned farms could benefit from AI, but Fruitville Grove owner, Kim White disagrees.

White described Fruitville Grove as mostly citrus and veggies. However, they are starting to transition to beef, goats, horses and specialty produce such as dragon fruit, heirloom peppers and heirloom tomatoes in order to bring in more money. She is familiar with AI and its use in irrigation, monitoring crops and GPS tracking, but none of those features have convinced White to use the technology on her family farm. White says AI, "Saves on manpower and waste. You give the plant exactly what it needs, but you lose the human touch," and for small farms, the human touch is key. 

White also questioned if small farms can afford AI, and even if the investment is made, will it be cost effective? "You lose labor. How do you carry on the generation? Nobody knows how food is produced and are becoming more disconnected. Fewer and fewer people produce food," says White.  

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If anything, White says people need to remain as involved in farming as possible, and should not be replaced by technology.  "Plants and animals are living things and have inherit traits, their own personalities," she says. "How can you properly care for and manage with something that isn't living and breathing." The balance between technology and farmer involvement is delicate. Even though AI reduces labor needs and can cultivate crops with greater accuracy, eliminating the human touch is non-negotiable when it comes to family farming, says White.

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