The Farm City Barbecue is a tradition in Collier County that began when Naples business leaders invited Immokalee farmers to a barbecue after a poor crop year. The event was intended to help the farmers’ families not go hungry on Thanksgiving. The following year, the farmers reciprocated, and the tradition was born.
Farm City Barbecue is considered a celebration of the interdependence of farmers and business owners, and the communities they create. The event brings together people from urban and rural areas of Collier County. Proceeds from the event go to support youth leadership development programs in the community.
According to the official website, there are more than 300 farms on almost 150,000 acres in Collier County. Some are large producers that sell wholesale regionally or nationwide and others are just a couple of acres. They include cattle ranches, organic vegetable farms, fruit tree farms, tomato seed producers, the state’s third-largest grower of annual and perennial flowers, and much more.