Thank you for all the hard work you’ve done for Adam and his campaign over the last 18 months.  We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support you have given him while he is campaigning across the state. Your support helps strengthen his resolve as we enter the final three months of this campaign.

Tomorrow is Adam’s birthday, and while he will be out on the road campaigning, the kids and I wanted to do something to help celebrate his 36th birthday and invite his many friends and supporters to join us.

In honor of Adam’s 36th birthday, we are asking all of his friends and supporters to donate $3.60, $36 or $360 to his campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

You can submit your gift by clicking Contribute or mail your birthday contribution to P.O. Box 547, Bartow, FL 33831.  Thank you for your continued support of Adam and his commitment to a better Florida.

Happy Birthday, Adam!

Melissa

P.S. If you have already given the maximum contribution of $500, you cannot contribute again…but your friends can, so please help us spread the word!

BARTOW, Fla. – Fraternal Order of Police, Florida State Lodge (FOP) has officially endorsed Adam Putnam for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. The FOP represents 20,000 professional active and retired law enforcement officers in the state of Florida and over 325,000 officers nationwide.

“The Fraternal Order of Police looks forward to Adam’s successful campaign and tenure as Commissioner of Agriculture. He has gained respect from those in his local community, and his dedication to supporting his fellow Floridians speaks well of his leadership and understanding of what being a representative of his constituents entails. The citizens of Florida will be well served with the outlook and positive approach he will bring to this office,” said James W. Preston, Florida State Lodge President. 

The FOP is committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those they serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement and employee representation.

 “I would like to thank the members of the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police not only for their endorsement of my campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, but also for their continued service to the people of Florida,” Putnam said. “For their selflessness and bravery, I am truly humbled to have earned their support.”

This continues the overwhelming support of Adam’s campaign from state law enforcement with previous endorsements from the Police Benevolent Association and 37 County Sheriffs across Florida.

For more information about Adam Putnam, visit www.adamputnam.com or follow Adam on Twitter @adamputnam and Facebook www.facebook.com/adamputnam.

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• In 1521 Ponce de Leon brought horses and cattle to Florida, making it the oldest cattle-raising state in the country.
• The primary cattle related “crop” in Florida is calves.  They are born and raised here, then shipped to other states where they are finished and processed into beef.
• Nationally, Florida ranked 10th in beef cattle in 2009.
• Florida’s cattle industry was a leader in the formulation and adoption of agricultural industry Water Quality Best Management Practices and other standards.
• The sale of Florida cattle pushes total yearly gate sales over a half-billion dollars.
• Nearly one-half of all Florida agricultural land is involved in cattle production (4 million acres of pastureland and 1 million acres of grazed woodland).

The Florida Cattlemen’s Association represents many of Florida’s multi-generational family ranches.  This organization hopes to shed light on the importance of this industry as an integral part of Florida’s heritage, as well as our state’s future.

To learn more about the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, visit their website, FloridaCattlemen.org.

Visit the Florida Division of Elections website to print your voter registration form, which you will need to mail or hand-deliver to your County Supervisor of Elections. Here, you can also check the status of your voter registration, learn about early voting and precinct locations, or request an absentee ballot.

You must register to vote if you want your voice heard on Election Day!

BARTOW, Fla. – The Florida Retail Federation Political Action Committee (FRFPAC) has officially endorsed Adam Putnam for Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture. FRF, which is made up of more than 11,000 business members, advocates for a healthy, free enterprise system based on a favorable business environment.

“The Florida Retail Federation PAC is pleased to support Adam’s candidacy for Commissioner of Agriculture. With his background and roots in the Florida citrus and cattle ranching communities, he clearly possesses the knowledge it takes to lead Florida’s Agriculture industry. We believe that he will be a strong voice for Florida’s retail grocers and the citizens of our state; supporting and promoting legislative policies that will have a positive impact on our economy,” said FRFPAC Chair Rick McAllister.

Florida retailers provide more than $25 billion in wages annually, provide one out of every five jobs, and collect and remit more than $19 billion in sales and retail-related taxes for the state government.

“It is an honor to be the first candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture to be endorsed by the Florida Retail Federation. The FRF represents an essential part of Florida’s economy that impacts consumers from the everyday purchases they make to the manufacturing, distribution and construction occurring throughout the state. I would like to thank their members for endorsing my campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and look forward to working with them to best serve all Floridians in the future,” Putnam said.

For more information about Adam Putnam, visit his Web site, www.adamputnam.com, and follow him on Twitter, @adamputnam, or Facebook, www.facebook.com/adamputnam.

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BARTOW, Fla. – Gaining momentum across the state of Florida, Adam Putnam’s campaign announced its continued success in fundraising for Commissioner of Agriculture by raising over $205,000 in the second quarter of 2010.

The Putnam campaign has raised over $1.6 million since February 2, 2009, and has $1.3 million cash on hand.  Over 95 percent of the 5,545 contributors have come from Florida.

“Since I filed to run in February of last year, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of financial support our campaign has received, and I am even more excited at the ever expanding grassroots network our campaign has built,” Putnam said.  “We continue to hit our milestones as we enter the homestretch to the November election.  It is clear that Floridians are supporting our positive message and our vision for the future of agriculture and consumer protection in Florida. This support is anchored by experience, hard work and an understanding of the importance this $100 billion dollar industry provides to our economy. There is much yet to be done, and I am confident that with our volunteers, donors and supporters we will be successful.”

For more information on Adam Putnam, please visit his Web site at www.AdamPutnam.com.

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Article by Bill Rufty

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam hopes his aim for Florida agriculture commissioner is as good as his aim on the pitcher’s mound Saturday night.

Putnam threw out the first pitch in the Florida Marlins-Washington Nationals game in Miami. He noted on Twitter just before he went out to pitch that he hoped he did OK.

Then minutes later he tweeted, “I got it over home plate.” He even received a twitter of congratulations on the throw. Yes, it is a new age. Some folks take a cell phone instead of a glove to ballgames so they can tweet instead of catch an errant ball.

Putnam is running against former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, a Democrat, to replace Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, who can’t run again because of term limits.

“Adam Putnam has demonstrated that he understands the issues affecting national and state health care and has solidified his commitment to protecting the integrity of this industry. As Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and a member of Florida’s Cabinet, we know he will continue to make strong decisions to protect consumers and patients in this state,” said FMA PAC President Madelyn E. Butler, M.D.

FMA advocates for physicians and their patients to promote public health, ensure the highest standards of medical practice, and enhance the quality and availability of health care in Florida.

“I am honored to have received the endorsement of the Florida Medical Association. Our doctors are essential to the well being of all Floridians, and we must ensure government does not infringe upon the health care community’s ability to best serve patients. I have actively worked to protect the doctor/patient relationship on a national level, and I now look forward to continuing this mission closer to home,” Putnam said. “As Commissioner, I plan to work with the medical community on many important issues, including efforts to combat childhood obesity and provide greater availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in our schools and food banks.”  

Adam Putnam is a Polk County citrus grower and cattleman who has represented the Twelfth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 2001. He also served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Adam resides in his hometown of Bartow with his wife Melissa and their four children. For more information on Congressman Putnam, please visit his Web site at www.AdamPutnam.com.

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• The early development of beekeeping in Florida took place between 1872 and 1888
• Honey bees have become the primary source of pollination for approximately ¼ of all crops produced in the United States and other countries.
• A populous colony may contain 40,000 to 60,000 bees during the late spring or early summer.
• All honey bee colonies in Florida are required to be registered by law.
• In 1962, the Florida Department of Agriculture initiated a program to certify tupelo honey (used to make table and baking grades of honey) as a marketing tool for those who produce a quality product.

The mission of the Florida State Beekeepers Association is to keep Florida’s apiculture strong and healthy now and in the future. For information on this crucial Florida commodity and resource, visit www.FloridaBeekeepers.org.

In honor of National Blueberry Month (July), here are some fun facts regarding Florida’s blueberry industry:

• Last year, Florida produced 15 million pounds of blueberries valued at approximately $7 million
• There are more than 300 growers totaling more than 3,000 acres of blueberry crop in Florida
• Blueberries are grown in 55 of the state’s counties with no commercial production south of Labelle, Florida
• Only Florida grows fresh blueberries from late March to early May
• Blueberries contain a number of health benefits, including cancer fighting anti-oxidants, anti-aging and memory enhancers, cardiovascular disease and stroke reduction compounds and infection fighting compounds, among others.
• Most Florida blueberries are found freshly packed in the spring in the best produce markets, rather than inside of jams, jellies or muffins.

For all the blueberry lovers out there, and to celebrate National Blueberry Month, try your hand at the Berry Recipes made available by the Florida Blueberry Growers Association on their website.