Agriculture is one of the largest industries in Santa Rosa County. The region’s agribusiness sector is supported in many ways, including an Alternative Agriculture Program to improve and sustain the farming economy.

The Alternative Agriculture Program (AAP) was initiated in 2005 to identify and develop new agricultural crop and value-added products for area producers. Sponsors of the program include Santa Rosa County, TEAM Santa Rosa Economic Development Council, Inc., University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center, and Santa Rosa County Cooperative Extension Service and Mainstreet Milton.

The AAP’s goal is to improve and sustain the economy of Santa Rosa County. Expected outcomes from this new program include improving the profitability of the farmers, protecting our rural flavor, reducing our dependency on foreign markets and creating local markets that have a positive impact on our economy and provide a fresh alternative to our residents.

Traditionally, our local agricultural economy has been based on row crops that produce a low profit margin and a dependency on government subsidies. The AAP program is improving the profitability of farmers, increasing the diversity of agricultural enterprises in the region, and fostering the development of new jobs in the region’s agribusiness sector, thereby enhancing Santa Rosa County’s economy.

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