A farm that once faced closure was recognized as a top business of the year.
Sweetwater Organic Community Farm recently was named Agribusiness of the Year by the Hillsborough County Fair. The award was given last week at the Harvest Awards Dinner.
The awards are to recognize those individuals and entities that made a significant contribution to the social, cultural, educational, moral, economical, agricultural, industrial, commercial or governmental fabric of life in Hillsborough County.
Josh Burgin, chairman of the awards ceremony, said Sweetwater won because of its vast offerings.
"It's not just a successful business, but they also have an educational component," he said. "It's a business that benefits the community in many ways."
The 6-acre organic farm sells seasonal memberships in exchange for a weekly harvest of crops. The nonprofit group also offers a farmer's market open to the public, and educational agricultural classes.
The farm faced closure earlier this year when it was issued a code violation for operating an agricultural business in a residential zone. But farm owner Rick Martinez filed for a rezoning and after an onslaught of support from the community, the commission approved the change.
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