Given our agricultural heritage, it's no surprise that Florida hosts dozens of food festivals worth the drive. Most are in winter -- but one comes up soon. Here are a few worth pondering:

• Newberry, near Gainesville: Newberry Watermelon Festival, May 16; www.newberrywatermelonfestival.com.

• Orlando area: Epcot Food & Wine Fest, Epcot at Walt Disney World, Sept. 25-Nov. 8; www.waltdisneyworld.com.

• Appalachicola: Florida Seafood Festival, Nov. 6-7; www.floridaseafoodfestival.com.

• Naples: Naples Wine Festival, Jan. 29-31, 2010; www.napleswinefestival.com.

• Everglades City: Everglades Seafood Festival, Feb. 5-7, 2010; www.evergladesseafoodfestival.com.

• Miami Beach: South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Feb. 25-28, 2010; www.sobewineandfoodfest.com.

• Plant City: Florida Strawberry Festival, March 4-14, 2010; www.flstrawberryfestival.com.

• Amelia Island: Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, late April/early May; www.shrimpfestival.com.

-- JANE WOOLDRIDGE

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