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From ride to table: How an iconic attraction is producing food for Walt Disney World

LAKE BUENA BISTA, Fla. — On Living with the Land in EPCOT, one of the original attractions that opened in 1982, guests see first-hand innovative growing techniques for crops from around the world.

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The ultimate goal: Harvesting everything, down to the flowers.

As park visitors float along on the iconic attraction, they watch horticulturists harvest violas for an interesting reason.

READ: Disney World reveals dates for this year’s International Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT

“We grow lots of edible food crops from around the globe, including edible flowers like violas or begonias or nasturtiums,” EPCOT plant scientist Laura Kleiss said.

Not only are the flowers edible and range from tastes like green apples and cayenne pepper, but they’re also used in the Flower and Garden Festival, EPCOT’s original festival.

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For example, the viola on top of your beverage today could have been seen while riding Living with the Land the day before.

All 150 food crops grown at Living with the Land remain within Walt Disney World Resort.

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.