Public can meet alpacas at Dade City farm

DADE CITY (FOX 13) - There is an alpaca farm in Tampa Bay.

Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm, located in Dade City, is 15 acres of land where alpacas roam. Visitors can meet the alpacas, learn about them, and pet them. There are also alpaca products for sale which make for a unique gift, such as hats, socks, rugs and scarves. They are raised for their fiber, which can be quite valuable.

One of the owners, Debbie Pettis, read a newspaper article in 2008 on alpaca farms. She visited a few and decided she loved the animals and wanted her own alpaca farm.

Six alpacas were delivered on Mother’s Day the following year. Today, there are 71 alpacas at Sweet Blossom.

“We love just coming out and starting our day with the alpacas,” she said. “I like to know each one of our animals.”

Once a year, their fiber is sheared off. Debbie said it would be sent to a fiber mill to have yarn processed and, sent to fleece shows to get judged, or sold raw. You can get about five to ten pounds of fiber per alpaca. Raw fiber can cost $2.50 to $3 an ounce.

The farm is holding an open house on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so you can meet the alpacas yourself. If you can’t make it to see them during that time, you can schedule another time to stop by.

Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm
37543 Pappy Road
Dade City, FL 33523
(813) 335-7387
Open House: November 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Website: www.sweetblossomalpacas.com