Alfie Oakes and Vivek Ramaswamy meet at Seed to Table
Former GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy made a pit stop at Seed to Table in Naples on Monday, sharing a farm-fresh lunch with none other than the outspoken owner, Alfie Oakes.
In a snapshot that quickly gained traction, accumulating over 17,000 likes by Tuesday morning, the duo stood side by side, sporting grins, and flanking a box of starburst pummelos priced at $1.99 per pound. Arms around each other beneath the American flag, Ramaswamy, a staunch Donald Trump surrogate and a frequently tossed-around name for the VP spot, captioned the photo with a defiant statement about Oakes and the ATF’s 2020 attempt to shut down Seed To Table during the Covid pandemic.
The rendezvous wasn’t just a random occurrence; Ramaswamy had heard about Alfie Oakes, the farmer, retailer, and influential GOP figure with the wildly successful store in Naples. According to store General Manager Dan St. Martin, who oversees all of Oakes’ retail operations, Ramaswamy reached out to request joining him for lunch to experience the renowned Seed to Table firsthand. St. Martin, though a bit disappointed he couldn’t be there in person, managed to greet Ramaswamy over FaceTime.
As for the details of the meet-up, St. Martin stated, “I haven’t had any feedback yet from Al, but I know that he was excited.”
The lunch likely involved some intense discussions, given the controversial nature of both men. Oakes, a polarizing figure in Southwest Florida, has made headlines for his refusal to adhere to COVID-era mask mandates, criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement, and active support for local pro-Trump candidates. He also funded two buses of Trump supporters headed to Washington, D.C., for the January 6, 2021, events, which he labeled on Facebook as “the most peaceful beautiful demonstration from well over one million people that I’ve ever witnessed.”
Ramaswamy, a biotech billionaire, has his own share of controversy. In a recent ad posted during a CNN debate, he implored viewers to ‘turn this s— off,’ claiming that those in power don’t want the truth to emerge regarding the events of January 6, the origin of COVID, the Hunter Biden laptop story, and other matters they have allegedly lied about.
Seed to Table’s Instagram account later shared the photo, noting, “Look who stopped by to see @alfieforamerica at Seed to Table!”
The original article can be found at Naples Daily News
