Avocados are a major crop in the Sunshine State, though citrus is the most well-known. The green, oily fruit is best known for making guacamole and has also made headlines recently for studies that confirm that avocados pack a lot of heart-healthy nutrition. Avocados are a $64 million dollar industry in Florida, and just like [...]
If we say, “Florida Agriculture” what springs to mind? Probably oranges, blueberries, strawberries or corn. All the delicious things that can get your stomach rumbling. But agriculture’s beauty isn’t belly deep! She gives us many other benefits that often go unnoticed. Take a look at what Florida Agriculture is busy doing for you while you [...]
This time last year, we posted an article sharing how a recent study by the University of Florida showed Floridians were buying more locally grown foods. The survey showed that one-fifth of Floridians bought locally grown food, whether from restaurants, farmers markets, grocers or direct from the farms. Shoppers are partial to their local community [...]
Did you know that the Panama Canal is 100 years old this month? The canal was opened on August 14, 1914 and is a great reminder of what the agriculture industry has evolved to in the last 100 years. A $6 billion expansion of the canal is underway and projected to be completed in 2015. [...]
The Associated Press reported Monday that 67 Giant African Land Snails, also known as GALS, were confiscated and eventually incinerated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These slimy crawling monsters were flown into the Los Angeles International Airport aboard a Nigerian flight in early July. Prohibited in the US, the snails are one of the [...]
Today, we produce more than 300 agriculture commodities in Florida. Agriculture production began small but has grown to make a $100 billion economic impact today. With more than 47,000 farms across the state, an important shift in our agriculture is the growth of small community farms. A recent study conducted by the University of Florida [...]
The University of Florida is one of Florida Agriculture’s best partners. They have been instrumental in helping with the serious citrus greening issue and many other agriculture initiatives. The news of late is they have come to the rescue of avocados. According to a news release about a recent UF study, a new liquid treatment [...]
A recent segment on Tampa Bay’s FOX News grabbed my attention. Florida citrus growers face insurmountable odds and have for years. They battle freezes (yes, even in Florida), extreme droughts, and yearly hurricanes. Some years are worse than others, but growers are so proficient at the process, they know what needs to be done and [...]
When visitors think of Florida, a few things come to mind: beaches, retired folks, oranges. Yet, Florida has so many other great attributes that go unnoticed, but are making a tremendous impact on the economy. My favorite is agriculture. In a recent news announcement on CBS Miami, it was noted that Florida agriculture exports (notably [...]
With few states already legalizing marijuana for medicinal (and in some cases personal) use, Florida residents will be voting in November whether to authorize medical marijuana. With Florida’s vast farmland totaling 47,500 farms, many have wondered what will happen to our farmland if the law is enacted. […]
