Agriculture in Florida

Agriculture in Florida

Agriculture is very important to the history and economy of the American state of Florida. The warm climate of Florida helps it grow many things that other places in the United States cannot.

Florida was once the biggest place for growing citrus fruit in the United States. It is especially famous for its oranges, which are often made into orange juice. Today, California grows more citrus than Florida.

Besides citrus, Florida grows many other important crops. These include bell peppers, tomatoes, sugarcane, peaches, strawberries, and watermelons. The state also makes a small amount of grape wine.

The agricultural industry in Florida uses a lot of water. This has had a big impact on the environment, including the Everglades. There have also been labor issues in the industry for a long time.

Major Crops

Citrus

Citrus farming in Florida started in the 1500s and became big in the 1920s. During World War II, scientists made a better orange juice for soldiers. They created frozen concentrated orange juice, which became popular because it was tasty, cheap, and full of vitamin C. Oranges are very important to Florida’s economy and are the state’s official beverage.

Mangoes

Main article: Mango production in Florida

Florida grows the most mango in the United States. The first mango farm was planted there in 1833. Famous people like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison grew mangoes as a hobby.

Peach

Peaches have been grown in Florida since the 1500s, brought by the Spanish. They are an important export crop to the mid-Atlantic states, with Baltimore as a key place for selling them. Peach farming is growing because of challenges with citrus crops, though Florida grows far less than California. The harvest season is from late March to late May or early June.

Strawberry

Strawberry is an important crop in Florida, second only to California. The Plant City area grows most of America’s winter strawberries. The state’s Strawberry Festival is held there each March. Florida scientists work to create better strawberry varieties that can stay healthy.

Tomatoes

Main article: Tomato production in Florida

Florida is the top producer of fresh-market tomatoes in the United States. Tomatoes are harvested almost year-round, with the most produced from April to May and November to January.

Sugarcane

Florida is the largest producer of sugarcane in the United States, which is mainly turned into sugar. Sugarcane farming began in Florida in the 1760s and grew a lot after the U.S. stopped importing sugar from Cuba in 1960. Most sugarcane is grown near Lake Okeechobee, where the weather is warm and the growing season is long.

Other crops

Florida has a large business growing decorative plants. These plants are worth about $2.3 billion. They include plants you might see in gardens, like those from nurseries, greenhouses, flowers, and grass for lawns.

The state also grows many vegetables, such as tomatoes and celery. Florida is the top place in the U.S. for growing sweet corn and green beans. It is almost the only place that grows saw palmetto berries, which some people use for health reasons.

Florida is one of the main places in the U.S. to grow persimmons, along with California. People have been growing them there since the 1870s.

Florida also makes wine from grapes and other fruits. People have been growing wine grapes there longer than anywhere else in North America.

Livestock

Aquaculture

See also: Aquaculture of sea sponge

The earliest known aquaculture in Florida was done by the Calusa kingdom. In the late 20th century, the wild fishery of whiteleg shrimp was replaced by aquaculture. This started in 1973 in Florida using shrimp from Panama in hatcheries.

Florida's clam aquaculture is centered on Cedar Key. Oysters are raised on oyster farms in Florida's coastal waters including the Indian River Lagoon.

Freshwater aquaculture has produced commercial fish since the 1980s. These include catfish, American eel, tilapia, and hybrid striped bass.

In 2020, Florida had over 1,000 certified farms growing more than 1,500 aquatic species. Florida leads the US in ornamental fish, making up 45% of the market. In 2024, the aquaculture industry in Florida sold $165 million worth of products. The biggest part of Florida’s aquaculture industry is ornamental fish.

Environmental concerns

Main article: Environmental issues in Florida

The Everglades Agricultural Area is an important place for farming. But farming can sometimes hurt the environment by polluting water.

Lake Okeechobee has been affected by pollution from farms, especially from too much phosphorus running off from fields. The lake also faces pollution from cities and factories. Farms and cities together put too much nitrogen into Tampa Bay, which can harm the water there.

Labor

In the past, many farm workers in Florida were slaves. Today, many farmworkers come from other countries, and some work temporarily under special rules.

In recent studies, most citrus workers in Florida were either temporary guest workers or unauthorized immigrants. These workers often earn low wages and face many challenges. Some workers live in special housing provided by their employers.

Risks

Climate change

Climate change makes farming in Florida harder. When temperatures rise, crops may not grow as well, and higher levels of carbon dioxide can make food less nutritious. Extreme weather and rising sea levels also threaten farms, affecting water for crops and causing problems with pests and diseases. Farmers are trying new technologies and researching better ways to protect plants and animals.

Extreme weather

Florida’s farms often face strong storms like hurricanes and tropical storms. These big storms can hurt farms, especially citrus crops. For example, Hurricane Ian in 2022 was a very strong storm that damaged many orange trees and reduced citrus production. Strong winds and heavy rain can knock down trees and spread diseases, causing damage to the environment and the economy.

Pests and diseases

Farmers in Florida also deal with many pests and diseases that can harm crops. One big problem is citrus canker, a bacterial infection that spreads and can reduce citrus farming. Another issue is citrus greening, an incurable disease spread by a small insect. Other pests like the Fall Armyworm and the Red Imported Fire Ant also cause damage to many crops. Farmers work hard to manage these threats using different methods to protect their plants.

Irrigation

See also: Floridan aquifer and Water wars in Florida

Irrigation is very important for farming in Florida, especially for crops that need a lot of water like sugarcane, citrus, and fresh vegetables.

Farmers use water to protect crops from cold weather in the winter. Some water is also used for animals and fish farming.

Production

In 2002, peppers and tomatoes were the most important crops in Florida, with oranges also being very important. By 2019, tomatoes became the top crop, followed by oranges and then peppers. Meat is the biggest export for Florida.

In 2019, Florida was the top state in the United States for growing fresh bell peppers, tomatoes, grapefruit, oranges, sugarcane, and watermelons.