Florida’s geography spans from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south, creating a unique agricultural environment. This climate provides a long, year-round growing season, allowing farmers to cultivate a wide variety of crops when fields elsewhere are dormant. The consistent warmth and ample sunshine position the state as a major domestic food supplier, particularly during the cooler months. This extended growing cycle supports everything from vast commercial operations to specialized tropical fruit farms.
Defining Industries: Citrus and Sugarcane
The citrus industry has historically defined Florida agriculture, with sweet oranges dominating production, largely destined for the juice market. The state’s warm, humid conditions were ideal for cultivation, leading to massive groves in Central and South Florida. However, the industry has faced enormous pressure from Huanglongbing (HLB), commonly known as citrus greening disease. This bacterial infection is spread by the invasive Asian citrus psyllid, resulting in bitter, misshapen fruit and the eventual death of the infected tree.
The presence of citrus greening has caused a decline in orange production, with some estimates showing a drop of over 90% since the early 2000s. Growers have responded by shifting to more disease-tolerant rootstocks and employing intensive management practices to sustain grove health. Despite these challenges, Florida remains a significant producer of oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines, though the focus has increasingly moved southward following historical freezes.
Sugarcane stands as Florida’s most valuable field crop, grown commercially in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). This region, located directly south of Lake Okeechobee, is prized for its fertile organic muck soil and the lake’s moderating influence on winter temperatures. The majority of the state’s sugarcane acreage is concentrated in Palm Beach County, with neighboring Hendry, Glades, and Martin counties also contributing.
Sugarcane is a perennial grass harvested between late October and mid-April, with the stalks crushed to produce crystal or “white” sugar. The slightly warmer microclimate around the lake offers protection against the infrequent but damaging freezes that can occur further north. The fibrous byproduct of the stalks, known as bagasse, is often burned as biofuel to power the sugar mills themselves.
Florida’s Winter Produce and Specialty Fruits
Florida earns its reputation as the nation’s “Winter Salad Bowl” by supplying fresh-market vegetables during the colder months. This “second season” of agriculture runs primarily from late fall through early spring, taking advantage of the mild conditions. Tomatoes are a leading crop of fresh-market varieties, with the season generally extending from October through June.
Other major winter vegetables include bell peppers and snap beans, which thrive in the warm, yet dry conditions of a Florida winter. Watermelons are often the first crop the state brings to the domestic market in the spring. The Plant City area, east of Tampa, is famous for its winter strawberry production, a crop that benefits from the necessary cool hours to properly ripen.
The southern, tropical regions of the state, particularly the Redland area of Miami-Dade County, support a range of specialty fruits. These tropical and subtropical crops include avocados and mangos, which are harvested primarily in the summer and fall months. Limes, especially the popular Persian variety, are also grown commercially in the southernmost part of the peninsula.
Exotic fruits such as guava, mamey sapote, and lychee also flourish in this frost-free zone. Mamey sapote is a large, brown fruit with a creamy, salmon-colored flesh often blended into shakes and smoothies. These specialty crops cater to both local demand and niche markets across the country.
Nursery Stock and Ornamental Horticulture
The industry of nursery stock and ornamental horticulture holds the highest economic value within Florida’s agriculture sector. This segment focuses on non-food products, including live plants, trees, and landscaping materials shipped across the country. Florida ranks as the second-largest producer of ornamental products in the United States.
The industry includes a diverse range of items like potted foliage plants, woody ornamentals, and cut flowers. Sod production, or turfgrass, is also a major component, supplying grass for lawns and golf courses throughout the Southeast. The subtropical conditions allow growers to cultivate and propagate plant material continuously, unlike operations in colder climates that face seasonal shutdowns.
The ability to maintain consistent production and supply of both indoor tropical plants and outdoor landscaping materials is key to this sector. This continuous cultivation capability allows Florida nurseries to serve a national market with plants that require warm weather for growth. This segment represents a major economic force in the state.