Save the Oranges!

In Florida, beyond the beaches, theme parks, and condo districts there are the farms, ranches, and greenhouses. Florida is more famous for tourism, but not everybody knows that we are living in an agricultural state that is rated second in the nation. Florida is the nation’s top producer of oranges, sugar cane, sweet corn, and watermelons – and a major producer of tomatoes and other vegetables, strawberries, peanuts, and various other crops.

People say “an apple a day, keeps the doctors away.” March means getting in best shape and live a letter healthier live, by learning to make better choices with great food and exercises as the BFF. Mothers know best – “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Today orange juice is not for breakfast anymore. Young Americans who typically skip breakfast, preferring a carbonated soda, vitamin-enhanced water, and the expresso coffee.

For most of its 500-year history, Florida had been synonymous with the orange. Introduced in 1565 by Spanish settlers, citrus found Florida to provide the ideal environment for production. Not everyone knows that since the 1940s, Florida has ranked first in the United States’ orange and grapefruit production. In 1970s, citrus groves cover one million acres in Florida. Citrus canker disease was first detected in 1984. The infected trees were burned. Florida locals remember – government workers were going house by house and chopped off the beloved orange trees. The 1989 Christmas freeze practically wiped out orange groves along the north of Intersection 4. The beneficiaries of this disaster were Florida real estate developers, and Brazil replaced Florida as the world’s leading orange producer.

In 1995, citrus canker returned. Citrus greening disease is discovered in Homestead orange grove. Scientists are calling the new disease “canker on steroids.” Unfortunately, the citrus greening disease invaded all 32 citrus-producing countries. Sadly, the greening fight affects bees, another vital element associated with the battle to save the Florida orange trees. The citrus greening disease originated in China, in 1911. With the growth of global trade, the disease made its way to Americas. It was detected in Brazil, Florida, and spread to Texas and California. Natural science professionals race to find a cure. Today, scientists modifying orange trees with bacteria-destroying gene from a virus that contains both syntactic gene and strong organic gene from onion, spinach, and - even a pig.

The city’s youth do not know that as usual oranges ripen on the trees. Oranges are picked and shipped from the land to the order – oranges never warehoused. “Small things like drinking an orange juice with pulp or eating an apple is being received like a telephone call to your genes. Every thought, everything you eat, every single little thing can tweak your genes activity towards healing.” (Deepak Chopra)

So, what is happening in the naranja-land? Local scientists are working on replacing orange groves with peach orchards. All they have to learn is to develop the new peach varieties adapted to Florida’s short and warm winters. Blueberries also considered as an alternative crop. Today, Florida’s blueberries harvest topped $62 million, larger than that of Florida tangerines. Surprisingly, some farmers have taken an interest in producing olives.

What else? Almost half of the nation’s tomatoes are grown in Florida. Florida paths only California in strawberry production. Surprisingly, Florida is producing 20 % of sweet corn national market. Peanuts grow well in northern and central parts of the state. Would you believe that Florida is the nation’s number-one producer of watermelons? People often ask, where? In Panhandle, along the Gulf Coast, and in north-central Florida.