Sunshine State Saga – Part I, From the Beginning through the 1800s

Florida has a long and rich history, and agriculture has always been at the heart of the story. Today, the Sunshine State is home to more than 47,300 commercial farms encompassing approximately 9.5 million verdant acres.

And while the state’s produce industry has taken a significant hit from citrus greening, Florida is still ranked first in the nation for both grapefruit and orange production, accounting for nearly 60 percent of total U.S. citrus production.

In addition to its famed citrus production, more than 300 different agricultural commodities are grown within the state including significant quantities of tomatoes, watermelon, snap beans, cucumbers, and various kinds of squash.

“Florida is a unique state in all that it has to offer,” comments Marie Bedner with Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market in Boynton Beach. “Most people aren’t aware how much agriculture happens in our state, but we have a great Commissioner of Agricul-ture Adam Putnam who promotes the ‘Fresh from Florida’ [brand].”

Here is a detailed timeline noting many of the significant dates in Florida’s fresh produce history.

1500s
La Florida
In 1513 Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon lands on the eastern coast of Florida’s shoreline (in what is now known as St. Augustine) in search of the Fountain of Youth. He names the verdant region La Florida, which means “flowery” in Spanish.

In 1565, the first Spanish settlers arrive in St. Augustine. At the time, Florida’s indigenous people are already growing maize (corn), beans, squash, and sunflowers to supplement their diet of wild plants and game.

Spanish settlers attempt to grow crops they brought from their home country, including wheat, olives, and grapes; but they quickly learn these plants will not take hold in Florida’s sandy soil. They do, however, discover that citrus plants thrive.

1600s
Getting Along
Spain’s King Philip III (also known as Philip the Pious) commissions a map of the La Florida region in 1601. He hopes to build a glorious fort on the Southern coast to defend this new land.

Pedro Ibarra is named as the ‘Governor’ of Florida in 1603.

The Spanish reach out to the region’s current residents, the Seminoles, forming what is termed as the “Period of Friendship,” beginning in 1605.

1700s
Who Rules?
In the 1740s, the Seminole Indians begin settling in Florida and historians attribute the state’s rise of agriculture to their arrival. The tribe greatly extend fruit and vegetable cultivation, and even help new residents learn the ways of the land.