Changes in the Areal Distribution of Commercial Vegetable Production in Florida

Changes in the Areal Distribution of Commercial Vegetable Production in Florida Sidney R. Jumper University of Tennessee Florida ranks second to California in the production of vegetables in the United States. The 1964 Florida crop had a value of approximately $218,530,000, accounting for 22.5 per cent of the entire agricultural income of the state. (1) Maximum vegetable production occurs during the fall, winter, and spring seasons for sale on the fresh market, predominantly in the eastern portion of the United States. Development of this large and important vegetable industry has evolved primarily since 1900, although the period of most rapid growth began around 1920. Acreage in nearly all types of vegetables has expanded, with spectacular increases in plantings of sweet corn, radishes, squash, snap beans, tomatoes, peppers, and watermelons. Other crops have enjoyed moderate expansion, while some have declined in acreage or gone out of production altogether. Variations in consumer preference, competition with other producing areas and other commodities, increased mechanization and improved technology, plus the effects of soil and climate, all contribute to the constantly changing history of Florida's commercial vegetable industry . The increase in commercial vegetable production denotes only one phase of Florida's overall agricultural expansion. In fact, vegetable production did not increase as rapidly as total agricultural output, or citrus fruit and livestock production, in the period from 1910 to 1954. Giving the 1935-39 period a base value of 100, citrus fruits exhibited a value increase from 18 in 1910 to 370 by 1954. Likewise, all agricultural products jumped from a relative value of 36 in 1910 to 249 in 1954. Vegetables, during the same period, rose from 28 to 212. (2) Cotton declined in volume, while grains increased only slightly and meat production rose rapidly. In 1964, citrus crops and livestock products exceeded the value of vegetables by $132,390 ,000, and $4,533,000, respectively. (3) More important, perhaps, than fluctuations in types of vegetables produced , or increases in volume of production, are changes that have occurred in the areal distribution of vegetable production within Florida. Portions of the state which remained almost unexplored at the turn of the 20th century supplied appreciable quantities of winter vegetables to northern markets by the beginning of World War I. As the land south of Lake Okeechobee was explored, drained, and settled, it became the principal vegetable producing area in Florida and one of the largest individual producing areas in the world. Vol. V, 196525 Two major factors account for Florida's importance in commercial vegetable production. First, the southernmost part of the state enjoys an almost total absence of frost, enabling it to produce winter and early spring vegetables. The remainder of the peninsula suffers only occasional frosts of short duration. Second, compared to other areas with the environmental requirements necessary for producing out-of-season vegetables, Florida enjoys a relative proximity to northeastern markets. Soil type does not seem of great importance. Through the use of special fertilizers, for example , huge quantities of vegetables are being grown south of Miami in fields composed primarily of loose coral rock. In order to visualize better the changes in areal distribution of Florida's commercial vegetable production the history of the industry has been examined by ten-year periods starting with 1899. Three broader periodic divisions, that might be applied to almost any vegetable region, become obvious in the course of the study. These periods have been identified as: (1) Infancy, (2) The Frontier Stage, and (3) Maturity. The differences between these three stages rest upon changes in population, place and amount of production, markets, and use of land. One should remember, throughout the study, that changes in the location of Florida vegetable production since 1899 reflect a response to market conditions by areas environmentally suited to supply a developing demand. THE PERIOD OF INFANCY. In 1899 most Florida vegetables were produced in the northern part of the state, for much of the land south of the 28th parallel was not yet settled. In fact, maps included in the United States Census of Agriculture for 1899 labeled the area south and east of a line drawn from approximately 28 degrees and 30 minutes...