The 2017 Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees!

Hey Citrus Fans, for those of you who do not know, The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inducted three new men. On March 10th, The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inducted James H. “Jim” Ellis of Bartow, Florida, T. Ralph Robinson (deceased), and Michael W. Sparks of Apollo Beach, Florida. These three distinguished men all dedicated their lives to helping promote the citrus industry right here in the sunshine state, and the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame is honored to have these men join the ranks of the many others who have helped to advocate for the citrus industry.

Jim Ellis graduated from Florida Southern College, and while he was a student he was president of the Citrus Club and received the Florida Citrus Mutual Award due to his dedication to the field of citrus. Ellis is currently is in charge of the Citrus License & Bonds in the Division of Fruits & Vegetables for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

T. Ralph Robinson (1876-1967) graduated from Syracuse University and used to live in Syracuse, New York, but moved to Terra Ceia, Florida in 1910. During his life he was president of the Florida State Horticultural Society and he has a biography listed in “American Men of Science” and “Who’s Who.” He also published about 80 papers on horticultural subjects.

Mike Sparks has worked with the citrus industry for much of his life. For 29 years he worked with the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) in several capacities. For the past 10 years he has held the position of Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual in Lakeland, Florida (which happens to be the largest citrus grower trade association in the world) and has helped FCM to start incredible long-term appropriations for pest and disease research. Because of his efforts he has helped secure $125 million in mandatory Farm Bill funding that will benefit the citrus industry greatly.

These men have secured their place in citrus history through their unprecedented commitment to the Florida Citrus Industry. Thanks to their efforts, the Florida Citrus Industry will continue to grow and continue to forward research for advancements in this field of agriculture. From all of us here at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, we welcome Mr. Ellis, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Sparks into the Citrus Hall of Fame family.

Written By: Emma Morton

Student Fellow at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center

Citrus Weightloss

Summer lovin’ happens so fast, and with the sun comes dozens of new diet fads and miracle “summer body” schemes. Unfortunately, most of these ideas do not actually work and some of them are even dangerous. Luckily, citrus can actually help you meet your weight loss goals just in time for summer.

If you want to kickstart your metabolism in a healthy and safe way, drink a glass of lemon juice (about 1 or 2 lemons worth) every morning. If the super sour taste of fresh lemons isn’t your thing, try and mix the juice with water and honey. Just remember that for every lemon you consume you need to drink at least 2 or 3 cups of water. Proper hydration is key to weight loss and for a healthy lifestyle.

Along with the lemon trick, you can also try drinking orange or grapefruit juice 30 minutes before eating a meal. The flavor of the juice will help curb cravings, and the antioxidants help your body get all the nutrients it needs so that you feel refreshed and full of energy.

Citrus alone won’t be able to get you that beach body that you have spent all year dreaming about but with proper exercise and hard work, it can help you reach your target weight faster by jump starting your new diet regime and shave off some of those pesky pounds while you’re at it.

Fruit Slices. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2017. <http://dotvital.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/dotvital.com-citrus-fresh-fruit-slices.jpg>.

"Eat Citrus Fruits to Lose Weight and Get Healthy." Rapid Weight Loss Tips for Fast Weight Loss. Shed Your Weight, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

Written By: Emma Morton

Student Fellow at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center