Richard R. Frisbie

 By Kayla Simons, FCHoF Student Fellow 

    Richard R. Frisbie made a lasting impact on the Citrus Industry magazine during his 30 years as a publisher. Frisbie was born in Tampa on February 18, 1924. His grandfather, Sayer L. Frisbie founded Citrus Industry magazine in 1920. Initially, the magazine was printed in Tampa and shipped to Bartow. In 1931, Sayer relocated the magazine operation to Bartow. Frisbie’s family also moved to Bartow at this time. His father, S. Lloyd Frisbie, started the Polk County Democrat weekly newspaper after the move. Frisbie received a homeschooled education until sixth grade, after which he transferred to education at public schools. He graduated high school from the Summerlin Institute in 1942, where he was class president and an all-conference athlete in baseball, basketball, and tennis.

Upon graduation, Frisbie attended Emory College for a year in Oxford, Georgia. After only a year at Emory, he decided to join the Army Air Corps as a pilot. Frisbie was stationed in British Guyana on a rescue mission to any troubled Allied air or watercraft. Shortly after the war ended in 1945, Frisbie was discharged and returned to Bartow. That same year, he married Mamie Nelle Odum; they had five children together. Following his return, Frisbie played semi-pro baseball in the Orange Belt League. During this time, a New York Giants scout offered him a tryout opportunity, which he turned down. Frisbie joined the National Guard in 1950 and became commander of the 149th Field Artillery Battalion, which consisted of the five National Guard Units in Polk County. He retired from this job in 1968. After his father passed away in 1964, Frisbie left his position at the Polk County Democrat and took over Associated Publications Corporation.

Throughout his time as the Citrus Industry publisher, Frisbie kept up with technological advances and modernized the articles to include things applicable and understandable to citrus growers. He even tried his luck at growing citrus in the late 1970s to better relate to the farmers. Frisbie also started the production of the annual industry directory called the Citrus Guide. In 1992, Frisbie assisted his daughter, Mariann Holland, in beginning the Citrus Expo. This event is Florida’s largest educational event for citrus farmers. Frisbie retired in 1993, and his daughter succeeded him as magazine editor. In 1995, he received Florida Southern College’s Citrus Club Man of the Year award. In 2001, his wife of 56 years, Mamie Nelle, passed away. In 2003, Frisbie married Ann Lipscomb Weld. They remained married until his death at the age of 92 on July 25, 2016.

Sources:

Neff, Ernie. “Profile: Richard Frisbie.” Citrus Industry, Vol. 81, No. 3, March 2000.

“Richard R. Frisbie Obituary.” Legacy. 2016. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theledger/name/richard-frisbie-obituary?id=14947572 

Richard Ronald Frisbie and Ann Lipscomb Weld, marriage license, December 5, 2003, file no. 2003244755, Polk County Clerk of Court and Comptroller.

Nancy Gurnett Hardy

By Mary Kissane, FCHoF Student Fellow

    Nancy Gurnett Hardy was born on December 18th, 1932 to Jack Gurnett, a famed Sarasota Citrus Reporter. She attended Winter Haven High School, and graduated in 1950. She attended some classes at both University of Florida and Florida State University, before ultimately attending and completing secretarial school.

Hardy went on to get her first job at Cypress Gardens, a botanical garden in Florida founded by Dick Pope. She then moved on to working for several magazines. Before assisting her father at the Florida Citrus Reporter. After Hardy’s father’s death, she continued at the Reporter. She continued to write for newspapers across the state, and started to write for Citrus Industry Magazine as a senior writer. She worked with them for over 20 years, and won numerous awards for her journalistic endeavors.

Nancy G. Hardy passed away on January 26th, 2003 after a long battle with cancer. Hardy was a well known individual in the Citrus Industry and was inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame in 2002.

References: Nancy Gurnett Hardy. Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. (n.d.). https://floridacitrushalloffame.com/inductees/nancy-gurnett-hardy/ 

Lue Gim Gong – “The Citrus Wizard”

     By Blake Hale, FCHoF Student Fellow

     Lue Gim Gong was born in the year 1860 in the village of Lung On in the Taishan district of China and, at the age of twelve, immigrated to the United States. After two dreadful months traversing the Pacific Ocean, he landed in San Francisco where he worked in a shoe factory. Shortly after, Lue Gim Gong, along with seventy-four other Chinese workers, was hired by Calvin T. Sampson to break a strike at his North Adams shoe factory in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, he learned English, became a Christian, and met one of his greatest influences, Fanny Burlingame, who was a volunteer teacher at his school. Miss Burlingame practically adopted the young Lue. She invited him to live in her house and help with her large exotic garden and conservatory, as he was familiar with plants, as he worked in the orange groves in Lung On where his mother taught him how to cross-pollinate blossoms and graft stock.

     In the mid-1880s, Lue was diagnosed with tuberculosis and given one year to live if he did not leave the hard New England climate. To combat his disease, Lue decided to return to China with his family in subtropical Guangdong. Once back, however, he quickly learned that his Christian ideals were not compatible with Chinese customs. One such case was with an arranged marriage set up for him by his family, which he refused to accept. This brought shame upon his family, and due to his insubordination, Lue’s name was stricken from the clan genealogy. After four months back in China, Lue yearned to return to the states, a feat that seemed impossible due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 being in effect. To get back, Fannie Burlingame had to forge documents for Lue, claiming that he was a merchant who wanted to open up a store in Massachusetts. Once back in the states, Lue did not return to Massachusetts, as he went directly to Florida where he stayed with the Burlingame family in their orange grove in DeLand. The following year, Lue Gim Gong officially became an American citizen. Severe freezes in the early 1890s motivated him to develop a strain of orange that would resist frost. By crossing the Florida Harts Late orange with a Mediterranean variety, Lue Gim Gong created the Lue Gim Gong orange, a sweet, juicy fruit that could endure severe weather. It was reported by the New York Times in 1925 that Lue Gim Gong had saved the industry millions of dollars. For his achievement, Lue was awarded the Silver Wilder Medal in 1911 by the American Pomological Society, the first time that the award was given out to an advancement in citrus. Lue would follow this up by developing an aromatic grapefruit, along with propagated roses, other flowers, and fruits. His contributions in the citrus industry earned him the nicknames “the Citrus Wizard” and “the Chinese Burbank of Florida.”

     Although Lue was a talented botanist, he was not known as a savvy businessman. His advancement in citrus brought him fame, but not fortune, as he was often cheated by distributors who refused to pay for the material he purchased. He was also known to give away free samples of his fruits and plants to the thousands of visitors to his groves. In 1922, with no money to his name and a mortgage due, Lue was saved by the Florida Grower who published his story and, with the aid of citizens from DeLand and North Adams, enough money was raised to save his property.

Lue Gim Gong died on June 3, 1925. He was unmarried, and his family disowned him, but hundreds of people attended his funeral at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand. Lue Gim Gong touched the lives of citrus growers and his community, and he should not be forgotten by the industry.

Florida Citrus Stories: The Strawn Family in Volusia County

By Emily Allen, FCHoF Student Fellow

Theodore Strawn, a native of Illinois, moved his family to Volusia County, Florida, in 1882. During the late 1800s, Florida was promoted as a paradise on earth, with a “climate that could cure all ailments and produce wealth with little effort." As the railways spread southward to Florida, it became easier to ship goods across the United States. The ability to produce large amounts of fruit and ship them countrywide began to be known as the “orange fever.” Thus, living in Florida as a citrus grower and packer became very attractive. The Strawn family took full advantage of this budding industry to form the foundations for their citrus empire.

Not only did the boom provide for the Strawns, but the full takeover of Florida with the “Orange Boom” allowed for many new opportunities to come their way. Volusia County had a large amount of property owned by railroad developer Henry DeLand, who founded the city of DeLand. This small town became a large orange industry focal point with population growth following. In turn, not only did DeLand see profit, but all of Volusia County and the surrounding Central Florida region benefitted. Further expansion of the railroad allowed for further transport of citrus, and the Strawns found profit in this development in Volusia County’s version of a ‘Gold Rush,’ growing their business and name in the citrus industry nationwide.

Theodore Strawn first started in West Volusia County with the later-to-be-known “Bob White” packing facility. The “Bob White” name was given to the citrus after a small game bird, the northern quail, that the Strawn family would frequently hunt. Though many nearby farmers struggled through the 1894-1895 freezes, the Strawn citrus continued to prosper. Similarly to other Volusia County orange growers, the Strawns saw a boom in business. The freeze, while it did destroy business for many different crops and the citrus industry in Georgia and South Carolina, provided Florida with a large boost. Growers began looking south to warmer weather in Florida. This boom led to the Strawns becoming one of the many families in Florida, especially Volusia County, to see an opportunity and take hold of it to grow their citrus business.

The packinghouse was the center of quality control and species regulation for the Strawn company. This facility was originally constructed of a wooden frame, which later would be destroyed in a fire in 1921. As a result, Strawn was dedicated to creating a facility that could “never be destroyed.” He placed large amounts of profits from the packing company into the construction of the new building. The new building was made of steel siding and roofing, which became the Strawn company’s standard for future packinghouses and buildings.

As the company recovered from the devastating fire, they were able to produce large amounts of citrus of varying species and qualities. The highest quality oranges with the longest shelf life were named the Bob White. These oranges were shipped largely to the northern sector of the United States, while the “lower quality” oranges were saved for roadside markets and stands to be sold in Florida. The mechanism that was able to separate out the “Bob White,” Volusia, and Intrinsic varieties of oranges was a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt was seen as a large innovation for the citrus industry and became the standard for the Strawn company packing houses across Florida.

The company was succeeding and growing at a rapid pace. In 1921, the Strawn family owned up to 225 acres of citrus groves. With the profits from the Bob White operation, Strawn opened a new location in DeLeon Springs. He was also able to expand the variety of oranges his company grew, including a new species at the time called the Enterprise. The Enterprise was a seedless variety desirable from the growing consumer base for Florida citrus.

As time progressed, Theodore passed away in 1925, but his family kept the Strawn legacy alive, continuing to manage and grow the business. Theodore’s wife, Candace, became the president following his death and remained active in the company until her death in 1961. Theodore’s and Candace’s children, Theodore Strawn Junior, Robert, and Chester, ran the operations of the company, ensuring efficiency and quality remained strong. In 1951, John Strawn, Theodore Sr.’s grandson, returned from college with an education in business and became the manager of the Bob White operation. He was able to ensure the workers were efficient and motivated as he promised to keep his grandfather’s labor policy intact. Theodore implemented a policy to only allow his packers and other factory workers to work during daylight. With this, his goal was to ensure the workers stayed motivated to work and did not lower their quality of separation or packing due to the long hours of a night shift.

Fast forward a few decades to the early 2000s. David Strawn, a descendant of Theodore Strawn, became the owner of the citrus company and lands. David Strawn was a retired longtime circuit judge of Brevard-Seminole County who became widely involved in the relationship between the citrus and cattle industries. Once David wanted to consolidate the land and company to shift the company to the cattle industry, he decided to sell the land of the old Volusia County groves. During this time, much of the old Florida groves were being bought by residential developers, eliminating much of Florida’s natural landscape. Strawn took this as a large concern when he decided to sell the land. Thus, when the opportunity arose to have the grove land be converted into conservation land through grove clustering, he took it. Clustering was used by the state to “cluster” nearby groves and ranching land into a singular protected piece of land that would restrict development and protect the natural habitat. Strawn took a deal in June of 2008 to cluster his land with nearby agricultural lands. This deal saved the 1,207 acres of land owned by the Strawns from ever being developed. David decreased the Strawn company’s lands (now named the Deep Creek Ranch) in DeLeon Springs while protecting the old acreage for the future of Florida’s natural ecosystem. The Strawn family now owns and operates the Deep Creek Ranch on the remaining land they have, and they specialize in raising high-quality beef for the local community and restaurants.

Sources:

“Apr 21, 1989, Page 43 - Florida Today at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/175798362/?match=1&clipping_id=142216269

“Aug 11, 2005, Page X4 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/269244115/?match=1&clipping_id=140586208

“Strawn Citrus Packing House District.” Abandoned Florida, June 28, 2022. https://www.abandonedfl.com/strawn-citrus-packing-house-district/

“Stating His Case Orlando Lawyer David Strawn Sees Activism as His Responsibility.” Orlando Sentinel, July 22, 2021. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1985/07/22/stating-his-case-orlando-lawyer-david-strawn-sees-activism-as-his-responsibility/

“Candace Strawn and the DAR.” Newspapers.com, March 20, 1924. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-candace-strawn-and-the/140584079/

“Chester C Strawn (1900-1981) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113055359/chester-c-strawn

“Chester Strawn Marriage.” Newspapers.com, July 29, 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-chester-strawn-marr/141837608/

“Chester Strawn Obit.” Newspapers.com, September 12, 1981. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-chester-strawn-obit/141843784/

“David Strawn - Lake Foods, LLC and Wauka Mountain Foods, LLC | Linkedin.” Linkedin. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-strawn-026ab310/

“David Strawn and Delon Springs.” Newspapers.com, August 11, 2005. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-david-strawn-and-de/140586208/

“David Strawn Marriage.” Newspapers.com, August 17, 1958. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-david-strawn-marria/141784981/

“David Strawn Sells Land for Conservation.” Newspapers.com, June 22, 2008. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-david-strawn-sells/140586763/

“Deep Creek Ranch: De Leon Springs Fl.” Facebook. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064718340466

“Dr Robert Kirk Strawn (1922-2008) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27680662/robert-kirk-strawn

“Florida Memory Theodore Strawn’s Packing House for Bob White Oranges.” Florida Memory Project. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/1557

“Gordon Milton Strawn (1905-1971) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75170932/gordon-milton-strawn

Jacobson, Susan. “Grass-Fed Beef Finds Niche with Consumers.” Sun Sentinel, June 16, 2018. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2015/10/17/grass-fed-beef-finds-niche-with-consumers/

“Jan 11, 1974, Page 27 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/236795070/?match=1&clipping_id=140581814

“Joel Degree in Bachelor of Science.” Newspapers.com, June 14, 1959. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-joel-degree-in-bach/142211358/

“Joel Strawn and Anne Strawn Baby Announcement.” Newspapers.com, February 1, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/article/boca-raton-news-joel-strawn-and-anne-str/142211497/

“Joel Strawn Engament Announcement.” Newspapers.com, May 10, 1963. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-joel-strawn-engamen/142211430/

“Joel Strawn UF Law School Graduate.” Newspapers.com, February 4, 1986. https://www.newspapers.com/article/boca-raton-news-joel-strawn-uf-law-schoo/142211568/

“Joel T Strawn Wedding.” Newspapers.com, June 2, 1963. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-joel-t-strawn-weddi/142211274/

“John R. Strawn (1927-Unknown) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34357784/john-r-strawn

“John Strawns Wife.” Newspapers.com, May 31, 1960. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-john-strawns-wife/140586072/

“Jul 14, 1995, Page 22 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/233453612/?match=1&clipping_id=142214011

“Jul 26, 1962, Page 34 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/223385567/?match=1&clipping_id=142211031

“Jun 09, 1921, Page 7 - the Evening Tribune at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/779654140/?terms=bob+white+citrus+brand&match=1

“Jun 22, 2008, Page J1 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/268507819/?terms=Volusia+County++strawn+family&match=1.

“Mar 25, 1962, Page 74 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/223413054/?match=1

“May 28, 1961, Page 23 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/223484528/?match=1&clipping_id=140514100

“May 31, 1960, Page 19 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.newspapers.com/image/223486287/?match=1&clipping_id=140586072

Mimna, Robin. “The Great Freezes of 1894-95 and the Collapse of the Florida Citrus Industry.” Volusia History, August 8, 2024. https://www.volusiacountyhistory.com/post/the-great-freezes-and-the-collapse-of-the-florida-citrus-industry

Munizzi, Amy. “West Volusia Memories: Deleon Springs’ Intriguing History.” The West Volusia Beacon, July 27, 2021. https://beacononlinenews.com/2020/12/16/west-volusia-memories-deleon-springs-intriguing-history/

“Robert R Strawn Obit.” Newspapers.com, August 26, 2001. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-robert-r-strawn-obi/141840618/

“Robert Richey Strawn (1898-2001) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34357845/robert-richey-strawn

“Sylvia Richey Strawn Crump (1940-Unknown) - Find...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188790449/sylvia-richey-crump

“Theodore Richey Strawn (1904-2006) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113053879/theodore-richey-strawn

“Theodore Strawn (1870-1925) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113055498/theodore_strawn

From the Archives: Pineapple Oranges

Around 1876, early settlers started citrus groves by budding wild sour orange trees that originated from the shore of Orange Lake in Marion County. Some of these seedlings were grown by James B. Owens and later taken and propagated by Mr. Putnam Bishop. He named this new variety the Hickory Orange. As the trees continued to develop, it was discovered that they created a faint pineapple smell. This led the variety to be named Pineapple instead.

In 1967, Senator W. J. Crosby got inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame due to his association with the pineapple orange. Due to its unique taste and stunning appearance, the pineapple orange is regarded as one of Florida's best mid-season varieties. Today, there are several varieties of the Pineapple orange being grown in Florida; however, the original continues to be the most popular variety.

In a previous blog, we discussed the difference between a chimera and a hybrid. A hybrid is any organism that is produced by combining genes from two different species. In this case, grafting was used to combine the traits of two different plants. Hybrids isolate desired characteristics in two different species to create an entirely new species that is superior to its parents. A new taste was acquired, and different characteristics can be isolated such as better yields, uniformity, and disease resistance. This process helps growers to better fruits overall.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts II: A Portion of Florida Citrus History. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1998.

From the Archives: Wild Oranges

During his travels in the 1700s, a botanist named Bartram reported finding wild citrus groves scattered along lakes and rivers. He stated that the majority of them were found growing with magnolia and bay trees and that the environment was perfectly suited for citrus growth. It is believed that the Native Americans in the area were responsible for planting these wild citrus groves. They most likely got the seeds from white settlers in the region as citrus originated from Europe.

When early settlers began to make a home in Florida, they began to graft and cultivate these citrus groves. A grove is defined as a naturally growing body of trees while an orchard is characterized as being a planned planting that is going to be harvested. Groves are trees that are typically free of underbrush.

Early settlers made attempts to cultivate the citrus groves in formation; however, they realized how difficult it was to grow seedlings in these conditions. This is when the citrus nursery was first implemented. Seedlings are planted in separate regions, and when they become large enough, the seedlings are then moved to the large-scale grove with the already adult trees.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts II: A Portion of Florida Citrus History. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1998.

From the Archives: Citrus Greats – Odet Philippe

Odet Philippe, a former surgeon for Napoleon, arrived on the eastern coast of Florida in the early 1800s. Him and his family did not stay here long because they were feuding with the Native Americans already living in the area. So, they decided to leave Florida and set sail for the Caribbean Islands. He landed on the Florida Keys where he met a pirate who told him about Old Tampa Bay and how it was vacant, so he encouraged Phillipe to try again in this region.

Once again, Philippe and his family set sail back to Florida; they settled in present day Safety Harbor and named it St. Helena. He immediately began building his plantation; however, in 1848, a hurricane destroyed part of it. This did not discourage Philippe; he began working to repair the damage and make the entire structure stronger than it previously was.

It is believed that Odet Philippe planted one of the first citrus groves on the west coast of Florida with seeds he brought from the Caribbean. He did many experiments on citrus and the effects of grafting different citrus trees. Grafting is a process used to create the best type of plants. The tissues of two different plants are joined together; this is done to combine the most desirable traits of each plant to create an especially desirable plant. The tissues that are being spliced together start to grow into one another going from two different pieces into one uniform plant. In this case grapefruit was created by grafting an orange with a pomelo. Through these experiments he may have created the grapefruit. In 1892, A. L. Duncan introduced the Duncan grapefruit, which he stated that he got the trees  from Philippe. Today, you can visit the site of Odet Philippe’s plantation and find evidence of his early planting that led to this creation.

 

Odet Philippe was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 1963 https://floridacitrushalloffame.com/inductees/odet-philippe/. 

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Jie, Ma Wen. “How to Graft Grapefruit Trees.” Garden Guides, September 21, 2017. https://www.gardenguides.com/115127-graft-grapefruit-trees.html.

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts II: A Portion of Florida Citrus History. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1998.

From the Archives: Using Animal Manure as Fertilizer

In a correspondence between Prof. W. L. Drew and Link & Bagley, dealers of Stable and Dairy fertilizers, Drew brings up the idea that their fertilizer could aid in the growth of his citrus groves. He credits the Citrus Industry magazine for the idea that animal manure would work very well in the growth of citrus.

There are several benefits to using animal manure as fertilizer, besides the low cost. Animal manure is rich in nutrients that plants depend on such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen is essential for chlorophyll production aiding in the overall health and growth of plants; phosphorus is used for ATP, or energy production, which is very important for flowering and blooming in plants; potassium is necessary for the use of several enzymes within plants and is essential for photosynthesis and water uptake in plants.

In some cases, animal manure can also help to regulate the pH levels of the soil. When soil is too acidic, this can lead to a decrease in the important nutrients discussed earlier. It can also stunt plant growth and cause browning of the leaves; in some cases, it can even lead to plant death.

Using animal manure also decreases the chances of runoff taking place. When using chemical fertilizers, excess nutrients can get washed into bodies of water. This can be very detrimental to the surrounding environment and lead to excessive algae growth. This is known as algae blooms, and it is caused by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, the main nutrients in chemical fertilizers.

The addition of manure to soils helps improve the structure of soil making it better at holding water for longer periods of time. This is beneficial because during dry periods plants continue to have access to water stores being held in the soil. This reinforced soil structure is also less likely to erode when compared to regular soil structures.

Overall, the use of animal manure makes sense for various reasons.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Furiness, Cari, Ellis Cowling, Lee Allen, Robert Abt, Doug Fresrick, Kelly Zering, and Robert Campbell. “Using Animal Manures in Forest Fertilization.” North Carolina State Extension, January 1, 2011. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/using-animal-manures-in-forest-fertilization.

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts II: A Portion of Florida Citrus History. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1998.

From the Archives: Citrus Catalogs

The Florida Citrus Industry has an illustrious history of unique marketing strategies. A collaboration with Disney resulted in the iconic Orange Bird character, an annual pageant is held to find Miss Florida Citrus, a spokesperson who travels extensively on behalf of the industry, and the Florida Department of Citrus has launched many advertising campaigns to emphasize the health benefits of consuming citrus products. One such unique marketing tool that growers have utilized is citrus catalogs. Catalogs provide a visual to consumers about different types of citruses they can order or allows them to order arrangements in gift baskets and boxes. Growers of other fruit, such as Washington apples or pears, do not typically use catalogs to sell their products, making them a unique selling tool for citrus growers.

The history of catalog usage in the United States dates all the way back to the founding fathers. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson frequently used them to order things from Europe, however, the first successful American catalog company was not launched until 1872 by a Chicago dry goods merchant named Andrew Montgomery Ward. This means that the Florida Citrus industry is partaking in a marketing tradition that dates back hundreds of years.

Citrus catalogs are usually aesthetically pleasing, presenting different options for products that the consumer can order straight from the catalog. Options can include themed gift baskets or boxes filled with beautiful fruit. This is a useful strategy, as the use of aesthetics is typically the most effective way to market produce. Usually, products are presented in the pages of the catalog with glowing pictures and a bit of juicy information to entice the viewer to purchase the fruits. Growers typically produce their own catalogs to showcase the products they have grown on their farms and connect with the individual consumer.

In the 2020s, the age of online shopping, some citrus catalogs have been digitized into online stores. This depends on the grower, but many Florida citrus companies offer online stores to make it easy for the consumer to see their products, select what they want, and pay electronically, rather than having to call to place their order or even send it by mail. Online stores have made ordering citrus easier and efficient, suggesting that citrus marketing stays current and keeps up with the times. Growers also utilize newsletters and social media platforms to market directly to the individual consumer. Some of the more well-known Florida growers currently using online catalogs are Indian River Fruit, Al’s Family Farms, and Dundee Groves.

 

Written by Lauren Gunther, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Source:

“Catalogs and the Mail Order Industry.” National Postal Museum. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/america%E2%80%99s-mailing-industry-industry-segments/catalogs-and-the-mail-order-industry.

From the Archives: Citrus Experiment Station

In 1917, the Citrus Experiment Station was established at Lake Alfred. They started with 84 acres of land and $13,000 that had been raised by local growers. In 1923, Florida Legislators provided the station with $15,000 for the 1923-1924 fiscal year; this would be approximately $230,000 today. In 1926, the first permanent buildings were constructed; up until this point, they had been operating out of temporary buildings. By 1965, the station had multiple buildings and was spread out across 285 acres of land.

In the beginning, the goal of the station was to perfect already existing methods used for growing, packing, and processing citrus. These small changes helped to increase the efficiency of the field and helped grow the Florida Citrus Industry. In the 1940s, the staff at the experiment station were working on perfecting the processing of citrus concentrate. They received the patent for this process in 1948.

The station underwent a name change in 1970 and began going by the Agricultural Research and Education Center (A.R.E.C). It is currently known as the Citrus Research and Education Center (C.R.E.C.). They are currently working on several topics at the moment including protoplast and cell culture, genetic engineering, and applied plant breeding. The staff at the citrus institute is made up of 250 individuals; 50 of them are also faculty members at the University of Florida.

It is important to keep doing research in the citrus field because it helps growers to increase their yields. Citrus greening is a bacteria that makes both the fruit and tree look as though they lack nutrition and makes the fruit inedible. To combat this, C.R.E.C is working on genetically modifying certain citrus trees, so that they are resistant to this bacteria. The hope is that they will be able to distribute these trees to growers.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Borger, Ruth. “University of Florida awarded key federal grants to continue fight against citrus greening.” UF IFAS Blogs, University of Florida, October 22, 2020. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2020/10/22/university-of-florida-awarded-key-federal-grants-to-continue-fight-against-citrus-greening.

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts II: A Portion of Florida Citrus History. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1998.

From the Archives: Citrus Greats - Walter T. Swingle

Similar to any scientific field, early researchers paved the way for the current researchers. This post will acknowledge just one of the many monumental discoveries made in the citrus industry. Starting with Walter T. Swingle, he was a botanist sent to Florida from Washington, D.C. He was originally sent to Florida with the goal of researching the citrus disease plaguing groves at the time. During his time in Florida, he became a part of some of the early research concerning hybrids and hybridization. Swingle is specifically credited with creating the Tangelo, a cross between a tangerine and a pomelo.

Hybridization is a beneficial tool because it allows researchers to combine the most desirable characteristics of two different species to create an entirely new species. This is different from genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, because the genes in GMOs have been altered or enhanced while hybridization takes advantage of the natural traits found in each plant species. This can be done by collecting a sample of the DNA found in each species, unwrapping it, and pairing them with one another to create a DNA helix that has one strand from species A and one strand from species B.

Herbert J. Webber worked alongside Swingle to perfect their hybridization techniques. The pair published several papers, books, bulletins, and pamphlets together discussing the research they had conducted and providing growers with helpful information to aid in the efficiency of growing citrus groves. Webber and Leon D. Batchelor then published The Citrus Industry. This book detailed the history of the citrus industry, botany, and methods used to breed citrus. Citrus growers used these books to aid in their growing techniques and to learn more about the citrus industry. Although not mentioned, there are numerous other researchers and scientists who played a fundamental role in the advancements of the Florida Citrus Industry.

Walter T. Swingle was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 1962 as part of the inaugural class: https://floridacitrushalloffame.com/inductees/walter-tennyson-swingle/.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Johnson, Alexander. “How Does Plant Hybridization Work?” ScienceOxygen, September 14, 2022. https://scienceoxygen.com/how-does-plant-hybridization-work/.

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts II: A Portion of Florida Citrus History. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1998.

From the Archives: Citrus Canker

Citrus canker is caused by a bacteria that eats the flesh and leaves of fruit. This bacteria is not harmful to humans and the fruit is still edible. However, the fruit is now difficult to sell due to the ugly sores that are created by the canker bacteria. This bacteria can also cause fruit to drop from the tree prematurely stopping it from ripening.

In the early 1900s, there was a widespread outbreak of canker throughout Florida. Frank Starling was hired by the Florida Citrus Growers and the Citrus League to see if he could aid in the battle against canker. Between 1913 and 1933, the state of Florida spent approximately $1.3 million in their attempts to eradicate canker. During this battle against canker, infected trees were burnt down to ensure that they could not spread the bacteria to other trees in the area. It is speculated that the canker bacteria traveled to the States via citrus seedlings from Japan.

There was a reemergence of citrus canker in the 1980s, and it was declared eradicated in 1994. However, there was a report of canker in Miami-Dade County the following year, in September 1995. Before the eradication efforts were successful, a hurricane spread the bacteria to several other counties. By 2005, $2.1 million worth of commercial grade citrus had been destroyed. In 2006, the eradication efforts were forced to stop because it had become impossible to eradicate canker due to how widespread it had become.

Currently, canker is still active in citrus groves with the majority of infections taking place between April and July. Growers have learned how to deal with the bacteria; applying copper containing products periodically to produce has been known to deter canker in citrus. Although, it should be noted that copper is not a guaranteed deterrent to the bacteria. As there are no known cures to the bacteria, these methods will have to be sufficient for the time being.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Dewdney, M. M., M. Zekri, P. D. Roberts, and J. D. Burrow. “Homeowner Fact Sheet: Citrus Canker.” UF IFAS Extension, University of Florida, June 4, 2018. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP116. 

 

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1992.

From the Archives: Soil Science Foundation

In 1939, the Soil Science Foundation was started by a group of farmers in Dade City who were looking to come up with solutions that they were facing with their various crops; the Soil Science Foundation is credited with several scientific accomplishments. Their first headquarters was a small building on the campus of Florida Southern College, and they did not relocate off campus for 10 years.

When the Foundation started, they were running experiments on the fertilization of sandy soils at the Short Grove in Lake County. Sandy soils do not hold nutrients well, meaning fertilization is necessary to ensure that crops are able to obtain the necessary nutrients for growth. However, over fertilization can be harmful for plants as it will change the pH of the soil, suffocate the soil, and cause root damage. The goal of the experiments being run by the foundation was to determine the necessary amount of fertilizer.

During this time, the Foundation also researched the sustainability of Florida flatwoods for citrus planting. Florida flatwoods make up a large portion of Florida’s landscape. Flatwoods are ideal for citrus cultivation because of their sandy moist soils. Citrus does well in sandy soils because it provides good drainage, which prevents root damage from taking place. Planting in flatwoods also helps with irrigation because of the water deposits that are typically found within these flatwoods. However, there may be some disadvantages to planting citrus on these lands. During wet seasons, the soil can become overly saturated due to the water deposits already existing in the soil, they are at risk to develop frost that can cause freeze in citrus, and cultivating citrus in these regions could negatively impact the environment and decrease the biodiversity of the region. The goal of the experiments targeting citrus cultivation on the flatwoods was to determine if using the flatwoods would result in significantly better yields.


To learn more about the Soil Science Foundation, please check out the Soil Science Foundation Records at the McKay Archives: https://www.flsouthern.edu/getattachment/96400c75-e443-47c6-9fc7-690feef0137c/Soil-Science-Foundation-Records-Finding-Aid.pdf.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Source:
 

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1992.

From the Archives: Cattle Feed

In the 1900s, growers began to feed cattle the leftover pulp, peels, and seeds that were left behind after the desirable parts of citrus fruit had already been canned for production. Because pulp has a high liquid concentration, it went bad faster than the cattle could eat it. This left much of the feed to rot out in the pastures. This led researchers to run feed tests to determine if the citrus by-products were providing any nutrition for their cattle. This research found that only the pulp had any actual nutritional value that would be beneficial to the cattle while both the peel and seeds did not have any value to them.

Upon this discovery, there was a race to patent citrus pulp as feed. Everyone wanted a chance at reaping the rewards for this invention. The Pratt Food Company was one of the first plants that popped up in Tampa with the sole purpose of processing citrus waste. After this, several other companies opened branches that were responsible for dealing with citrus waste.

In order for the pulp to be fed to the cattle, it had to be dried. Reducing the liquid concentration in the pulp allowed the growers to store the pulp for later use without it going bad due to the liquids being held inside the pulp. There are many advantages to using dried citrus pulp for feed. Citrus pulp is a very bulky carbohydrate meaning cattle do not need to eat a lot of it and pulp is high in calcium. However, pulp is low in phosphorus, one of the major nutrients that cattle need, meaning it must be supplemented with other forms of feed to ensure that cattle stay healthy. Citrus pulp is still being used for feed today; however, it is not used for milking cows as it can cause a decrease in milk production.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Source:
 

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1992.

From the Archives: Big Freeze

During harsh winters, citrus groves will freeze over - killing the trees to the ground. The first big freeze was in 1835, which was extremely discouraging to early growers. One can understand why Central Florida became a hub of citrus production in the United States, with the optimal climate it's a no-brainer! The optimal climate for citrus production is warm areas with ample sunshine, and 55-100 degrees Fahrenheit is the best range for citrus growth. There are few varieties of citrus that are able to grow in colder temperatures below 50 degrees, but even then, they cannot withstand temperatures lower than 45 without freezing.

When a freeze takes place, the fruit will drop from the tree either instantly or slowly over a period of time. The juices inside of the fruit become frozen making them unideal for selling. Crystals of ice will also form inside the plant tissues throughout the actual tree. During severe cases of freeze, the tree may die; in less severe cases, the tree may be damaged, but it will survive. In the years following a freeze, the trees and branches of affected areas may continue to die; it is difficult to determine the extent of damage done to a grove after a freeze has taken place.

After the freeze has taken place, it is important to monitor the state of the grove, especially for later care of the region. There are several tactics that can be used to ensure the plant is able to recover post freeze which include minimizing pruning, applying less fertilizer (depending on the current state of the tree), and minimizing irrigation.

Overall, a freeze can be extremely detrimental to a grower as it can kill the entire grove of current plants. If not killed, affected plants will need additional care in the months and years following a big freeze.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Source:
 

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1992.

From the Archives: Citrus Families and Citrus Labels

Crate labels have a long-standing history in the Florida Citrus Industry illustrating important objects, people or landscapes to the specific brand and grower’s association. This can be seen in many labels that illustrate different family members of Citrus company owners. 

One example of this is the Baby-Ade label. The label features a baby with an orange and a tropical landscape. The baby on the label is a part of the Lee family - the father of Elizabeth Lee Barron. The Baby-Ade brand was a part of the Lee family corporation out of Tampa, Florida. This citrus company grew and processed oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines. Many of the other Lee family members were also featured on their company’s label including Aunt Miriam, Aunt Rosemary, Aunt Rowen Katherine, and even the family dog named Juno, also known as “Goo Goo.” 

Citrus label families have even seen cross over into the Florida Citrus Queen competition. The Prevatt family featured Ruby Prevatt on their Ruby label. The Ruby brand was a part of the Lake Region Packing Association and was owned and operated by the Prevatt family. Ruby Prevatt was a part of the 1939 Florida Citrus Queen competition and was sponsored by the Tavares Woman’s Club. She is also the daughter of Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductee Jennings Bryant “Babe” Prevatt.

Label advertisement and artwork played a large role in promoting the citrus industry. The ability to implement family members or scenes into the labels allows for a greater connection to customers and the importance of citrus in the family diet. 

All of the labels mentioned above and more can be viewed in the McKay Archives Citrus Label digital collection at https://archives.flsouthern.edu/digital/collection/labels/search/page/1. 

 

Written by Emily Allen, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Calise, Gabrielle. “A Tampa Librarian Wants to Save Florida’s Vanishing Citrus Labels — And Her Family History.” Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida), March 16, 2021. https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2021/03/16/a-tampa-librarian-wants-to-save-floridas-vanishing-citrus-labels-and-her-family-history/. 

[Miss Ruby Prevatt]. The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), January 22, 1939.

From the Archives: Traveling Citrus in Egypt

In 1992, Dr. Prevatt visited the Nile Delta region of Egypt as a citrus expert for six weeks in May and June. During this time, he worked with the Agricultural Cooperative Development International program; the goal of this program was to create a line of dialogue between Egyptian and American farmers and researchers. Prevatt was selected to be the citrus expert because of his background knowledge in citrus. The main objective of his role was to help the growers in the region of interest with any issues they may be facing regarding their crops.
 

Upon arrival, Prevatt was tasked with determining what the major problems in the area were. He concluded that the region was plagued with poor irrigation, Phytophthora foot rot and psorosis were killing trees, lack of a hedging program, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and closed plantings.
 

At the time, farmers had begun growing citrus in a region referred to as the “New Lands.” This area is made up of sandy desert soils. Other regions where citrus production takes place have silt soil. This means that the same farming practices cannot be used in both regions due to the differences in the soil. Silt soil is a combination of sand and clay. It is an extremely fertile type of soil because it is very good at water retention. Due to the aforementioned fertility of silt, it does not need to be fertilized often. Silt soil is one of the ideal soils for citrus production due to its loose form and drainage properties; Prevatt comments on the effects over-fertilization is having on the crops. For centuries, the Nile River would flood and deposit more silt on its banks. This flooding was later controlled by the production of the Aswan Dam in 1968. Sandy soil is made up of fine particles and is loosely packed. Due to this loose packaging, sandy soil tends to need to be fertilized because it does not hold on to nutrients well. Besides this, it is a good soil for citrus production as long as it is fertilized to ensure there are adequate nutrients present.
 

However, the biggest problem with citrus production in the New Lands is the lack of water. The Egyptian government was attempting to install canals and waterways to aid in agriculture. Due to a lack of funds and resources, the installation of these irrigation systems was not an easy one. Regardless, Dr. Prevatt made attempts to give help where applicable. Dr. Prevatt comments on an interaction he had with a farmer in Cairo. Upon meeting this farmer for what Prevatt thought was the first time, the farmer exclaimed “I know you” to Prevatt. After some discussion, they realized that the farmer had visited Florida Southern College years ago as part of a citrus exchange program. The Agricultural Cooperative Development International program has helped people all over the world and given people the opportunity to visit places they may have never seen.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Source:
 
Mack, Thomas B. History of the Citrus Institute, Florida Southern College, 1947-1993. Lakeland, Florida: Florida Southern College, 1993.

From the Archives: Traveling Citrus in China

In 1986, Dr. Prevatt had the opportunity to visit China with 52 students from the Florida State Horticulture Society. During this trip, they experienced both Chinese culture and traditions while having the opportunity to learn about their governmental policy and produce.
 

The first leg of their trip was spent doing tourist-like activities and going to see major historical sites, including the city of Shanghai. Shanghai is a heavily populated city on the port of the Yangtze River, and it runs under an integrated society meaning the government ensures that all its people have work.
 

The group also took a trip to “The Garden City of the World” during this trip, and they were in awe of the artistry that was on display. Prevatt comments on how the people made intricate designs using different plants, rocks and the occasional waterfall.
 

Tourism was not the only goal of this trip; the group moved on to learn more about the various horticulture techniques used in China. Mandarin is the primary citrus grown in China. Most of the land in China has poor drainage meaning the soil does not dry out easily post irrigation. This can be disastrous to produce because it stops plants from being able to take up oxygen through the roots. To combat this, citrus trees are only grown on high beds of land - this helps in making drainage more efficient. Prevatt noted that the Chinese tend to do most farm work by hand with very little machinery to help.
 

This trip was made possible due to the help and cooperation of the U.S. China Exchange Center; they linked the group with a native tour guide to help them get a full experience of the area. Not only were they able to have one-on-one interactions with the farmers, but they also got to see countless historical sites. China is currently the leading producer of citrus in the world making up 28.77% of the world's citrus.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Source:
 
Mack, Thomas B. History of the Citrus Institute, Florida Southern College, 1947-1993. Lakeland, Florida: Florida Southern College, 1993.

From the Archives: Citrus Queens and Miss Florida Citrus

The Florida Citrus Queen pageant took place at the Florida Citrus Festival for the first time in 1924, so this year marks 100 years since the start of the competition. However, this first competition had a very different set up compared to the pageants that followed in the years to come.

Young men and women applied to be crowned as the Citrus King and Queen; Polk County residents then had the opportunity to vote for who they thought should be crowned. Both rulers were crowned at that year’s Citrus Festival and were featured as part of the citrus industry parade. Dorothy Williamson was crowned the first Citrus Queen and Harvey Henderson was crowned Citrus King. This was the only time a King would be crowned.

Following the 1924 competition, another queen was not crowned until 1930 when Ruth Snyder became Citrus Queen. However, the competitions that followed were very different from the first one. Women applied to be a part of the contest where they participated in a series of pageant events. The winner was then picked by a panel of judges. This choice was based on their talents, elegance, and philanthropic endeavors.

As the competition continued, the title began to come with numerous responsibilities and tasks. The Citrus Queen was the face of the citrus industry; she made radio, television, and newspaper appearances informing the public about the interests and concerns that the citrus industry had at the time. The competition took a break in the early 2000s and started back up again in 2015. The pageant is still running currently and will soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary at the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant on March 2, 2024.

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:

Mack, Thomas B. Citrifacts. Bartow, Florida: Associated Publications Corporation, 1992. 

1963 Florida Citrus Queen contestants at the Florida Citrus Exposition in Winter Haven. 1963. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/343554.

From the Archives: Traveling Citrus in Europe

For five weeks in 1982, Professor Mack, along with six students, toured the common markets in Europe. The goal of this adventure was to see firsthand how citrus, among other fruits, was handled and marketed in major importing hubs in Europe. They visited a total of 7 countries including England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and France. 

While in England, they had the opportunity to see how apples were grown, produced, and sent out all over the continent. During their 4 week-long road trip across Europe, they spoke with buyers, marketers, and importers of Florida citrus specifically. They had the unique experience of seeing how these markets work behind the scenes. 

The goal of traveling to Spain was to observe the citrus growing styles and the research that was being done on citrus. Today, Spain is the leader in citrus production making up 56% of citrus production in Europe. Spain is well suited for citrus growth for a multitude of reasons, especially the climate as they have hot dry summers. However, this is paired with relatively cold winters, low humidity, and little rainfall, making irrigation a necessity. Although irrigation may be difficult, they are still able to produce large amounts of fresh fruit every year. 

This trip was not only spent learning about produce and how it is grown or marketed. Students had down time to learn more about the cultures and see historical land sites and monuments. In 1983, Mack orchestrated another tour of Europe; however, this one was not nearly as detailed as the tour the year before had been. Both tours gave students memories that most people can only dream of, and the memories they gained will hopefully last a lifetime. 

 

 

Written by Tanzy Zviitwah, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow
In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center
Spring 2024

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Sources:
 

Díaz, Sergio. “Citrus Fruit: A Leading Sector Despite the Complicated Context.” CaixaBank Research, October 4, 2022. https://www.caixabankresearch.com/en/sector-analysis/agrifood/citrus-fruit-leading-sector-despite-complicated-context.

 

Mack, Thomas B. History of the Citrus Institute, Florida Southern College, 1947-1993. Lakeland, Florida: Florida Southern College, 1993.