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.