While Florida’s citrus industry is struggling with record low production this year, the state’s overseas agriculture sales are going bananas.
Well actually Florida isn’t known for its bananas, but Florida oranges, grapefruits, blueberries and dozens more homegrown commodities are being sold at more than 12,000 stores in 26 countries. More than 4,000 of those retailers are outside of the United States. The “Fresh From Florida” retail program markets Florida’s agricultural products and is behind the recent business success. It’s run by the Florida Department of Agriculture. Aaron Keller is a spokesman for the department. He said, Florida’s crops have international marketing appeal, partly because of the sheer volume available to export.
“Florida produces around 300 different agricultural commodities you know - a lot of states produce a few, you know - have a few main staples of production, but Florida really produces a large number of crops and so, really, anything consumers are looking for Florida probably produces,” Keller said.
Florida’s agricultural exports totaled $4.2 billion dollars last year. Canada has more than a thousand stores selling Florida foods. Denmark imports Florida grapefruits, and Japan prefers blueberries.
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