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A Florida TaxWatch economic report
Florida's fresh fruit & vegetable production
Florida produce benefits other Florida Industries
Several industries, including manufacturing, benefit from the wide availability of fruits and vegetables in our state.
Florida Supports
Local farms
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services actively promotes Florida’s agricultural products to the rest of the nation and the world. The Department operates 13 Farmers’ Markets around the state and also created the “Fresh From Florida” campaign, which focuses on building awareness on Florida’s fresh produce, seafood, and other products.
Some of the campaign efforts include featuring ads with recipes, participating in festivals by offering a taste of Florida’s food, and promoting “U-Pick” farms across Florida on their website.
The “Food and Kindred Products Manufacturing” industry had an economic output of $1.79 billion in 2010 from fruit and vegetable canning, pickling, and drying. This amount represents 8.4 percent of Florida’s total “Food and Kindred Products Manufacturing” output.
In addition, the Florida transportation and distribution industries greatly benefit from the shipping of our produce to international markets.
Conclusion
Florida’s fruit and vegetable production is an important part of the Florida economy and helps provide fresh, healthy food to Floridians and others outside the state and the country. Exports of these products are important to Florida logistics companies and increase Florida’s already-positive balance of trade.
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