By Kendrick Givens

Special to The Moultrie Observer

MOULTRIE – Florida is best known for its tourism industry, but it was the state’s agricultural history and future that were on display last week at the 2024 Sunbelt Agricultural Expo.

As the Spotlight State for the 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo, Florida operated a booth that provided visitors with a deep dive into Florida’s agricultural history and an opportunity to learn about Florida’s current and future ag industry practices.

Expo visitors were educated about the surprising prominence of agriculture in the State of Florida and the impact of modern agricultural developments in the state. Upon entering the Spotlight State building, visitors were met with the “Fresh from Florida” sign welcoming visitors with hands-on activities, giveaways and greetings in the immersive educational experience.

According to the Florida Association of County Managers, Florida has a vast agriculture community, the state’s second largest industry. Florida’s agricultural sector generates significant revenue, with estimates placing the total value of agricultural output at over $120 billion.

The agriculture industry directly employs a large workforce, and when considering indirect jobs related to food processing and distribution, it supports millions of jobs across the state, also according to the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Perhaps Florida’s most famous crop is the Florida orange. In 2022, Florida farmers grew 33% of oranges in America, with a market value of $491 million, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture. However, the Florida produce industry also includes bell peppers, grapefruits, sugarcane, and strawberries to name just a few of the Florida grown products that shoppers may find in their grocery store.

Visitors to the Spotlight State booth were greeted by an educational display about Florida’s farming history. Those visitors included Florida farmer Lyle Combee, who had fond recollections of his grandmother Celia Grimes, who herself was a farmer who began growing strawberries in the early 1900s.

An interactive time-travel hologram showed videos that gave visitors a tour through the history of Florida farms.

Historic artifacts and images were also on display before visitors moved into Florida’s farming present. There, visitors discovered interactive exhibits like fish tanks, a chef’s station providing visitors produce and other treats, and a bright photo backdrop wall.

“Florida grows over 300 different commodities,” said Everglades Ag Equipment representative Celina Moncrief. “We are so diverse, and we have such a wide-reaching impact with all the different things that we grow. It is a huge industry in Florida, and we really are ramping it here at the spotlight state.”