Florida Department of Agriculture

The Florida Department of Agriculture has enhanced the cultivation of citrus in Florida to the extent that it is more than double that of California, the second highest producer of citrus fruits.

Florida Department of Agriculture has made Florida the highest quality producer of oranges, tangerines, grapes and sugarcanes in U.S. in addition to fresh tomatoes and cucumbers for sale in the grocery markets. The sales of bell peppers, watermelons and squash also brought in the highest profits in the whole of the U.S.

The average farm size in Florida, as surveyed by the Florida Department of Agriculture, was close to 240 acres. Due to the large area under cultivation in this south-western coastal state of the U.S., the state has a large number of farms which have been immensely assisted by the Florida Department of Agriculture, which has worked efficiently to ensure that the number of farms as well as the land area under cultivation remain almost the same and do not get reduced down the years as a result of aggressive real estate projects which are engulfing most agricultural lands.

Vegetables and melons have brought in the highest profits for the state, and the citrus fruits rank a close second in this respect. In terms of total cash receipts through the agricultural products, which includes not only crops and vegetables, but also livestock and the additional products such as milk, eggs and the like, Florida ranks near the top.

The Florida Department of Agriculture was originally founded as the Office of the Commissioner of Immigration in 1868, and the Commissioner was responsible for bringing settlers into the state. Later in 1885, the post of the Commissioner was renamed as the Commissioner of Agriculture.

The Florida Department of Agriculture is presently responsible for overseeing cultivation of all kinds of crops, livestock and related products in addition to pest control measures, aquaculture and forestry. The Florida Department of Agriculture looks after the security norms being upheld by the different types of foods.