Publisher's Synopsis
Before tourism and construction were Florida's leading industries, cattle ranching, turpentine production, commercial fishing and citrus were the major contributors to Florida's economy. With first - hand knowledge about these industries, Allen Morris, a Florida native who grew up farming and raising cattle, takes you on an informative insider tour of them, explaining what they were in the past and what they are today. He makes a compelling case for driving beyond the big cities where you'll find a Florida a lot like it used to be. To a world where the American cattle industry began, that's home to the largest herd of cows in the U.S., that's pristine native range, and lush green cattle pastures with contented cows grazing in the distance; a world of row upon row of citrus trees, which when in bloom during the spring, fill the air with the sweetest perfume-like scent; and 8,400 miles of coastline (second only to Alaska) consisting of broad coastal wetlands, vast estuaries, coral reefs, bays and inlets meandering past barrier islands, and over 800 miles of some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. An agricultural economist educated at the University of Florida, Allen has enjoyed a 36 year career in all aspects of Florida agribusiness. He has written this booklet to show you the Florida that he loves.
