Environmental Science essays

Environmental Science essays Florida is known for its fertile lands and climate conducive to growing a number of different types of produce. Most famous for citrus production, Florida also produces a wide range of other crops in addition to oranges and grapefruits. Tomatoes, beans, cabbage, and a host of other fruits and vegetables are grown on Florida soil. However, much of this produce does not reach the shelves of Florida grocers. Local produce is commonly shipped to other states or other countries. Likewise, Florida imports many fruits and vegetables, many of which are grown in more temperate climates or which are exotic but also many that are grown in Florida as well. Sometimes states like Florida import produce that would normally be grown locally because of drought, freezes, crop diseases, or other environmental or meteorological factors. However, economics is a significant factor in determining the flow of imports and exports of crops. If a crop can be produced in a developing nation and shipped to Florida at a cheaper price than it would cost to grow that crop locally, then it is highly likely that the crop will be imported. Moreover, seasonal variation of crops determines what times of the year crops are more likely to be imported versus grown in Florida. According to www.florida-agricultre.com, bananas, beans, garlic, ginger, limes, mushrooms, okra, onions, and papaya are locally produced throughout the year. However, a few visits to the grocery store indicated that not all of these crops bear local labels. Bananas, for instance, were from a number of Central American nations including Chile and Mexico. The other items in the list of those produced year-round do not indicate country of origin. While the Florida Department of Agriculture offers lists of crops grown in the state, as well as ones that are exported abroad, the department does not clearly indicate which crops are commonly imported or ...