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VEGETABLE ROW CROPS Miami-Dade County is referred to as the nation’s “Salad Bowl” and “Winter Bread Basket.” Miami-Dade County has a long history of vegetable production, especially winter tomatoes for export to northern areas, which dates back to the late 1800s. The 2002 Census of Agriculture reported roughly 38,000 acres of vegetables. Vegetables are grown on both Rockdale, and to a much lesser extent, marl soils. Major vegetables based on acreage include beans, squash and tropical sweet potato.
Miami-Dade produces 54% of the state’s beans, 55% of the squash and 97% of the sweet potatoes. Sweet corn, tomatoes, malanga, okra, eggplant and herbs are other significant crops. Of these, Miami-Dade produces 70% of the state’s okra crop and 99% of the malanga. The total value of this sector was over $100 million in 2002. Over 90% of Miami-Dade’s vegetables are exported out of Florida. With the exception of tropical sweet potato and tanier, which are grown year-round, most vegetables are produced from September to May.
The industry is faced with high costs of production, including land and all inputs, and direct competition with Mexico. Urbanization, leading to both the loss of land for vegetable production and neighbors who do not welcome commercial vegetable production in close proximity, is another negative influence on vegetable farmers.
Dr. Mary Lamberts and Dr. Teresa Olzyck, UF/IFAS
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The nursery industry in Miami-Dade County is large and varied, with more than 1,000 certified nurseries growing on 9,000 acres. This compares to 320 firms on 920 acres in 1960. The total annual value has increased from less than $1 million in 1940 to $316 million in 2000. From the 1940s through the 1990s the number of nurseries in Miami-Dade increased steadily, but more recently the number has dropped as the average size increased. Ornamentals are the number one agricultural crop in the county. The total value of ornamentals sold in 2000 was $790 million, $210 million generated from landscape sales and services by 2,000 firms. More than 18,000 jobs contributed $390 million in local impacts.
Bedding plants are marketed throughout the U.S., and foliage plants are marketed throughout the U.S. and abroad. A large number of our palms and other tropicals end up in malls and office buildings all over the U.S., and in Canada and Europe. Field-grown palm and shade tree production is concentrated on the marl soils in eastern Miami-Dade. Container-grown palms, trees and shrubs are produced in The Redland Agricultural District on rockland. Rapid urbanization consumes nursery lands, but it increases the demand for landscape plants and services, forcing the green industries to evolve while guaranteeing a bright future.
Dr. Joe Garofalo, UF/IFAS
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Many of the tropical fruits grown in South Florida today were introduced in the late 1800s. Early settlers began to grow them in their backyards and by the early 1900s there were plantings of avocados, mangos and citrus groves. David Fairchild, Wilson Popenoe and others were responsible for the introduction of tropical fruits that are now commonly grown in backyards and groves of South Florida.
South Florida has a warm, humid subtropical climate that allows the growing of unique, exotic tropical/subtropical fruits. No other area in the continental U.S. has this climate and capability. South Florida is the number one producer of mangos, large sized avocados, carambola, lychee, longan, mamey sapote, banana/plantains, sugar apple/atemoya, coconut, sapodilla, jackfruit and passion fruit.
There are approximately 13,000 acres of tropical fruits and the industry is worth about $75 million. The popularity of some of the tropical fruits has increased considerably. Avocados, limes, bananas, pineapple, papaya and mangos are now consumed by the general U.S. population. There are indications that consumption of other fruits such as lychee, longan, mamey sapote, carambola, etc. will also increase in the future. Worldwide, the future of the tropical fruit industry is bright. However, their production in South Florida is in jeopardy because of the negative impact imports are having on prices thus affecting profitability.
Dr. Carlos Balerdi, UF/IFAS
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Miami-Dade County has had a long history of aquaculture production dating back to the mid-1940s. Most of the early industry began with the “tropical” fish farming of livebearers, such as mollies and swordtails. However, much of that type of aquaculture moved to the Tampa-Ruskin area of Florida in the 1960s. A variety of other food fish and ornamental fish culture has been in existence over the years with a number of efforts in catfish, tilapia, goldfish, redfish, and freshwater prawns at varying levels of success.
African cichlids are the predominant ornamental fish currently produced within the county with 11 producers and sales of $1.5 million in 2003. According to Florida Ag Statistics Service, there are 18 producers in Miami-Dade County for a total 2003 value of $2.211 million. Additional production includes some levels of alligator, hybrid striped bass, and koi production. Additionally, one hybrid sturgeon production facility is nearing harvest of caviar.
Though aquaculture is a very small segment of agriculture in Miami-Dade County, ornamental aquaculture has one of the highest values per acre of any commodity grown. As the county is favorably geographically positioned for transportation, climate, and water supply to support a likely aquaculture enterprise, other issues such as international trade, economics, land value, regulations, and changing market outlets have kept the industry fairly stable.
Don Pybas, UF/IFAS
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The historical animal industry in Miami-Dade County centered on dairy, livestock, and poultry. In 1950, the county had 49 diary operations with 10,000 milk cows, but by 1960 there were only 4 remaining. Diary made up approximately 30% of agriculture production in the 1944-49 time period with a value of $7 million. No dairies have existed within the county more than thirty years. Some heifer production for dairy operations are held in the northwest portion of the county. Cattle is limited to pasture operations in the northwest area, and some limited small farm operations throughout the agriculture area with 3,800 beef cows. In 1950, poultry and egg production were a significant portion of the county’s agriculture industry.
There were 197 egg farms that produced 546,000 dozen eggs with a value of $326,000. By 1959 the number of egg farms were down to 62 large operations that produced 5 million dozen eggs with a value of $2.4 million. Like dairy operations, when land prices escalated, egg and poultry producers relocated out of the county.
Today, poultry is limited to small farms and one game and exotic bird hatchery. The horse industry in the county is predominately made up of private hobby-related and show horses. Boarding and training facilities make up most of the facilities. Some 1,700 horses, ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys existed within the county in 2002, according to USDA statistics. Overall, the animal industry utilizes approximately 6,000 acres of cattle and horses.
Don Pybas UF/IFAS
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