The freeze lasts for three days, devastating Florida citrus and vegetable plants. President Jimmy Carter proclaims 34 Florida counties disaster areas.
“I was farming in LaBelle at the time,” recalls Elmer C. Mott, president of Collier Tomato & Vegetable Distributors, Inc. in Arcadia.
“I had 75 acres of tomatoes when the freeze hit,” Mott remembers, “and it certainly affected my operation. It was a rough season.”
“When it happened, a lot of the buyers here left and went to Mexico,” explains Myrick. “I stayed and imported product from Mexico, but you couldn’t sell Mexican product on the market back then.” Myrick brought in product from the Caribbean as well. “I sent my brother down there and told him to look for anything green.”
SIGNIFICANT SUNSHINE STATE DATES
1920s – Hoyle Pounds, a tractor dealer in Florida, invents the rubber wheel for farm equipment
1929 – The Mediterranean fruit fly results in massive loss of Florida citrus crops
1930 – First Publix store founded in Winter Haven, Florida by George W. Jenkins
1934 – First farmers’ market opens in Sanford
1941 – First Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FBBF) convention is held
1941 – The University of Florida Engineering and Industrial Experiment Station is established
1943 – The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) is established
1950 – Citrus harvests top 100 million boxes for the first time
1969 – Winn-Dixie operates 715 stores throughout the South
1971 – Citrus harvest tops 200 million boxes
1977 – Severe cold devastates Florida citrus and vegetable plants and President Carter proclaims 34 counties disaster areas
1980 – Publix celebrates 50 years in business
1990 – “Fresh from Florida” logo and branding initiative is founded
1994 – The North American Free Trade Agreement takes effect
Early 1980s
Retail & Berries
In 1980 Publix celebrates 50 years in business and produces a book to commemorate the milestone, 50 Years of Pleasure by Patt Watters. “I think Publix has led the industry as far as quality upgrading,” remarks Mott.
The chain not only set a standard for other supermarkets and produce vendors, Mott says, but “really concentrates on good fresh produce and trying to give customers the best.”
