FLORIDA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

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From fruits and vegetables to seafood, beef or craft brews, Florida produces more than 300 agricultural commodities. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite tailgate commodities and cool facts:

More than 94% of all households consume strawberries. Each person consumes about 4.85 pounds of fresh and frozen strawberries annually. Florida grown strawberries are enjoyed in a variety of dishes both savory and sweet.

Citrus is iconic to the Sunshine State and has been for more than 200 years. Over 90 % of America’s orange juice is made from Florida-grown oranges. Grab a Florida juice for a healthy tailgate drink.

There are 185,000 acres of peanuts grown in Florida. 75% of Florida-grown peanuts are used for peanut butter (the balance is for snack nuts, candy, peanut oil and next year’s seed). Boiled peanuts make an excellent snack for your tailgate.

Florida is home to the largest cow/calf operation in the U.S., with 44,000 head of cattle on 300,000 acres. One 3 oz. cooked serving of beef provides 50% of your daily value (25 grams) of protein. Grill up some beef sliders for your tailgate party!

Florida avocados contain more protein than any other fruit. They pair well with Florida citrus, tomatoes, fresh herbs and beef for a tailgate dinner. In 2020, Florida produced 17,500 tons of avocados.

Florida poultry farms raise chickens both for meat and eggs. The state has 78.5 million broilers and 11.3 million layers. The average American will consume 18,000 chicken wings in their lifetime. Chicken wings, both boneless and bone-in, pair perfect with Florida football!

Florida produces almost all of the country’s fresh-market, field-grown tomatoes. A medium-sized whole Florida tomato contains about 25 calories and nearly half the recommended daily value of vitamin  C. Florida tomatoes are good for kabobs or in flavorful Fresh from Florida salsa.

Florida dairy farms are mostly owned by second and third-generation farm families. One 8 oz. glass of milk has 13 essential nutrients and just 1.5 tsp of added sugar compared to 3.25 tsp. of added sugar in a sports drink. Drinking milk contributes to bone health for life and it is an essential ingredient for the macaroni and cheese dish for your tailgate party!

Florida is known for its fresh seafood that hails from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The leading species by value is shrimp, bringing in nearly $516 million for our state’s economy each year. Shrimp is a versatile protein that can be enjoyed grilled, blackened, fried or boiled.

You can’t have beer without hops! Florida growers rely on special techniques when it comes to growing hops in the Sunshine State. In 2019, Florida ranked fourth in the nation for craft beer production, with 329 breweries producing 42.6 million gallons of beer and generating an economic impact of more than $3 billion.