PIECES OF THE PAST: Celebrating a Special Centennial

Tacy Callies Miss Florida Citrus, Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette One hundred years ago, in February of 1924, a young woman named Dorothy Williamson was chosen as Florida’s first Citrus Queen. Since that time, numerous young women have vied for the title and have promoted the Florida citrus industry throughout the world. To celebrate the centennial, the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has interviewed many of …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Gratitude for Growing Florida Citrus

Tacy Callies Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette December is always a favorite month for me. It’s a time to reflect on the trials and tribulations from the past year and a time to be thankful for the blessings in our lives that have brought us through difficulties. December brings anticipation for the upcoming year and what lies ahead. For citrus growers, December also …

paying it forward

PIECES OF THE PAST: Paying It Forward

Daniel Cooper Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Florida citrus has long been part of holiday celebrations and eventually became more than just a recipe or side dish at meals. The citrus industry became a symbol of Florida’s agricultural prowess, and its importance to the state’s economy and culture was celebrated. The holidays bring out the best in people who are able to give …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Beauty Is on the Inside

Josh McGill Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette A.B. Michael was known as the “Dean of the Citrus Industry.” His Orchid Island fruit consistently won awards for its high quality. He was a major proponent of fruit for its taste and appearance. Michael was one of the first to institute grading standards in the packinghouses he ran. Here are a few excerpts from a …

Citrus Hall of Fame Nominations Needed by Nov. 1

Josh McGill Awards

The nomination deadline for potential 2024 inductees into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame is Nov. 1, 2023. Nominations received after that date will be considered for the following year. Eligible nominees are distinguished leaders who made significant contributions to the Florida citrus industry in any of the following fields: pioneering, harvesting, packing, processing, marketing, science and/or education. Nomination forms …

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Casserole Fit for a Queen

Josh McGill Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette July brings summer barbecues, picnics and family celebrations. For me, one of the staples of these gatherings is a green bean casserole covered with crispy onions. So, imagine my surprise when I recently ran across a story that the recipe apparently has Florida citrus origins!  Cecily Brownstone was the food editor for the Associated Press from …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Centennial Celebrations

Josh McGill Miss Florida Citrus, Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Gap Kovach, formerly head of HESCO, recently sent me a surprise packet of goodies for the Citrus Archives that included citrus labels, the 1986 Miss Florida Citrus program and the Winter Park Public Library 1985 calendar. The calendar was in honor of the library’s centennial celebration and featured numerous Florida citrus crate labels “as a salute …

Citrus Label Tour in Central Florida

Josh McGill Florida, History

The Citrus Label Tour, comprised of 81 signs in Florida, has been established to educate the public about the history of the citrus industry through citrus crate labels. The tour is a partnership of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, Polk History Center and Visit Central Florida. The tour is now in four counties — Polk, Indian River, Lake and …

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Granddaughter’s Recollections

Josh McGill Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Editor’s note: Last month’s Pieces of the Past featured Edward Postell Porcher, one of the original Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductees. This month, his granddaughter shares more memories about him and the citrus industry. Edward Postell Porcher’s granddaughter, Norris Porcher Andrews, was interviewed by Nancy Yasecko at the Porcher House in 1994 for the Brevard …

Two New Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Members

Josh McGill Awards

The late F. Gilbert Bowen of Winter Haven and the late A.G. Smith of Wauchula will join the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame as the Class of 2023 inductees. They will be inducted posthumously in March 2024, along with the Class of 2024 inductees.  BOWENFor more than seven decades, Bowen (1928–2022) was a leader in his family’s operations as well …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Growers Recall the Way It Used To Be

Tacy Callies Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette It’s hard to imagine how the early pioneers managed to grow, pick, pack and ship their fruit without the technological means we have today. In doing various oral history interviews this year, that point was really brought home to me. One grower recalled how irrigating his family’s grove meant moving the actual water pipes manually from …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Milestones and Memorable Careers

Josh McGill Awards, Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette This month marks a milestone for the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in several areas. First, it will mark 60 years of honoring the contributions of industry leaders. Second, the 200th member, George Hamner Jr. of Vero Beach, was inducted. In honor of these milestones, a book titled “Florida’s Citrus Pioneers: Shaping a State”has been prepared …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Governor Furthers Florida’s Citrus Industry

Josh McGill Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In the 1940 Annual Citrus Edition of Orlando’s The Sunday Sentinel-Star, the “No. 1 Citrus Man of the Year” was Spessard L. Holland. The citrus industry article reads as follows: “SMALL GROWER ELECTED GOVERNOR — Pledged to keep partisan politics out of the Florida Citrus Commission and the administration of the state’s citrus laws, Spessard L. …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Brothers Build Long-Lasting Business

Josh McGill Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Sixty years ago, the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame was created to honor the contributions of individuals for the betterment of the Florida citrus industry. The first person of 17 to be inducted that year (1962), albeit alphabetically, was Joshua Coffin Chase. His brother, Sydney, was inducted the following year. The class of 2022 will add …

nominations

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees Chosen for 2020

Daniel Cooper Awards, Industry News Release

(FCHOF) — The Selection Committee for the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced three distinguished leaders who will be inducted into the hall of fame during the 57th Citrus Celebration Luncheon. Frank E. Gardner (deceased), formerly of Orlando; John M. Kennedy, Sr. (deceased), formerly of Umatilla; and Karick Price, Sr. (deceased), formerly of Orlando, will be honored at the …

nominations

Now Seeking Nominations for the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

Daniel Cooper Awards, Industry News Release

Nominations are now being sought for potential inductees to the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies are scheduled to take place on Friday, March 6, at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The luncheon is co-sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual and the Florida Department of Citrus. The mission of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame is to recognize those distinguished …