Florida leads the U.S. in citrus fruit juice production, while California is a close second.

Florida is the sunshine state.

Florida also leads the U.S. in citrus fruit juice production, while California is a close second.

Less well known is the role Florida plays in tropical plant production. Aside from the few indoor plants grown in northern greenhouses, almost all tropical plants found in Canada originate in Florida.

The town of Homestead, about an hour’s drive south of Miami, is the hub of Florida plant production. Much like Leamington’s multitude of vegetable growing businesses, and Niagara’s grape producers, Homestead is all about nurseries.

Once a year, Florida’s biggest and best nursery growers gather for the Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE) where growers show off their finest and buyers meet to see what’s new and........

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