Artichokes, Blackberries, Hops, Lychee, Longan, and Mango Emerge as Crop Possibilities
by MATT COBBLE
Farmers in Central Florida have been rethinking what it means to grow successfully in the region. Where we once boasted acres upon acres of thriving orange groves, Florida farmland now houses a variety of tropical fruits, herbs, and other crops from around the world. Shifting markets, changing weather patterns, and a wide variety of new, threatening pests have opened farmers’ eyes to other agricultural possibilities.
Artichokes
The artichoke is a member of the thistle family, related to the sunflower. Although best suited for the Mediterranean climate, artichokes can be successfully grown in Florida. Requiring between 250 and 500 chill hours, artichokes are best suited for North and Central Florida growing areas. However, Shinsuke Agehara, Associate Professor of Horticultural Crop Physiology at University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, has been experimenting with substituting commercial Gibberellic Acid (GA3) as a replacement for winter chill hours. Aside from the culinary uses of the edible buds (and specifically, the artichoke hearts), artichokes can also be used as an ornamental flower (typically in the range of purples, mauves, and lavenders) as well as dietary supplements. Artichokes are rated as a high profit potential crop, with growers in California seeing returns of over ten thousand dollars per acre.
Blackberry
Blackberries are proving to be a promising alternative crop for Central Florida growers. They thrive in the region’s mild winters, which provide the chill hours needed for flowering, and they can handle long, hot summers if properly irrigated. While heavy rains and humidity can pose disease challenges, newer varieties bred for the Southeast are more resilient. As with the artichokes, Professor Agehara has found that application of urea to the plants before budbreak can help to offset a lack of chill hours. Beyond their adaptability, blackberries carry strong market appeal—U-pick operations are popular with local families, and fresh berries fetch premium prices at farmers markets. With careful management of drainage and pruning, blackberries can offer a reliable, profitable crop well-suited to Florida’s weather patterns and consumer demand.
Hops
Hops are gaining attention as an alternative crop in Central Florida, driven by the region’s booming craft beer industry. Florida is home to nearly four hundred craft breweries across the state, and more than one hundred in the Tampa Bay area alone! While traditionally grown in the cooler climates of the Pacific Northwest, hops can be managed successfully here with the right techniques. Florida’s long growing season allows for multiple harvests, though growers need to carefully manage irrigation and trellising to support the vigorous vines. Humidity poses challenges with pests and diseases, but ongoing research and Florida-adapted varieties are improving outcomes. Additionally, hops require more than fifteen hours of daylight per day for optimal growth. Luckily, Professor Agehara and his team have seen luck with using LED lights to supplement the Florida sunshine. Beyond production, hops offer excellent market potential—local breweries value fresh, locally grown ingredients and often pay a premium. For growers willing to experiment, hops provide an exciting niche opportunity in Florida agriculture.
Lychee
Lychee is one of the most sought-after tropical fruits and has strong potential as an alternative crop in Central Florida. Known for its bright red skin and sweet, floral flavor, lychee thrives in warm, humid conditions and grows best in well-drained sandy soils common to the region. In the 1950s, Florida was home to approximately 600 acres of lychee as far north as Polk County, before a series of freezes in the late ’50s destroyed most of the trees. Dr. Jonathan Crane, a Tropical Fruit Crops Specialist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, emphasizes that lychee trees must go dormant for a period of three to twelve weeks, depending on the cultivar, where they are exposed to temperatures no higher than 59 degrees. Otherwise, fruit production is impacted.
Longan
Longan, often called the “dragon’s eye” fruit, is an appealing tropical crop option for Central Florida growers. Closely related to lychee, longans thrive in warm, subtropical climates and can handle Florida’s heat and humidity when planted in well-drained soils. They produce fragrant, sweet fruit that has strong appeal in specialty markets and among diverse cultural communities. Dr. Crane points out that longan trees need to have their fruit thinned while the fruit is approximately pea-sized, in order to ensure a marketable size of the finished fruit. While cold snaps can pose risks, mature trees show moderate tolerance to brief temperature drops, making them a viable choice for many parts of Central Florida.
Mango
Mangoes are a classic tropical fruit that can be a rewarding crop for Central Florida growers. These trees thrive in the region’s long, warm growing season and are relatively tolerant of drought once established. While young trees are sensitive to frost, careful site selection and cold protection measures can help them succeed in marginal areas. Mangoes come in many flavorful varieties, ranging from sweet and juicy to rich and tangy, giving growers options to appeal to different tastes. Dr. Crane explains one of the advantages of Florida grown mangoes versus imported mangoes – “We do not have to hot water treat our mangoes. Hot water treating of imported mangoes is required, and it reduces their quality. Since ours do not need treating, this helps to maintain their quality.”
Of course, each of these alternative crops present their own unique challenges as well as benefits, but these crops could represent the promising future of Florida agriculture.