CITRUS, CROPS & COMMERCE

Florida State Department of Agriculture

Know Florida

Tallahassee, Florida: State Department of Agriculture, circa 1938.
SELLING THE SUNSHINE STATE THROUGH AGRICULTURE.
A well-illustrated pre-World War II promotional booklet presenting Florida not primarily as a vacation destination, but as one of America's most productive agricultural and commercial states. Issued by the Florida State Department of Agriculture, Know Florida combines colorful cover art with statistical data, photographs, and concise essays documenting the state's citrus industry, vegetable production, transportation network, state markets, inspection services, and expanding economy.

Unlike the more common tourist brochures emphasizing beaches and resorts, this publication focuses on Florida's agricultural infrastructure and commercial opportunities, making it an informative snapshot of the state's economic priorities during the late 1930s.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Quarto format measuring approximately 8 by 9 inches.
Original color pictorial paper wrappers, saddle stitched. Thirty-two pages illustrated throughout with numerous black-and-white photographs, charts, statistical tables, and a full-color cover. Includes a full-page color illustration of Florida fruits on the rear cover. Printed on coated paper with photographic halftones throughout.

ECONOMIC EMPHASIS RATHER THAN TOURISM.
The publication illustrates the State's emphasis on agricultural production and commercial development. Subjects include Florida's physical statistics, state inspection services, wholesale markets, citrus production, vegetable farming, poultry, transportation systems, and agricultural marketing, accompanied by numerous documentary photographs.

CONDITION: Very Good. The bindings are tight and square. Text is clean with light, even age-toning. Moderate shelf handling wear to the covers. Typical vertical center fold from storage. Colors remain bright and attractive. A Very Good example.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: FLORIDA'S NEW DEAL AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY
Issued during the closing years of the Great Depression, Know Florida reflects the state's effort to promote itself as a modern agricultural powerhouse rather than simply a winter resort. Documenting Florida's extensive investment in state markets, inspection programs, transportation infrastructure, and crop production at a time when citrus, vegetables, livestock, and poultry formed the backbone of its economy.

Serving as a valuable primary source for historians of Florida agriculture, state-sponsored economic development, and regional promotion the statistical tables, photographs of markets and packing houses, and discussions of inspection and marketing programs preserve information rarely found in conventional tourist ephemera.

SUBJECTS: Citrus Industry, Florida Agriculture, State Markets, Florida Ephemera, New Deal Era, Poultry, Vegetable Farming, Transportation, Economic Development, Florida Ephemera, State Publications, Agricultural History, Americana, Promotional Literature.

Item #22342

Price: $65.00