Gator Grape

UF adds 100,000,000 Dollars to Florida’s GDP Annually with the creation of the Florida Blueberry or what we call GATOR GRAPE. 35 years ago Blueberries did not exist in Florida in any commercial capacity. There was a genus plant that would not support a commercial crop, so some smart folks at the University of Florida took that plant and grafted it with a northern cousin and along with the help of some Florida farmers willing to take a chance, created the Florida Blueberry. As a state our current production is in excess of 20 million pounds adding $ 100 million to Florida’s GDP. However that is only the fruit production. When you think about all of the by products of a successful crop the number is much much higher. For example all of the local Blueberry festivals. The massive increase in farm labor and equipment.

The Florida Blueberry is a very important crop to Florida.