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Industry remains healthy

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 24, 2009

TAMPA - Despite the sagging economy, agriculture in Hillsborough County continues to thrive, said Stephen Gran, Agriculture Industry Development manager.

His office and the county Cooperative Extension Office released agriculture sales and acreage estimates for 2008.

And while sales are down 5.1 percent from 2007, the production value for the county's agriculture is up 62 percent over 1997, Gran said.

According to the data, the 2008 sales estimate of Hillsborough County agriculture products is $803.1 million with 239,288 acres devoted to agriculture. That represents 36 percent of the county's 1,000 square miles, Gran said.

Hillsborough County ranks as the fourth-largest producer of agricultural products in the state and 59th in the nation.

The county produces the most tropical fish and strawberries in the state. Strawberries continue to be the highest sales crop at $315 million or 39 percent of the county's total agriculture sales. Ornamental plants come in second with $180 million. Vegetable production is third with $138 million.

Source: Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development Program

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