Photo Exhibits

Photo exhibits spotlight various topics in Florida history, and are accompanied by brief text intended to place selected materials in historical context.

Bittersweet: The Rise and Fall of the Citrus Industry in Florida


Citrus Labels as Folk Art

Colorful labels affixed to boxes of Florida citrus highlight the eclectic tastes of the state's growers. The proliferation of brands generated a unique genre of folk art representing popular conceptions of the culture and history of the Sunshine State. These crate labels not only provide insight into the folk art of the citrus industry, but also illustrate marketing symbols and strategies at work in the 20th century United States. Most of the citrus labels featured here were in use between the 1920s and the 1970s.

Golden Galleon Brand citrus label: Sanford, Florida (early 1900s)

Golden Galleon Brand citrus label: Sanford, Florida

Image number: N028954

Roper Growers Cooperative's Roper Brand citrus label (1986)

Roper Growers Cooperative's Roper Brand citrus label: Winter Garden, Florida

Image number: FA5996

Thompson Sales Company's Dixie Belle Brand citrus label (1986)

Thompson Sales Company's Dixie Belle Brand citrus label: Belle Glade, Florida

Image number: FA5997

Pioneer Growers Cooperative's Pioneer Brand citrus label (1986)

Pioneer Growers Cooperative's Pioneer Brand citrus label: Belle Glade, Florida

Image number: FA5998

Yeckes-Eichenbaum, Incorporated's Woozie Woozie Wondercrop citrus label (1986)

Yeckes-Eichenbaum, Incorporated's Woozie Woozie Wondercrop citrus label: Sarasota County, Florida

Image number: FA5999

W.H. McBride's Sammy Jay Brand citrus label (1986)

W.H. McBride's Sammy Jay Brand citrus label: Seville, Florida

Image number: FA6004

Sunshine Fruits from Burdine's citrus label (1986)

Sunshine Fruits from Burdine's citrus label: Miami, Florida

Image number: FA6012

Sachem Brand of the Indian River citrus label: Vero Beach, Florida (early 1900s)

Sachem Brand of the Indian River Associates, Incorporated citrus label: Vero Beach, Florida

Image number: N028950

Holly Hill Fruit Products Incorporated's Merry Christmas Brand citrus label: Davenport, Florida (1986)

Holly Hill Fruit Products Incorporated's Merry Christmas Brand citrus label: Davenport, Florida

Image number: FA6015

Oak Hill Citrus Growers Association's Flo Brand citrus label: Oak Hill, Florida (1986)

Oak Hill Citrus Growers Association's Flo Brand citrus label: Oak Hill, Florida

Image number: FA6017

Plymouth Citrus Growers Association's Plymouth Rock brand citrus label: Plymoth, Florida (mid 1900s)

Plymouth Citrus Growers Association's Plymouth Rock brand citrus label: Plymouth, Florida

Image number: PR75938

South Lake Apoka Citrus Growers Association's Goodwill brand citrus label: Oakland, Florida (mid 1900s)

South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers Association's Goodwill brand citrus label: Oakland, Florida

Image number: PR75939

Peace River Fruit Company's Romance Blue brand citrus label: Fort Meade, Florida (mid 1900s)

Peace River Fruit Company's Romance Blue brand citrus label: Fort Meade, Florida

Image number: PR75940

Gregg Maxcy, Inc's Red-Glo brand citrus label: Sebring, Florida (mid 1900s)

Gregg Maxcy, Incorporated's Red-Glo brand citrus label: Sebring, Florida

Image number: PR75937

Manatee Fruit Company's Moccasin Brand citrus label: Palmetto, Florida (1986)

Manatee Fruit Company's Moccasin Brand citrus label: Palmetto, Florida

Image number: FA6016

Dixie Delite citrus label: Weirsdale, Florida (early 1900s)

Dixie Delite citrus label: Weirsdale, Florida

Image number: N028955