Florida’s shifting agriculture has Hemp in the News. The state’s hemp industry may grow to be half the size of its citrus industry. Increasing popularity and resulting demand for CBD products is a significant contributor to this growth.
Hemp production is replacing some of Florida’s traditional crops, such as tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries and snap peas. To put it into perspective, there are currently 22,078 acres of hemp grown in Florida. That’s twice the size of its strawberry production.
Hemp farming was legalised in Florida in 2019. The industry has soared since then, says cannabis director Holly Bell. The majority of Florida’s hemp cultivation is for the production of CBD oil and products. CBD is a hot commodity these days, and growing hemp provides farmers with a financially fruitful alternative. This is especially beneficial for farmers who have been losing crops to the tree disease, ‘greening.’
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