Sunshine State of Mind

The state of Florida produces over 80 percent of the United States’ supply of citrus. Every year, the Sunshine State sells roughly $4 billion worth of oranges, tangerines, pineapples and other goods grown within its borders. About $3.5 billion worth of orange juice is exported from Florida to the rest of the country – and world – every year. As dominant as the citrus business is in the state of Florida, the Sunshine State has another heavily coveted export – high school football players. For decades, the state has provided players to Division I-A programs throughout the country, so much so that many once abandoned their own state’s recruits to focus on acquiring even second-tier Florida players. Prep stars might not be able to compete with orange juice as Florida’s top export, but they’re close. Early days It used to be that Florida was a fairly easy state to infiltrate.