Florida is known for its fertile lands and climate conducive to growing a
             number of different types of produce. Most famous for citrus production,
             Florida also produces a wide range of other crops in addition to oranges
             and grapefruits. Tomatoes, beans, cabbage, and a host of other fruits and
             vegetables are grown on Florida soil. However, much of this produce does
             not reach the shelves of Florida grocers. Local produce is commonly shipped
             to other states or other countries. Likewise, Florida imports many fruits
             and vegetables, many of which are grown in more temperate climates or which
             are exotic but also many that are grown in Florida as well. Sometimes
             states like Florida import produce that would normally be grown locally
             because of drought, freezes, crop diseases, or other environmental or
             meteorological factors. However, economics is a significant factor in
             determining the flow of imports and exports of crops. If a crop can be
             produced in a developing nation and shipped to Florida at a cheaper price
             than it would cost to grow that crop locally, then it is highly likely that
             the crop will be imported. Moreover, seasonal variation of crops determines
             what times of the year crops are more likely to be imported versus grown in
             Florida. According to www.florida-agricultre.com, bananas, beans, garlic,
             ginger, limes, mushrooms, okra, onions, and papaya are locally produced
             throughout the year. However, a few visits to the grocery store indicated
             that not all of these crops bear local labels. Bananas, for instance, were
             from a number of Central American nations including Chile and Mexico. The
             other items in the list of those produced year-round do not indicate
             country of origin. While the Florida Department of Agriculture offers lists
             of crops grown in the state, as well as ones that are exported abroad, the
             department does not clearly indicate which crops are commonly imported or
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