LIVING HISTORY
like many others, was wiped out by a severalday
freeze in late 1916 and early 1917. At the
21
time, Axel Hallstrom had been experimenting
with citrus sour orange root stock in a
nursery. After the pineapple crop was lost,
he turned his attention to citrus, becoming
a successful grower and helping to start the
Florida Citrus League in 1921.
Nature wasn’t the only factor that led to
the demise of Florida’s pineapple crop. While
the railroad at first was a boon to pineapple
industry, it also played a role in its demise.
When the railroad reached the Keys, it enabled
cheaper imported Cuban pineapples to
flood the U.S. market.
These imports combined with frequent
freezes and persistent disease caused the
collapse of the pineapple trade. Citrus and
cattle would soon become the region’s
agricultural engine.
Integrity & Financial Responsibility Since 1905
FEE, DeROSS & FEE, P.L.
at tor n e y s a t l aw
An affiliation of professional associations
serving the Treasure Coast since 1905
FEE & FEE, P.A.
Frank H. Fee III • Frank H. Fee IV
772.461.5020
JosEPh J. DeRoss Jr., P.A.
Joseph J. DeRoss Jr.
Specializing In Complex Divorce Cases
772.465.3500
500 Virginia Avenue, Suite 200
F o r t P i e r c e F lor i d a
Fred Fee (1888-1939) • Frank Fee (1913-1983)
WORLD’S FINEST LIFTS
4850 Orange Ave. | Fort Pierce, FL 34947
(772) 461-6056 or
1-800-226-5056
Johnny Stamm
johnnystm@stamm-mfg.com
www.stamm-mfg.com
AUTHORIZED DEALER
IN OUR NEXT ISSUE
“Our Citrus History”
will appear in the
March issue of Indian
River. This installment
explores the birth and
growth of the citrus
industry in the
Indian River region.
Like bananas
and avocadoes,
pineapple
were
a symbol of
the Indian
River
region’s
abundance.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
/www.stamm-mfg.com
link