The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Orange Springs, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services
Eco-friendly & clean work area.
PDCA Certified Member.
Your Go-To House Painting Company in Orange Springs, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More
Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.
Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Orange Springs, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More
The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Orange Springs, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses
We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:
01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.
03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.
05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
352-212-1533Free Consultation
Latest News in Orange Springs, FL
Twitter Reactions: Low-scoring Orange and Blue Game draws mixed reviews
David Rosenberghttps://gatorswire.usatoday.com/lists/florida-football-twitter-media-reactions-orange-blue-spring-game/
Florida’s 2023 Orange and Blue game didn’t generate a ton of confidence in the new-look offense, especially at quarterback, as the game was decided on a 46-yard field goal from Trey Smack with no time left on the clock. Team Orange won, 10-7.The spring game is always an interesting night for any college football team. Expectations are set for the coming season, but most fans know that what’s seen in April is rarely what you ...
Florida’s 2023 Orange and Blue game didn’t generate a ton of confidence in the new-look offense, especially at quarterback, as the game was decided on a 46-yard field goal from Trey Smack with no time left on the clock. Team Orange won, 10-7.
The spring game is always an interesting night for any college football team. Expectations are set for the coming season, but most fans know that what’s seen in April is rarely what you get in September.
All eyes were on Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz, who is considered the favorite to start at quarterback over Jack Miller III, but neither signal-caller shined early. Both found a receiver for a score in the second quarter, but Mertz won the night finishing 18-29 for 244 yards over Miller’s 10 of 20 for 141 yards.
Billy Napier praised his defense in an attempt to make a rather boring exhibition appear more fruitful than it was.
“A lot of young players getting an opportunity to play,” Napier said when asked of his thoughts on the game during the fourth quarter. “New players, alright? Overall, the defense made it a lot harder. You certainly have to be pleased with that given where we’re at as a team. Unbelievable experience for this group. Great film to teach and learn from.”
It wasn’t the greatest or most inspiring spring game any team has ever put together, but Florida has the pieces to build a better team than it had a year ago. Losing Anthony Richardson hurt, but the defense has taken a step forward, and the running game should still be strong even if it wasn’t on full display tonight.
Here’s how fans and experts reacted throughout the night.
2020 Season
Bogle isn't starting right now, but he's seen action in every game so far in 2021.
2020 Season / 2 years ago
Punter Jeremy Crawshaw looks to become college football's next great punter to hail from Australia.
2020 Season / 2 years ago
It was a bit surprising when Helm was named the starter opposite Kaiir Elam, but he has held the job down through the first...
76 shares
Wells is making an impact on the field after a difficult start to his Florida career.
2020 Season / 2 years ago
Burney is set to start the opener this weekend, but linebacker is set to be a competitive spot for the Gators in 2021.
2020 Season / 2 years ago 69 shares
18 bright spots on Marion's map
Rick Allen Correspondenthttps://www.ocala.com/story/entertainment/local/2016/12/17/christmas-lights-guide-18-bright-spots-on-marions-map/23703629007/
Only one of this area's two contestant houses on ABC's "Great Christmas Lights Fight" last year is aglow again this holiday season.Laura Hunt last week put the finishing touches on her longtime mega-display off 1670 NW 73rd Terrace."She was adding more lights when I drove by," noted Deni Beutow in a Facebook post. "About 90 percent complete."And for this year, that's it. "I don't have everything out," Hunt said. "And it's still nice."This display -- ...
Only one of this area's two contestant houses on ABC's "Great Christmas Lights Fight" last year is aglow again this holiday season.
Laura Hunt last week put the finishing touches on her longtime mega-display off 1670 NW 73rd Terrace.
"She was adding more lights when I drove by," noted Deni Beutow in a Facebook post. "About 90 percent complete."
And for this year, that's it. "I don't have everything out," Hunt said. "And it's still nice."
This display -- which has been growing each year since 1991 -- should be blazing in a big way this week for Christmas.
Meanwhile, the elegant Victorian-themed rose display by Mike and Rosie Atkins family on Southeast 61st Court off Baseline Road is dark this year. But several other homes in their neighborhood behind Peppertree Pointe are fully decked out.
The Atkins decided not to decorate after Rosie was in a serious car crash earlier this year; she's still recovering. "We hope to light up next year," Mike said.
Both homes were shown in back-to-back episodes of the popular limited-run holiday series in 2015, the first time that two displays from the same city were featured on the reality show. Neither won their episode, however.
But even without the Atkins' display, there are plenty others lighting the night this year. So with a shout-out to local Facebook friends who helped scout locations, here are some of the brightest:
1. 1670 NW 73rd Terrace, Ocala. The Hunt home is a longtime favorite, an oasis of light in the darkness north of Ocala's airport. And she does it all herself, finishing up this year just days ago. Directions: From State Road 40, go north on Northwest 60th Avenue; left on Northwest 21st Street (at traffic light); left on 73rd Terrace (it comes up quickly).
2. 4250 Marion County Road, Weirsdale: The Cottom Farm Christmas display is easily the largest in southern Marion County, boasting hundreds of thousands of lights in static and moving pieces. There is plentiful lighted parking, a Christmas village, hot chocolate and hayrides to the manor most nights. Directions: Take County Road 25 south to Marion County Road (look for the sign on the side of the road), left about three miles to the farm on the right.
3. 23373 NE 112th Court, Orange Springs: Charles and Sally Cade have been stuffing more and more lights — each year getting closer to 200,000 — on their two-acre lakeside lot in the darkness near Horseshoe Lake Park. Directions: Take County Road 318 near Orange Springs and then head south on Northeast 110th Court to Northeast 234th Place Road; left to 112th Court. Or take County Road 315 to Northeast 234th Place Road, west to 112th Court. (If using GPS, put in "Fort McCoy" instead of "Orange Springs.")
4. 542 SE 40th Ave., Ocala: For years, the Skinner home has hosted this display a few blocks behind Ward-Highlands Elementary School. Always a bright spot on this list. Directions: From Southeast 36th Avenue, turn east onto Southeast Third Street and then right onto Southeast 40th Avenue.
5. Pecan Run Lane, Silver Springs Shores: This cul-de-sac is an annual destination, and every home here is accounted for. Directions: Take Maricamp Road to Southeast 64th Avenue Road (first traffic light east of Baseline); north to Pecan Run Lane on left.
6. 1120 SE 28th St., Ocala. The Desmarais residence is another longtime Ocala favorite, off Lake Weir Avenue. More lighted snowmen than Canada has snow. Directions: From Southeast SE 17th Street, turn south onto Lake Weir Ave. to Southeast 28th Street.
7. 58 Teak Course, Ocala: The Corleys are some serious Christmas fans, obvious from the leg lamp in the front window — iconic from "A Christmas Story" — and the pink bunny suit with the face cut out so fans can share the embarrassment of Aunt Clara's gift, to SpongeBob, the Peanuts gang and Whoville folk set amid nearly 100,000 lights. Directions: From Baseline Road, go east on Cherry Road (Rolling Greens) to Cherry Court; right, house is in front of you.
8. 6105 SE First St., Ocala: The Mangano family lights in Churchill run nightly and are synched to music broadcast on low-power FM radio. Directions: Baseline Road to Peppertree Pointe; east onto Southeast Fifth Street; follow curve onto Fourth Place to end; left on Southeast 61st Court.
7. 5095 NE Ninth St., Ocala. A staple in Hunter's Trace for several years now, the Trout family display dominated by a life-size creche "is as wonderful as ever," noted Alicia Hughes-Yankee. There also are some nice neighborhood displays on neighboring streets. Directions: From East Silver Springs Boulevard, go south on Northeast 36th Avenue; go left at Northeast Seventh Street; turn left into Hunter's Trace at Northeast 51st Avenue; left.
8. 26 Spring Circle, Silver Springs Shores. Now in its 12th year, this corner lot keeps getting brighter every year. Directions: Take Maricamp Road to Pine Road, then south around the bend to Pine Run, north to Spring Circle.
9. 926 E. Fort King St., Ocala: Every year, Ronald Wetherington decks out Fort King Manor apartment complex in the historic district in a candy cane fantasyland. It is typically limited to the Fort King frontage, but it is a holiday bright spot -- and one of a number of other decorated homes in the Historic District east of downtown Ocala.
10. 4834 SE 24th St., Ocala. An elegant display of creamy lights from the scallop strings marking the perimeter to a massive "NOEL" on the side of the house, marked with splashes of color for emphasis. Directions: Across the street from Maplewood Elementary; take 36th Avenue, then east on 24th Street; the display is past Shocker Field.
11. 12279 SE 36th Ave., Belleview: For years in the past a mega-display, Misolyn Farm has been scaling back its holiday display. Directions: From U.S. 441/301 in Belleview, take 110th Street west, then south on Southeast 36th Avenue.
12. 2525 SE 157th Lane Road, Summerfield: The Torres family has developed a low-power FM display with lights dancing to Christmas music. They keep expanding every year. Directions: South on Magnolia Avenue to County Road 42 in Pedro, left; east to Southeast 27th Avenue (Vermillion Estates), north to 157th Lane Road then left; house about a quarter-mile on right.
13. 4551 SE State Road 121, Morriston: The small Living Water Life Center in Morriston does Christmas in a big way with its annual Walk to Bethlehem interactive journey, as well as a Christmas fantasyland. It is a long way on dark roads, but worth the drive. Directions: From Dunnellon go north on U.S. 41 to Southeast 60th Street; left on Southeast 60th to State Road 121; right on S.R. 121 to church on right.
14. 19630 NE 30th St., Williston. The Kirby Family Farm's Christmas Express. This "commercial" display is listed because proceeds go to the family's nonprofit youth outreach programs. A restored 1800s-era steam engine train is decorated with thousands of lights on a mile-plus decorated track. Also a Christmas Town, Christmas character maze and live Christmas show on remaining dates before Christmas. Nightly 6:30-9:30 today through Friday and Dec. 26-30. Cost: $10 advance, $15 at gate; advance purchase suggested at www.KirbyFarm.com. Directions: U.S. 27 to Williston, west on Northeast 30th Street to farm -- just across the Marion County line.
Reader-submitted displays:
15. 7686 SW 103rd Loop, Ocala. In an ever-growing family tradition, the Wisman family offers various holiday themes and more than 10,000 lights. Directions: From Ocala, take State Road west past Southwest 60th Avenue. Take a left onto Southwest 80th Avenue; left onto 103rd Street Road, then left onto Southwest 74th Terrace. Take a left onto 103rd Loop and follow it around the bend.
16. 12085 SE 89th Ave., Belleview. Josh and Crystal Rogers’ display is open from sunset to 11 p.m. Collection box for Feed the Need is an ammo can in front of the garage. They also will accept non-perishables to donate to a local food bank. Directions: Heading east toward Lake Weir on County Road 25, turn right onto Southeast 84th Avenue, then left onto Southeast 120th Place. Take a right onto 89th Avenue.
17. 5380 SE 24th St., Ocala. This display is dubbed the Irizarry family’s Old Style Winter Wonderland. Directions: On Baseline Road north of Maricamp Road, take Southeast 24th Street east.
18. 4317 NE 12th St., Ocala. The theme is Santa, reindeer, snowmen and other frosty things. What motivates Dion and Colleen Strachan to create the display? “Our grandchildren and a friendly light war with our neighbors,” they answered in an online submission. Directions: Heading east on Silver Springs Boulevard, go past 36th Avenue and then turn right onto Northeast 42nd Avenue. Then turn left onto Northeast 12th Street.
Check out Monday's Ocala Star-Banner for a print version of this guide.
Florida's endangered orange (w/video)
Gary R. Morminohttps://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/floridas-endangered-orange/2168985/
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A long line of muses has chronicled the orange's journey over the centuries from China to India, Persia to Spain, and Hispaniola to Florida. The orange has stirred the imaginations of Franciscan friars, country fiddlers and multinational conglomerates. More than anything else, Florida's signature fruit has defined the Sunshine State and its promise as the New Mediterranean.
But today the orange is in peril. An incurable disease called "citrus greening" has swept through Florida, affecting every orange-producing county. This crisis has been called "the most serious threat in (citrus) history," "a looming disaster many Floridians do not know about," and "an existential threat."
The disease, also known as Yellow Dragon because it was first detected in China, looms larger than any previous threat to the industry — including devastating hurricanes, the sprawl of development across agricultural land and the expensive war of attrition to eradicate citrus canker. After marauding through orange groves in China and Brazil, the disease, a bacterium spread by a tiny flying insect called a psyllid, appeared in Florida in 2005. Oranges become misshapen and bitter — and eventually the affected trees die.
But Florida's grove owners are resilient. They have battled the Mediterranean fruit fly and killer freezes and weathered the economic effects of wars and depressions. Still, the present challenge is so serious that scientists and state officials have debated the ethics and efficacy of genetic modification, of altering the orange's DNA in order to save it.
The orange is so iconic and entwined in the Florida dream that this agricultural product is considered part of the "natural" landscape. After all, Florida boasts an Orange County and Citrus County, and towns named Orange City, Orange Park and Orange Springs. The orange blossom is Florida's official state flower, the orange the official state fruit, and since 1998 an orange has served as the emblem on state license plates. State law even protects oranges from defamation and bans the shipment of "green fruit."
The story of the orange spans the history of Florida. In colonial St. Augustine, successive generations of Spanish, Minorcan and British settlers planted orange trees in such abundance that when vessels entered the harbor in the spring, the crews identified the city's location by the fragrance of orange blossoms wafting from grove to bay.
In 1835, a devastating freeze scoured Florida, destroying the beloved citrus groves of St. Augustine. "Never was a place so desolate," reminisced a local judge. In the decades that followed, orange groves sprang up along the Indian and St. Johns rivers and in the Golden Triangle area comprising the towns of Mount Dora, Eustis and Tavares.
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Mid 19th-century growers faced many obstacles, most significantly, distance. Steamboats ferried crates of oranges from Leesburg, Palatka and Jacksonville, but much of the harvest spoiled before reaching eager consumers. In the late 19th century, revolutions in transportation helped bridge country and city, state and nation, nation and world. Florida citrus rode the rails to new heights and new markets, its cedar crates and labels advertising the Sunshine State as a winter paradise.
Growers helped create and popularize new markets for a product most Americans had never sampled. For generations to come, people across the country first encountered Florida by tasting an orange. If cotton was king of the Old South, the orange became the endearing and enduring symbol of Florida.
Florida was touted as a poor man's paradise. In acreage so small it seemed laughable in the Midwest, a manicured 10-acre orange grove in DeLeon Springs or Dunedin imagined Jeffersonian republicanism and democratic romanticism. Beginning in the Gilded Age of the 1870s and cresting in the 1920s, orange fever brought trainloads and carloads of citizens eager to become gentleman grove owners.
Entire cities — Temple Terrace and Howey-in-the-Hills — incorporated town and grove. A dazzling variety of oranges took root in Florida, their names suggesting their romantic lineage: Homosassa, Hamlin, Temple, Murcott, Lue Gim Gong, Parson Brown, Sanford Bloods, Mediterranean Sweet and Maltese Oval. To sell the fruit, roadside fruit stands and packinghouses proliferated along the orange belt, offering motorists sweet bliss and a free glass of orange juice.
Many small growers eventually quit, the victims of overproduction, freezes and fierce competition. A handful emerged triumphant — like Philip "Doc" Phillips, Antonio Rossi and Ben Hill Griffin. But in a story all too familiar, large corporations began swallowing Florida's baronial estates as well its family groves. Beginning in the 1940s, corporations bet wildly and successfully on Florida grove land. Just as Phillips and Griffin personified the gritty individualism of the men who built dynasties one grove at a time, Consolidated Citrus LP, Coca-Cola and Cutrale Juices U.S.A. came to signify a new corporate presence, more multinational and multiconglomerate than personal and local.
Historic freezes, new hybrids and the relentless development of grove land have pushed Florida's orange belt southward over the years. In 1950, the orange belt buckled together the state's leading citrus counties, which stretched across Central Florida: Orange, Polk, and Lake. Orange County pointed with pride to its 80,000-plus acres of citrus. Today, nearly 65 years later, the belt has drooped southward: Polk, St. Lucie, Indian River, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hendry and Collier counties now have emerged as citrus leaders. Orange County has slipped to 19th place. Pinellas County, which devoted 15,000 acres of land to citrus cultivation in the 1950s, now has no commercial groves.
In January 1981, Florida shivered as the first of the decade's Alberta Clippers plunged statewide temperatures well below freezing. By the end of the decade, three more disastrous freezes had ravaged Florida's groves, killing 90 percent of Lake County's orange trees. The beneficiaries of this disaster were Florida real estate developers and Brazil. This marked a milestone in citrus history: Brazil replaced Florida as the world's leading orange producer. Astonishingly, 100,000 acres of Lake County citrus land was transformed into housing tracts, shopping centers and nurseries. An Orlando banker summarized the opportunity: "We stopped picking oranges and started picking tourists."
From the late 1940s onward, advertising songs and jingles about the orange, fresh from the crate and frozen concentrate out of the can, captivated Americans: "Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine!" "Come to the Florida Sunshine Tree!" and "Orange juice — It's not just for breakfast anymore."
Orange juice became an integral part of the standard breakfast, along with bacon and eggs and toast. But in recent years, more and more Americans are beginning their days without a glass of orange juice. OJ's greatest threat may not even be citrus greening, but rather changing tastes.
Illustrating this point, a journalist recently posed the question: "Just when did orange juice — loaded with nutrients from vitamin C to folic acid — become the drink from hell?" In truth, OJ is brimming not only with vitamin C but carbohydrates, the arch villain of South Beach dieters and concerned pediatricians. Orange juice, moreover, holds little mystique with young Americans who typically skip breakfast, preferring a carbonated soda, vitamin-enhanced water, or an espresso doppio.
Unfolding over six centuries, the story of Florida citrus is a complicated tale involving great contrasts and trajectories: old groves and new perils, small family farms and global competition, citrus barons whose names emblazon athletic fields, and the largely forgotten men and women who pruned, picked and packed the oranges.
Threatened and squeezed by developers, foreign competition, an incurable disease, global warming, and hard freezes, the future of the orange in Florida is uncertain. But amidst tumult and change, one thing remains certain: a glass of freshly squeezed Florida orange juice is pure elixir, the proper drink for a dream state.
Gary R. Mormino, scholar in residence for the Florida Humanities Council, is the Frank E. Duckwall professor emeritus of history at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where he co-founded the Florida Studies Program.
Florida Gators spring game recap: An Orange & Blue review
leligatorhttps://www.alligatorarmy.com/2017/4/7/15226742/florida-gators-spring-game-recap-feleipe-franks-kadarius-toney-kyle-trask
Florida’s 2017 Orange and Blue Debut is in the books, and this year’s spring spectacle saw the largely first-team Orange defeat the mostly second-team Blue, 31-0.The question on everyone’s mind, and everyone’s list, going into the game was whether Florida had finally found a quarterback capable of effectively leading the Gators’ offense.The unsatisfying answer? Maybe!Yes, redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks guided his team to victory. He made some fine throws and sailed some misses. But, also, ...
Florida’s 2017 Orange and Blue Debut is in the books, and this year’s spring spectacle saw the largely first-team Orange defeat the mostly second-team Blue, 31-0.
The question on everyone’s mind, and everyone’s list, going into the game was whether Florida had finally found a quarterback capable of effectively leading the Gators’ offense.
The unsatisfying answer? Maybe!
Yes, redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks guided his team to victory. He made some fine throws and sailed some misses. But, also, there is that whole first team versus second team angle to consider. Nonetheless, Franks was effective and surely appears to be in the lead for the starting job come fall, per spring reports and early returns. His highlights included a 46-yard throw to Josh Hammond and a beautiful 16-yard touchdown toss to Antonio Callaway. Franks did not return after the first half and finished the game 8 of 14 for 119 yards and that touchdown.
This spring’s game felt very similar to last year’s event. Once again the first team dominated the second, leading to a score of 31-0 for the Orange this year, and 44-6 for the Blue last year. The first team showed out while the second team mostly showed up.
Also in last year’s vein, the quarterback who started the game shined the brightest, and cemented the spring speculation that he would emerge as Florida’s top signal caller by the fall. Last year that was Luke Del Rio, and this year it is Franks.
And this year, unfortunately, fellow redshirt freshman Kyle Trask’s underwhelming appearance somewhat mirrors Franks’ jittery 2016 showing. But Trask really didn’t have much of a chance working with the twos against the ones. Once he was put on the Orange team in the second half, he was able to help lead that group down the field for a Lamical Perine touchdown. Trask finished the game 4-for-13 for 31 yards and a Duke Dawson interception.
Florida’s backfield had a strong performance. Jordan Scarlett looked every bit the 2016 back that led the Gators in rushing. He was chugging along, drapped in defenders, and scored the first touchdown of the game, punching it in from one on the Orange’s opening drive to give them a 7-0 lead. Mark Thompson played quite a bit, and looked good, despite a fumble and some drops – which again, seems to reflect the results of last year. Perine sped his way into the end zone for a touchdown which put the Orange up, 24-0, after an Eddy Piñeiro field goal and Antonio Callaway touchdown preceded it.
Oh, and Johnny Townsend had a 57 yard punt, so ya know, he’s still good. Piñeiro made the aforementioned field goal effort, but missed a 49 yarder off the upright towards the end of the fourth.
Freshman early enrollee quarterback Kadarius Toney was given time to run the offense in the fourth quarter, with the third team, and showed some significant moves – surely earning himself a full offseason of shine. So he’s sort of this year’s Kyle Trask, in other words.
Toney threw a touchdown pass to walk-on redshirt freshman wide receiver Tucker Nordman, which was humorously misidentified on the broadcast initially as an interception because the commentary team apparently forgot what color the offense was. That score put the mighty Orange up for good, 31-0.
As Steve Spurrier said when he dropped by the booth during the scrimmage, spring games are supposed to be fun. Special teams was no contact, the ones faced the twos, and clearly, the first team defensive line was no match for the second team offensive line. For those listening at home, think about how many times you heard the broadcasting crew mention that Jim McElwain told them this would be “very vanilla” and a “glorified practice.”
The whole point of this spectacle is to generate some buzz, have fun, and as Andy noted, put on a bit of a show, while keeping guys healthy. And Florida managed to mostly do just that.
So, as usual, my main Orange & Blue Debut takeaway is that there is probably not too much to take away from a choreographed spring showcase. But, the annual spring peek at this year’s team should not be totally taken for granted. After all, this is the last bit of Gator football that any of us will get before the fall.
Let speculation season begin.