Even as Florida’s orange crops continue shrinking amidst a worldwide greening disease outbreak, the state agriculture department is celebrating new export opportunities for citrus. More than 100 South Korean Outback Steakhouse restaurants plan to offer a grapefruit cocktail called “Fresh from Florida.”
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced the grapefruit trade partnership in a press release Tuesday. He says Florida’s grapefruit exports to South Korea have increased more than 400 percent over the past five years. Those exports earned Florida growers almost a $100 million last year alone.
Putnam says Florida citrus is sold in several Asian grocery stores and restaurants already and that South Korea is the fastest-growing single market for Florida agricultural exports.
