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Florida's own law names several: key lime pie is the state pie, orange juice the state beverage, the orange the state fruit, strawberry shortcake with natural Florida dairy topping the state dessert, and tupelo honey the state honey.
Plant City calls itself the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World and says more than three-quarters of the nation's midwinter strawberries come from there; February and March are the peak of Florida's strawberry season, grown mostly in Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties. Oranges, grapefruit and tangerines are in season by October.
Stone crab season runs October 15 through May 1. Only the claws may be taken, at least 2 7/8 inches long, never from a crab carrying eggs, and an adult crab regrows a claw in about a year. Florida spiny lobster season runs August 6 through March 31, with a two-day sport season on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July; taking lobster needs a saltwater fishing license and a lobster permit. Apalachicola Bay, closed to oyster harvest since 2020, has a season again from October 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027, on Saturdays and Sundays, for the 127 holders of the bay's recreational permit.
In St. Augustine the datil pepper has been grown since the 1700s and, by local legend, came with the Minorcans; it is hot, at 100,000 to 300,000 Scoville units, and is grown commercially in Putnam and St. Johns counties.
01Florida's spiny lobster season opens with a two-day sport season, often called mini season, on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July, and the regular season runs from August 6 to March 31.
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02Florida's nickname is the Sunshine State: the Department of State says Florida is known by it, and Florida law allows the words "Sunshine State" at the bottom of every license plate.
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03St. Augustine, in St. Johns County. Pedro Menendez de Aviles came ashore there on September 8, 1565, and the city describes itself as the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the United States.
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04Yes, but only in waters the state classifies as approved or conditionally approved for shellfish harvesting, and only while they are open.
Read the answer →Yes, from the ages of 16 to 64, residents and visitors alike, with permits for what and where you hunt.
Anywhere, but the public courses owned by cities, counties and the state are open to everyone, and several are on the Florida Department of State's Florida Historic Golf Trail.
A few, and each one's website shows what is playing, so look there before you go.
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