Question: During the 1870s, citrus fruit growers and entrepreneurs flocked to Florida, seeking riches from the state’s citrus-perfect conditions. What was that migration called?
Answer: Orange Fever
The citrus industry entered its first boom in the 1870s. The news of profits, real and potential, created “orange fever.” Soon entrepreneurs were flocking to Florida seeking riches as citrus growers. Despite the exaggerated claims of promoters, developing a commercial grove was not easy. Many victims of “orange fever” lacked money and the means of cultivation. Young trees required several years of care before they produced fruit in quantity, and the life of a citrus baron was much harder than expected.
