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Book Review of Cotton: The Biography of a Revolutionary Fiber

Cotton: The Biography of a Revolutionary Fiber
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A fascinating look at a crop and product we take for granted. I was especially interested in the stories from cotton's history, and appalled by its current status in international trade disputes.

When we have to pour billions into trade subsidies to keep an industry alive, perhaps its time to move on to something else. When the freezes hit Florida in the 1980s, and the northern edge of that industry moved south, the agriculture industry---with the help of the UF College of Agriculture---began moving into very profitable minor crops.

Few people know Florida is now the major blueberry producer in the U.S., and my county, in north central Florida, leads Florida in blueberry production. And this is just one of many minor crops proving more valuable and more stable than citrus.