Florida designated the orange as the official state fruit in 2005. Orange juice is the state beverage, and the orange blossom is Florida's state flower.

Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of Florida's economy. Florida produces the majority of citrus fruit grown in the United States (in 2006, 67 percent of all citrus, 74 percent of oranges, 58 percent of tangerines, and 54 percent of grapefruit). About 95 percent of commercial orange production in the state is processed (mostly as orange juice).

The production of orange juice became a multi-million dollar industry in Florida during the Second World War, after Louis G. MacDowell (director of research for the Florida Citrus Commission) suggested a method for vastly improving the taste of orange juice concentrate.

Source:

State Symbols: Florida Senate Online Sunshine for Kids
News and Events: USDA Agricultural Research Service
Florida: Wikipeida.org

Links:

All Food & Agricultural Symbols - Food Holidays