This is a painting from a photograph on the cover of "Sarasota: A History", by Jeff LaHurd. It depicts the quintessential bounty of the "land of milk and honey where gold grew on trees" encouraging others to homestead here. Filling the trunk with these tasty treats creates joy, especially in gifting to others. Sarasota is home to historical orange farms such as Albritton's and Brown's.

The Albritton Fruit Company was founded in 1880 in Polk County by Civil War veteran Tom Albritton and is now considered the oldest continually operating family business in Florida. After a devastating freeze, the family moved to Sarasota, where Karl Benjamin Albritton, Tom’s grandson, carried on the family business. Karl did not graduate from high school but was accepted into the University of Florida because of his knowledge about the citrus industry. After attending classes from 1921 – 1923, Albritton returned to the family farm. He is credited with developing the first citrus hedging machine, along other tools and procedures. Karl was inducted into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame and the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in the early to mid-1990s for his impact on the state’s citrus industry.

Brown’s Grove was founded in 1915 when Grandpa Brown moved from Brownsville, Florida, to the Bee Ridge community in Sarasota, Florida, and started growing citrus. His sons, Bobby and Ed, continued in their father’s footsteps.

Next time in town, fill 'er up... with oranges!

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