10/16/2026
Did you know the Florida Keys were once the "Pineapple Capital of the Country"?
In the late 1800s, pioneer families like the Pinders in "Pinderville" (modern-day Islamorada) supplied nearly 85% of all pineapples consumed in the U.S. Because the islands are made of solid coral with no true soil, farmers had to use heavy iron crowbars to punch holes into the rock, planting crops into natural limestone depressions known as "red holes." Harvesting the fruit in 90-degree summer heat required thick canvas clothing to protect against razor-sharp leaves, followed by a high-stakes race to ship the crates north on sailing schooners before they rotted. The booming industry ultimately collapsed by the 1910s due to soil depletion, severe hurricanes, plant blight, and cheap Cuban imports brought in by Henry Flagler’s new railway—forcing local pioneers to pivot to a brand-new crop: Key Limes!
