Facilities

The Central Florida Research and Education Center-Apopka (CFREC-Apopka) was established through the efforts of local nurserymen and agricultural leaders who recognized the need for research on commercial foliage plant production problems in Florida. Orange County donated 18 acres of land to the University of Florida for the site. Building funds for an office building, greenhouse, and storage building were appropriated by the 1965 State Legislature and operating funds were appropriated in 1968. The center officially opened September 1, 1968 with only an office building.
	Research facilities at this center were subsequently expanded and designed to closely duplicate nursery conditions with plants grown under full sun, shade fabric, fiberglass and glass. There were over 40,000 square feet of research area for plant production.
	The center also had seven walk-in coolers for simulated shipping studies and over 3,000 square feet of controlled-environment rooms to conduct experiments on foliage plants under indoor conditions