Florida's farmers are cashing in on the blueberry boom.

According to our partner paper, the Tampa Bay Times, the National Agricultural Statistics Service said blueberries became appealing to growers because the University of Florida developed different varieties based on the warm climate.

The Times reports that farmland dedicated to blueberries more than tripled over the past 15 years, from 1,360 acres in 1997 to 4,500 in 2012.

In Hillsborough County, farmers dedicated 590 acres to blueberries in 2011, compared to 70 acres in 1998, an increase of more than 740 percent.

Florida's blueberry season is usually short, beginning in late March through early May.