Timeline
- 1917 Legally established by action of the Florida Legislature
- 1919 Site donated and planted from donations of Polk County growers
- 1920 John H. Jeffries was appointed Superintendent of CES
- 1921 Report to the Florida State Horticultural Society on CES (35:152-154)
- 1926 The first permanent laboratory building. An insectary was built to rear Leis Sp. Lady Beetles for natural control of aphids.
- 1935 Dr. A.F. Camp was appointed Horticulturist in charge of the CES
- 1945 The Packinghouse Research Building was constructed
- 1948 The Administrative building was occupied.
- 1957 Dr. Herman J. Reitz appointed Horticulturist in charge of CES
- 1958 Entomology building
- 1966 Extension faculty appointed to CES
- 1969 The Biochemistry building was dedicated
- 1982 Dr. Walter J. Kender appointed Director of AREC
- 1982 Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Citrus Hall dedicated
- 1983 The Laboratory/Administrative Building was occupied
- 1986 Student dormitory constructed.
- 1997 Dr. Harold Browning appointed Director of CREC
- 1997 The Environmental Quality Laboratory was built
