05/15/1997 Florida Crossroads – Still Smoking

Just outside of Tampa in 1886, Don Vincente Martinez Ybor relocated his cigar factory, leaving Key West and its labor disputes behind.  What followed has become a colorful slice of Florida’s history. From the finesse of hand-rolled cigars to artful labels and merchandising, these stories and the historic flavor of the industry still live in today’s Ybor City.  Today, the cigar has achieved a popularity that rivals that which it enjoyed years ago; all in spite of state and federal anti-tobacco efforts.  Examine the phenomenon surrounding the cigar and take a look at an industry that is “Still Smoking”.