The Sunshine State of Yesteryear Still Shines Through
Florida, the “Sunshine State,” is famous the world over for two separate industries: citrus fruit and tourism. Though the fruit industry precedes the state’s mammoth tourist economy, in the last few decades cities such as Orlando and Miami have become world class cities full of attractions for visitors looking to enjoy the state’s beautiful weather and dynamic cultural blend. Among all the glamour of the entertainment, however, the traces of the older Florida way of life still remain. You may have to look a little more closely for them than you would in years gone by, but they’re there waiting for you all the same.
Fruit Farms Preserve A Time-Tested Way of Life
Many of the fruit farms that stretch up and down the Florida peninsula have been in place for decades, growing their rich bounty of fresh citrus fruits year in and year out. The so-called “sunshine belt” of the southern United States first gained fame in the 1970s, when in fact a thriving agricultural business had existed all along. These Florida fresh citrus fruit farms are responsible for some of the finest fruit available anywhere in the world. Navel oranges, delicious ruby red grapefruit, and several other varieties are grown in the sandy and sun-kissed Florida soil, producing harvests of countless millions of fresh delicious fresh citrus fruit servings.
Florida Invented The Honeybell Tangelo
The people of Florida are so successful in growing fruit, it stands to reason that eventually they’d manage to make their own. The Honeybell tangelo, first invented in the village of Minneola in the 1930s, has since become a worldwide sensation renowned for its amazingly sweet flavor and abundance of juice. The Honeybell, a delightful mix of grapefruit and tangerine, is actually available for only a few weeks each January and sometimes February, making them among the most prized of fresh citrus fruits.
Florida’s Legacy Around The World
Today many people are aware of citrus fruit primarily through the giving and receiving of fresh citrus fruit baskets, which include a generous sampling of many different fresh citrus fruit servings into a traditional Americana artistic arrangement. The modern versions of these traditional gifts are available for delivery from a number of fresh citrus fruit boutiques. Some of these boutiques are actually located in Florida, and take the fresh citrus fruit for each assorted gift basket fresh from the orchard where they were grown.
Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves
At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.
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