Fruit Basket Gift of Valencia Oranges: Treat Somebody This Summer

The Valencia has an excellent taste and an incredible internal color that makes it a favorite orange for people to eat out of hand. A fruit basket loaded with these babies is bound to make the recipient exceptionally happy. And the really good news is while most citrus grown in the U.S. are out of season at the beginning of summer; the Valencia is at its peak of sweetness.

Named after Valencia, Spain, a city with a long history of superior oranges, the orange was actually first bred in the U.S. According to some, this almost perfect orange was developed by a Californian named Wolfskill who then sold it the large land holding concern the Irving Company. Nearly half of that company’s huge southern California land was dedicated to raising the Valencia and the horizon to horizon orange groves may very well be how Orange County got its name.

The California orange business boomed but so did the housing industry. Over the years orange groves were replaced by housing developments, malls and freeways and by the mid 1990s Florida became the big grower of Valencias by default. Land prices in California were just too high to sustain an orange business.

But that shouldn’t bother the consumer. Florida does a bang up job of producing these luscious juice filled oranges and holds back part of the crop for sale to groceries and individuals. Because of the exceptional taste, most of the crop is used in producing orange juice.

The skin of the Valencia may fake you out into thinking it’s not ripe. Normally a fully ripe Valencia will be a bright orange but there is a process called regreening that can cause the skin to take on a greenish cast or turn full green. This occurs when the weather gets hotter than normal and the orange is left on the tree. The skin may reabsorb chlorophyll leaving green blotches on the peel. So if your fruit basket includes a couple of these don’t worry. The flesh and juice inside will be sweet and ripe and a real delight.

So if you are looking for a unique gift to give in the spring or early summer, think about a fruit basket gift of Valencia oranges. The person who receives it is going to love the Valencias and it will be a gift that he or she remembers for a long time.

Don’t have any special occasions coming up during that time frame? No problem. Give yourself a gift of Valencias. You’ll be glad you did.

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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