Florida Citrus: The Navel Orange
Citrus fruits were first planted in Florida in the late 15th century. Legend has it that Christopher Columbus himself brought the lemon to the Sunshine State. This has not been confirmed. But what we do know is that another famous explorer, Ponce de Leon, planted the first orange trees in Florida in 1513.
It would, however, be another four centuries before the citrus industry in Florida became profitable. Looking back, it is hard to believe that that it took so long. With its sandy soil and subtropical climate, the Sunshine State is the perfect place to cultivate citrus fruits. In fact, Florida is one of only four US states that produces commercial citrus crops.
Since it has more available acreage and citrus fruit came to Florida first, it is the market leader in the US. According to a recent report, the Florida citrus industry generates annual revenues of more than nine billion dollars. It is also one of the state’s largest employers with over ninety thousand workers.
Why did it take so long? Florida has always been the US leader when it comes to citrus production. But in the early days, transportation costs and frequent frosts made the industry unreliable. Then people discovered fruit juices. Because they are naturally sweet and nutritious, citrus fruit juices became wildly popular. Orange and grapefruit were dubbed breakfast juices, while lemon and lime became popular additives.
In time, the orange became the most popular citrus fruit in the nation and Florida was the largest orange producer. Because the demand for juice was far greater than the demand for fresh oranges, farmers in Florida began to focus on orange varieties that produced superior juice.
The Valencia became the orange that built a profitable industry in the Sunshine State. Today, Florida ships about ninety percent of the orange juice that is imbibed in the United States. The remainder comes from the other citrus-producing states.
When it comes to Fresh oranges, Florida is not the US market leader. With over 80 percent of its oranges scheduled for processing, how could it be? Still, the state does produce a sizable crop of fresh oranges each year. In fact, many fruit lovers maintain that Florida oranges are the best on the planet.
Though the Valencia dominates the juice market, the most popular fresh fruit variety is the navel orange. About five percent of the oranges in Florida are navels. And though this might not seem like a lot, if you live on the East Coast of the US and you buy an orange, more often than not it will be a navel orange from Florida.
What makes them so special? The navel orange is one of the most popular fruit mutations in history. Discovered in 1820, it is a sweet, seedless variety that can only be grown though grafting. Because the bloom end strongly resembles a human belly button, it was dubbed the navel orange. It is presently the third most popular fruit in America, after the tomato and the banana.
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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