The Navel Orange in Florida
The orange is the third most popular fruit in the world, after the tomato and the banana. Each year, citrus-growing countries around the world produce about one hundred and five million tons of oranges. Of the four states that grow oranges in America, Florida is the undisputed leader. The Sunshine State is responsible for more than two-thirds of the US orange crop.
The history of the orange in Florida is a long and successful one. The first trees were planted there in 1513 by legendary Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. The sweet tropical fruit became a hit in and around the city of Saint Augustine, though it would be another three centuries before there was a citrus industry in Florida.
By the early 1800s, orchard owners in the Sunshine State were planting huge crops of oranges along with other citrus fruits like lemon, lime and grapefruit. Though production figures do vary, Florida averages around seven of the ten million tons in total US citrus fruit production. About seventy percent of that comes from the orange.
Why is the orange so popular in Florida? For one thing, it has more available acreage than any other US state. As a tropical fruit, the orange only grows in tropical and subtropical climates. Providentially, most of the Sunshine State has these climates.
Still, the orange did not become a profitable crop in Florida until fruit juice became popular in America. Before then, most of the fruit that was shipped from the state was fresh fruit. But with the introduction of efficient processing technology, the industry was transformed in short order. Today, over eighty percent of the oranges that are grown in Florida are used for juice.
With over six hundred varieties to choose from, it is interesting that only two of them are produced in substantial quantities in Florida. The first is the Valencia, which is a seeded-orange that is used mainly for juicing. The other is the famous navel orange, which is the most sought after fresh orange on the market.
What makes them so special? Farmers have been growing the Valencia in Florida since the late nineteenth century. Because it was less popular than other varieties as a fresh fruit and there were huge crops, the Valencia was an obvious choice for a juicing orange.
The navel orange, on the other hand, was immediately singled-out as a fresh fruit. It was sweet, juicy and seedless and had a loose skin, which made it easy to peel. The crop has grown in popularity over the past century and currently accounts for around ten percent of Florida’s total citrus production. Of course, the Valencia will always be the dominant orange variety in the Sunshine State because of the juice.
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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