History of Navel Orange Trees

When you drink a glass of navel orange juice, it is unlikely you even realize the unique history that lies behind it. In order to understand the history of navel oranges, you must understand the complete botanical origins of all citrus fruits. One thing that most people probably don’t even know is that orange trees were originally a product of Brazil, but since that time they have been cultivated and exported throughout the world. Navel oranges are likely to be one of the most popular of all the citrus fruits with more people consuming navel oranges and orange juice than most other citrus varieties.

Navel oranges are not a species of citrus but are actually a mutation. Navel oranges were created when a bud from a sweet orange grew into a branch that produced its own fruit. The sweet orange that caused the mutation was derived from two other citrus varieties: the pomelo and tangerine. The navel orange got its name because the bottom of orange closely resembles a human bellybutton or navel. For this reason it was given the name “navel orange.” Some consumers like to refer to this additional piece of navel orange as a little “surprise” that accompanies the purchase of navel oranges.

The navel orange mutation is not new by any means. The event occurred in an orange vineyard in Brazil in 1820. It wasn’t until 1872 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was able to obtain some of the seedlings from Brazil in order to attempt the cultivation of navel oranges in the United States. In 1873 a Riverside orange grower obtained one seedling from the Department of Agriculture, producing the first navel oranges in the United States in 1878. Navel oranges were certainly not the first oranges to arrive in the United States, and some experts actually believe Ponce de Leon planted the first orange trees in the middle of the 14th century near St. Augustine, Florida.

This initial seedling was the beginning of what would turn into a very lucrative market for navel oranges as other growers began to cash in on this new market for oranges. While navel oranges began in California, they have grown popular in other places since that time: Florida and Texas for example. The sweet and juicy nature of navel oranges have made them one of the most popular orange varieties, and the one most commonly used to make commercial orange 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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