How Navel Oranges Got Their Name

Navel oranges are some of the most popular oranges in the world because of their sweetness and long growing season, but do you know how navel oranges came by their name? Most people don’t realize that the orange was named after the human navel because on the outside of the fruit there is an indentation that looks like a human navel, or bellybutton. Navel oranges are actually hybrids that were the result of crossing a tangelo and a mandarin orange. Because the fruit came from a cross pollination experiment it is a sterile fruit and cannot reproduce on its own. Navel oranges have to be grown from cuttings and have to be carefully tended in order to thrive.

The reason why this fruit, unlike a Valencia orange or a traditional tangerine, has a bellybutton like indentation is because there is a second orange growing inside the first. The second fruit is the result of a genetic mutation and never fully develops so at the base of each navel orange is a thick fleshy protrusion which is the twin orange. It’s this second orange that causes the orange to look like it has a bellybutton from the outside.

Navel oranges are similar to tangerines in color since they share some of the same genes. Just like tangerines these oranges are great for kids to eat by themselves because they are easy to peel and have soft, easy to chew flesh and lots of juice. They are also great for kids because being sterile they contain no seeds. So if you’re looking for a safe snack that you don’t have to worry about your small child eating on his or her own invest in a few boxes of seedless navel oranges. Oranges, like grapefruit and other citrus fruits, will keep for a very long time if they are stored properly so just a few boxes of navel oranges will give you enough to feed your family for a long time.

Orange gift baskets are great for families that have small children since the healthy and delicious oranges and other citrus fruits in these baskets are a great alternative to candy or chocolate for kids. When the holidays come around this year instead of giving your family and friends holiday cookies or chocolate give them healthy and delicious navel oranges, Clementines, Honeybells and other sweet citrus gifts. They will be thrilled to receive such thoughtful gifts and you will feel better knowing you gave them healthy gifts instead of junk food.

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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