After a long, hard winter, spring is finally here! This means budding leaves, blossoming flowers, blooming trees – and, if you’re if you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from allergies, sneezing, a stuffy head, runny nose and other irksome symptoms that can put a damper on the new season. There’s no doubt about it – seasonal allergies (also known as hay fever and allergic rhinitis) can be a misery. You may already take steps to manage your seasonal allergy symptoms such as using an air purifier, dusting more frequently, and stocking up on over-the-counter remedies. But did…
All posts in Fruit Facts
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Continue ReadingWhat’s that pink-fleshed orange you’ve been seeing in the produce section of your local grocery store this winter? Not a blood orange, surely? The flesh of a blood orange is usually quite red in color, anywhere from bright ruby to deep maroon. The vivid shade of the blood orange’s flesh is due to anthocyanin pigments, but the Cara Cara Navel Orange gets its softer-toned, rose-colored flesh from lycopene, the same antioxidant that gives the tomato its red color. How are Cara Cara Oranges Different Than Classic Navel Oranges? When you think of Navel Oranges, you probably envision the classic citrus…
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Continue ReadingTheir season is short, but Honeybells are well worth the wait. We’re betting you’ve never tasted a citrus fruit so incredibly refreshing as this juicy tangerine/grapefruit cross…named for the honey-sweetness of its juice and bell shape, the easy-to-peel, hard-to-find Honeybell is a citrus sensation that’s sweeping the nation! But Honeybells are more than their vibrant flavor, fun shape and bright scent…they’re also a superfood as full of health benefits as they are of great taste. Premium Hale Honeybells are worth the extra effort in so many ways! Honeybells 101: Nutrition Facts Honeybells are a mandarin hybrid that are high in…
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Continue ReadingDecember isn’t the year’s only popular gift-giving season…late winter and spring are also full of official opportunities for showing friends, co-workers and loved ones how much you care about them, from your significant other to your mom. And that’s without including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, showers and special events like Teacher Appreciation Day! Gift baskets containing premium fruit and gourmet foods (like you’ll find at Hale Groves) make wonderful gifts because you’re sure to find a unique, personal gift within your budget that’s just right for any occasion, large or small. And when that gift basket includes Honeybells, you’re sure to…
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Continue ReadingHave you heard? Honeybells are here! In case you aren’t aware, this really is a cause for celebration. Developed in the warm and sunny climate and rich soil of Florida’s Indian River region, Honeybells are a hybrid orange with a unique bell shape and a sparkling flavor that’s just the right balance of tangy and sweet. A cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine, Honeybells have bright, red-orange skins that are easy to peel and few to no seeds. They’re loaded with honey-sweet juice – this, along with the unusual knob on their stem end, gives them their name. They’re…
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Continue ReadingOne good thing about winter – with it comes winter citrus. And no citrus is quite so special as the hard-to-find Honeybell. Have you never tasted this extraordinary citrus fruit? If you’re yet to be initiated, you’re in for a treat – one that’s sure to turn you into a fan. Sometimes called, “the Orange-Lover’s Orange,” Honeybells truly are something special. With a wonderfully vibrant, sweet-tart flavor, lots of juice, and an interesting shape to boot, this fruit has a lot going for it! To help you learn more about this exquisite, limited-edition citrus fruit, here are our Honeybell FAQs:…
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Continue ReadingSpecific foods often make us think of specific seasons – apples, pumpkins, cinnamon or corn may evoke images of colored leaves and crisp fall weather, while blueberries, strawberries and cherries might turn our thoughts to 4th of July celebrations and hot summer days. But what season does citrus make you think of? With their bright colors, fresh scent and invigorating tangy-to-tangy-sweet flavors, Citrus fruits like Navel Oranges, Ruby Red Grapefruit and Honey-Sweet Tangerines might bring to your mind thoughts of sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine. Sinking your teeth into the flesh of a juicy…
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Continue ReadingYou may have been seeing plums in stores for a month or so, now, but our plums – Empress Plums from Hale Groves – reach their peak in September. Before we focus on just how special Empress Plums are, we’ll answer a few questions about plums in general: What is a Plum? Like peaches, cherries, nectarines and apricots, plums are drupes, or stone fruits. Drupes grow on trees. A drupe is a fleshy fruit containing a single hard pit or “stone” that holds the fruit tree’s seed. Drupes don’t section like citrus fruits, but they usually have a vertical seam…
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Continue ReadingSeptember will soon be here…and so will Empress Plums from Hale Groves! Empress Plums are pure, plummy perfection, but plum season is (alas) quite short, so you will want to make sure you don’t miss it. Also known as Italian Prune Plums, Empress Plums are less round than other plums (more egg-shaped, in fact), with thin, purple-blue skins that turn purple-red when cooked and dense yellow flesh that’s juicy and sweet with just the right amount of tanginess. Empress Plums are also known as prune plums because – you guessed it – this is the variety most often used to…
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Continue ReadingWhat Goes Well with Plums? Have you been indulging your taste buds this summer with fresh, tangy-sweet plums? Plum season takes on new meaning in September, when Empress Plums are ready to eat! Empress Plums are the best plums when it comes to cooking (and eating fresh, too, but we may be biased). If you’ve never tried cooking with plums, we recommend you start – it’s easy to incorporate plums in a wide variety of dishes from sweet to savory, and you’re sure to love them! Not sure how to get started? Read on for some great plum tips for…