All posts in Fruit Facts

What’s a navel orange, you ask? Only one of the most popular citrus fruits in the world! As opposed to other, seeded oranges (such as Valencia vs. navel oranges), the unformed “twin” fruits that grow at the blossom ends are what define navel oranges. This undeveloped fruit looks a bit like a human navel, which is how this tasty fruit got its name. Here are answers to five FAQs about this beloved fruit: Do navel oranges have seeds? Nope – a navel orange tree is propagated by cutting and grafting, which is why navels are seedless. What’s the best way to…

“Sweet” generally isn’t the first word that comes to mind when thinking about grapefruit. Despite its nutritional grapefruit benefits, pleasing color and refreshing scent, grapefruit has a reputation for tasting sour and bitter. Horticulturalists have worked hard to develop varieties that are sweet and tangy rather than unpleasantly acidic. Eventually, their labors bore fruit – specifically, white, red and pink fruit! Grapefruit colors do not refer to the skin of the fruit, but the flesh inside. No matter which type of grapefruit you select, the texture does not differ, and all have a unique, easily identifiable taste. What exactly is…

Looking for juicy, sweet–tart taste? Look no further than gorgeous, succulent Hale Groves Ruby Red grapefruit! You can buy Ruby Red grapefruit from November through March, but they’re at their peak in January and February. (In fact, February is National Grapefruit Month!) Does this surprise you? If you’ve steered clear of grapefruit due to the so-called “grapefruit diet,” take heart – it’s not how many calories in a grapefruit that makes it a popular choice for dieters (though grapefruit calories are only 52 per serving), but that’s due more to the fact that its both filling and great-tasting. The Origin of…

A: No…tangerines have seeds. But wait…you’re sure you’ve eaten a seedless tangerine before, right? Actually, what you probably had was a clementine. Like tangerines, clementines are a type of mandarin. They look similar to tangerine fruit, but they’re not quite the same. You don’t lose points for thinking a clementine is a tangerine, though…clementines are often categorized as seedless tangerines in the US, along with satsumas or mini tangerines. (These seedless varieties also include kishu mikan, a hybrid variety grown in Southern China and Japan that are also known as tiny tangerines.) Regardless, all of them are tasty and supremely…

Fresh Florida oranges from Hale Groves: is it a tradition for you to send them to a long-distance loved one each year? Or maybe you’re the one who looks forward to receiving a box of Christmas oranges from a special someone. Either way, you might be concerned about shipping delays this year. There is some good news, though. First, there’s the Hale Difference, which means we don’t start picking your fruit until you’ve placed your order, so it’s always as fresh as possible when it arrives. Secondly, if you want to order earlier than usual to ensure your fruit gets…

Are clementines tangerines? Are tangerines oranges? With over 160 varieties and hybrids of mandarins, it’s no wonder people get confused. In fact, the terms mandarin and tangerine are used interchangeably throughout the USA, even though they’re not the same. Tangerines and clementines aren’t the same fruit, either, but they are practically first cousins – they are both hybrids of the small-sized mandarin. What Exactly is a Mandarin? The mandarin is one of the original citrus species (along with the citron and pomelo) that, through breeding or natural hybridization, serves as the ancestor of many hybrid citrus cultivars. Mandarins botanically refer…

What are Honeybells? Also known as the honeybell tangelo, the honeybell orange is a tangerine/grapefruit hybrid that combines the sweet and sour taste of both fruits. They??e very juicy, with a loose, easy-to-peel skin that makes them easier to eat than other oranges. You can easily recognize honeybell oranges by their stem-end neck, which gives them the bell shape from which they take their name. Florida honeybells are bright red-orange in color when fully mature. What are Sugar Belles? Developed in the 1980s by University of Florida researchers hoping to create a citrus variety resistant to greening disease, sugar belle…

There they are among the citrus fruits in the produce section??hey??e small, round, orange, and fragrant. They??e tangerines! Wait…they??e mandarins. Which are they?! Just what is the difference between a tangerine and a mandarin? Tangerine vs. Mandarin Technically, a tangerine orange is a mandarin orange. But while all tangerines are mandarins, not all mandarins are tangerines. The mandarin is one of the original citrus species that, through breeding or natural hybridization, serves as the ancestor of many hybrid citrus cultivars. Mandarins botanically refer to three classifications of oranges: satsumas, tangerines and miscellaneous hybrids. So technically, a tangerine is a mandarin…

How Sweet It Is! Sugar Belles Are Taking the Citrus World by Storm What is a sugar belle orange, you ask? Only one of the sweetest little citrus fruits available! But if you thought “Sugar Belle” was just the name of a My Little Pony™ unicorn (those with kids might be familiar with the song, “The Battle for Sugar Belle”), we’ll give you a pass since the only place to shop sugar belles is online – they’re not available in most grocery stores. (Which is a shame, because sugar belle fruit is wonderful!) What are sugar belles? Not to be…

A Truly “Snackable” Snack: Sweet, Seedless Sugar Belles! Look out, lunchbox fruit…there’s a new orange in town! Sugar belle oranges are taking on-the-go lunch world by storm, and no wonder – they’re not only delicious, they’re perfect for taking along with you! What is a sugar belle orange? What area sugar belles? The first answer that comes to mind is, “delicious!” But if you need a little more information, sugar belle oranges are one of the sweetest citrus fruits on the market. eveloped by University of Florida researchers looking to product a citrus fruit that was resistant to the dreaded exotic…