According to the experts, there are over six hundred distinct varieties of oranges on earth. There are also fruits known as hybrids, which are only part orange and part something else. Probably the most popular orange hybrid is the tangelo, which is half tangerine (a variety of Mandarin orange), and half grapefruit or pomelo. The tangelo is one of the oldest hybrid fruits on earth. It is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia over 3,500 years ago. All tangelos taste like tangerines and are extraordinarily juicy. In fact, they are known for providing copious quantities of juice at the…
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Neither Steve nor I had any idea where our efforts would lead back in 1947 when we opened that fruit stand in front of Vero Beach Parkway Hotel. All I knew is that Steve had dreamed of getting into the citrus business for as long as I had known him. In fact, his interest began back during the Depression, when his father purchased a small orange grove in Vero Beach as an investment for the family’s future. The family would drive down from their home in Atlanta once or twice a year to visit the grove. Steve tells me it…
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What better way to bring summer to your table than by the addition of Sweet Mountain Bing Cherries? These delicious ruby orbs signal summer like no other fruit. They can be used in desserts, savory dishes, baked goods and more. As you’re planning your next summer menu, don’t forget to include Sweet Mountain Bing Cherries. Most recipes call for pitted Bing Cherries and cherry pitting is an art form you’ll want to learn. Bing Cherries can be cut in half and the pit removed with the fingers or a cherry pitter can be used. Hand-held cherry pitters are available at…
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Customers prefer fruit without a lot of seeds, so agriculturists have developed hybrid tress that produce fruit with fewer seeds. The USDA guidelines say that fruit with six or less seeds can be called “seedless.” How does our fruit get to us in such grove-fresh condition? First, the fruit is picked and packed at exactly the best time to assure that you get your fruit at the height of tastiness and maturity. As the cartons come off the packing lines, they literally roll right into waiting refrigerated trucks. Temperatures inside the trucks are set to ensure that the fruit gets…
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Famous for its theme parks, beaches and golf courses, Florida is also the center of the citrus world. First in grapefruit production, second in OJ exports, and third in global citrus shipments, the Sunshine State is responsible for around 70 percent of the U.S. citrus supply. What makes Florida citrus so special? Here are a few things you might not know about your favorite fruits. Bigger and Juicer The sandy soil and subtropical climates of Florida combine to produce fruit that is bigger and heavier than citrus that is grown in other states. On average, Florida citrus is around 25…
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Summer picnics are one of the best parts of summer, and Indian River citrus fruit can make every picnic special. Whether you’re taking a sweetheart on a romantic picnic dinner or taking the kids on a lunch picnic to spend some time in the sunny outdoors make sure that you have a basket of Indian River citrus fruit on hand to take with you. Indian River citrus fruit is the most well known citrus fruit in the world because of the rich taste of the fruit. Since picnic foods are usually simple, easy to transport foods it’s important that the…
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What’s the best way to enjoy Honeybell tangelos? Some people like to eat them straight out of the crate, while others find new and different ways to try them out. The Honeybell, like all fresh citrus fruits, is a versatile and durable food with lots of potential for any number of recipes. The following list includes just some different ways to have fun with your Honeybells. Juice For Breakfast Honeybells are known for their delicious and ample supply of sweet, tangy juice. Eaten with other parts of a healthy breakfast, the Honeybell’s juice can make the perfect, energizing start to…
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It’s been a month already and the summer rains continue to juice up our healthy navel oranges. In just four weeks, they have grown an average of half an inch to 2.5 inches and some of the internal oranges were up to three inches. What about that belly-button? Interestingly, the “belly button” that you see on a navel orange is actually a secondary fruit that grew from a natural mutation dating back to 1800’s Brazil. This first navel orange was then sent to the USDA in Washington, D.C. and from there throughout the United States. Essentially, all navel oranges can…
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Honeybell oranges are almost here, and they are bringing the holidays with them. For many people the holidays really start once the Honeybell oranges arrive because they look forward to the arrival of delicious Honeybells all year. These exotic fruits only appear once a year, from late December through January, and they have become a part of the annual holiday celebrations for many people. Giving Honeybell oranges is a tradition for many people, and you may get Honeybells every year from an aunt, a cousin, or someone that you work with. Giving Honeybell oranges is a time honored tradition that…
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Who doesn’t love the zesty taste of an orange, especially that tantalizing burst of flavor when your teeth first sink in? It’s almost like tasting sweet sunshine. And almost everyone knows how nutritious oranges are. What many people might not know is that oranges originated as a mutation, or clone, in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago and spread worldwide to include many different varieties. The citrus sinensis is the popular varietal known more commonly as the navel orange. From the outside, navel oranges appear to have what looks like a little human navel on its blossom end. Once you…