All posts in Fruit Facts

When it comes to agricultural products, accurate numbers are hard to come by. Most crops are lumped together and figures are not regularly released to the public. Believe it or not, the last time the government examined the fruit, nut, and vegetable industries in the United States was in 1997. They grouped them together in their census of agriculture, which found that 12 million acres of fruit, nut, and vegetable crops were brought to market in that year. The total value of those crops was $23 billion, or about one-quarter of America’s total crop production. Although we do not have…

Have you ever tried to go through the fruit shipping process on your own? In today’s bureaucratic society it is much more complicated then you think! Fruit shipping within the continental United States of America, let alone international exporting is highly regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture as well as the many state regulating entities and enforcement agencies. It can be difficult to find information if it is not all centralized and user friendly like the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Other states do not make it as easy to find information all the time. Fruit…

The recorded history of oranges begins around 4,000 years ago when they made their first appearance at markets. Pretty much ever since there has been a Florida there have been Florida oranges. Even before any upstart western growers got into the act, Florida was busy planting groves of orange trees. The growers like to say their oranges are “sun kissed.” The result has been generation after generation of juicy, sweet citrus fruit. We all know Florida oranges taste good but what about all the different varieties and sources of vitamins and minerals? What about the scientific names and size of…

Florida oranges are famous for their great taste, bright color, and high nutritional content but did you know that there are several types of Florida oranges? Along with grapefruits, tangerines, and Honeybells there are actually several different types of oranges that are grown in Florida. Each orange has a different growing season so the Florida oranges that you receive when you order Florida oranges during different times of the year will be different types of oranges. All of them are delicious, and all of them are packed with Vitamin C, minerals that your body needs like magnesium, and B Complex…

Fruit baskets are becoming increasingly popular to give to people as gifts, not only for occasional family festivities, but also as small gifts for work colleagues and friends. With a growing interest in health foods and moves away from sugary gifts from employers, fruit baskets are being used more and more. It is recommended that people should eat more than five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day, to help maintain a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet. However, you may be reading this and wondering what is so special about a fresh fruit basket. Fruit baskets are not only simple…

Open your map of the continental United States of America, be it electronic or a physical old school paper map. What state to think about when you think about citrus fruits? Do you imagine the fresh squeezed Florida orange juice you drank at breakfast as a child- it was after all a staple for pretty much any American family, if at least on Sundays when the family got together around the table in the morning. So now, look up Florida and admire the famous pan handle of the United States of America. Do you know where the most famous of…

When most people think of citrus fruits, images of Navel oranges, Ruby Red grapefruits, lemons and limes come to mind. That said, there is a certain small and delicious fruit that is sure to please just about any citrus lover: Clementine oranges. Clementines are sweet source of Vitamin C. They are orange in color, medium in size and readily found in supermarkets during the months between October and January, when they are in peak season. Children who do not like oranges because of the tartness of their flesh will usually like clementines, which are a fair bit sweeter. A hybrid…

Orange juice is easily the most popular fruit juice in the United States. Each year, Americans swallow over five million gallons of the zesty breakfast beverage. Why do we drink so much of it? The simplest answer is because we can. The US has been a world leader in the production of oranges for well over a century now. Another reason Americans love orange juice is because our OJ is the best in the world. No, we’re not being overly patriotic. We’re simply telling the truth. You see, when orange juice is exported it is almost always shipped in dried…