Order a Honeybell Orange Tray for the Holidays

Fruit baskets have been a popular holiday gift in America for many years. Attractive arrangements of popular fruits like apples, oranges, and pears are sent to tens of thousands of residences each year. Then there are the more exotic baskets and trays that are reserved for the true connoisseurs. We are talking about rare fruit that cannot be found at the grocery store.

Like any other exotic or rare comestible, when fruit is hard to come by, it is often considered a delicacy. Fruit fanatics will go out of their way to find them. That brings us to the Honeybell orange, the diamond of rare fruits. Grown almost exclusively in Florida and harvested for a few short weeks in January, the Honeybell is both rare and sought after.

It is rare because it is a high maintenance fruit that can only be cultivated in equable climates and fertile soil. In fact, most Honeybell orange trees grow along or near the banks of the Indian River in Florida. The bud end of the Honeybell is incredibly sensitive, which means that fruit must be picked by hand and packaged in special trays, like eggs. Packaging costs alone are more than double that of the average Florida orange. As you may have guessed, the Honeybell can be quite pricey. Customers should expect to pay between two and four dollars for each orange.

Did we say orange? Sorry, we misspoke again. But can you blame us? After all, it is called the Honeybell orange, even though it is technically a tangelo. In case you don’t know, a tangelo is a hybrid fruit, a cross between a tangerine and a pomelo or grapefruit. In the US, most tangelos are grown in Florida and most of them are crossed with grapefruit. The Honeybell was the unexpected result of such a paring.

The year was 1931 and researchers in a lab in Central Florida were experimenting with fruit hybridization. Most of their matches were unmitigated failures, but when they crossed a Duncan grapefruit with a Dancy tangerine, they knew they were on to something. For one thing, the soon-to-be named Honeybell Orange was much bigger and juicer than it peers. It also had the thin, loose skin of the tangerine, which made it easy to peel. The tasty tangelo was released to the public shortly thereafter.

Honeybell Orange Trays

Ordering the Honeybell for the holidays takes a bit of patience and advanced planning. Since demand is almost always greater than the supply, it is important to place your order ahead of time. Our advice is to locate a respected commercial seller on the internet and purchase a tray or two of Honeybells in the fall. If you are ordering them for a friend, colleague, or relative, make sure the seller offers gift cards for the holidays. Since the Honeybell Orange is not harvested until January, most sellers will send gift cards that let people know when to expect their shipment and who sent them.

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.

Shop Now