Order the Honeybell Orange from Florida
The Honeybell Orange is often described by sellers as a limited edition fruit. What they mean by that is that demand almost always outpaces supply. It is also a reference to the fruit’s abbreviated harvest season. Other popular citrus fruits from Florida are harvested for four or five months of the year. But the Honeybell is only picked during the month of January, and that’s on a good year! More often than not, this tasty tangelo is only harvest during the last two weeks of January.
To understand it fugacity, we must discuss the history of the Honeybell. To begin with, it is not actually an orange. Technically, the Honeybell orange is a tangelo, which means that it is cross between a tangerine and a pomelo or a grapefruit. Since pomelos are hard to come by in the States, the American tangelo is a hybrid of a tangerine and a grapefruit. What does it mean to be a hybrid fruit? Well, it means that you get the best and worst features of your ancestors.
On the plus side, the Honeybell orange is larger and juicer than the average orange. It gets that from its ancestor, the Duncan grapefruit. The Honeybell is also sweet and extremely juicy. It gets that from its ancestor, the Dancy tangerine. Unfortunately, the features that make the Honeybell a rare treat for consumers also make it a pain to grow for farmers.
For example, its thin, loose skin makes it a cinch to peel. But this thin skin that it inherited from the tangerine offers limited protection from the elements. As a result, the Honeybell only grows well in certain, equable regions of the country. Though it has been around for nearly eighty years and demand is always high, orchard owners outside of Florida rarely grow the Honeybell orange. In fact, even in the Sunshine State, the fruit is only cultivated in a small section of land along the Indian River. This fertile, often alluvial soil provides the Honeybell with all the nutrients it needs to reach maturity.
As you might expect, due to its many limitations, the Honeybell orange is, in fact, a limited fruit. During the month of January, it is sold at roadside fruit stands and supermarkets in Florida. But out-of-state fruit fanatics should not expect to find the Honeybell in the produce section of their local grocery store. The only way for outsiders to find this exclusive fruit is to order it directly from commercial growers in Florida.
The best time to order is in the early fall. But even then there is no guarantee. A poor crop can leave thousands of fruit lovers out in the cold. Because of the demand and the rarity of the Honeybell orange, customers should expect to pay high prices. It is not at all uncommon to see Honeybells selling for four or five dollars each!
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.
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