Temple Oranges from the Sunshine State

The US is home to the world’s third largest citrus industry, after Brazil and China. Fruit orchards in America ship ten million tons of citrus fruit each year. Popular crops include the orange, the grapefruit, the lemon, and the lime. Because citrus fruit is sensitive to changes in the weather, they can only be cultivated in certain regions of the country.

Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona are the only U.S. states that harvest commercial citrus crops. The Sunshine State is responsible for more than seventy percent of the total crop, most of which are oranges. America is second only to Brazil in orange production. Growers in the four citrus states harvest more than seven million tons of them each year.

Once again, Florida is the undisputed leader. Why does Florida produce more than seventy percent of the oranges in America? For one thing, they were the first state to cultivate the tasty treat. People have been planting oranges in Florida since the early 16th century. Legend has it that the famous Spanish explorer, Ponce de Leon, planted orange and lemon seeds near St. Augustine, Florida in 1513.

The citrus business became one of the most profitable agricultural industries in the nation when commercial growers started selling their wares in the 1840s. But it was orange juice that was responsible for the modern citrus industry. Ninety-five percent of all Florida oranges are sent directly to processing plants for juicing. The state produces so much OJ that America rarely has to import it. Almost all of our OJ comes from the Sunshine State.

What about the other five percent? Though Florida will always be more famous for its juice, growers cultivate dozens of distinct varieties of fresh oranges. These oranges are often referred to as eating oranges. Many of them are harvested only in Florida. Today we want to talk about Temple oranges.

There are hundreds of distinct varieties of oranges. Some of them are so weather-sensitive that they are only grown in certain regions of the nation. Temple oranges are one of these varieties. Though California is home to the nation’s second largest citrus industry, there are many citrus varieties that simply will not grow there. Temple oranges grow best in sultry subtropical climates that cannot be found in the other citrus-producing states. Our research confirms that the only place Temple oranges are cultivated besides Florida is Israel.

As you might imagine, Temple oranges are considered a fruit delicacy. Though they are a popular citrus variety they have an abbreviated growing season. If the crop is good, they may show up at your local supermarket, if it is poor, it will not. Many fruit lovers order Temple oranges directly from commercial growers who sell fresh fruit on the internet. The best time to find them is in late January or early February.

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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