The Family of Florida Oranges

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 the trees? Prepare to be enlightened!

Types of Florida Oranges

If you’ve been growing one particular fruit over the last couple of hundred years, chances are you’re going to either stumble upon some other varieties or create some of your own through cross pollination. Every Florida orange seed has the potential to grow into a full sized tree if properly attended to. You can’t just sprinkle them on the ground and expect a grove to spring up.

The first consideration with regard to the family of Florida Oranges is the type. Your basic Florida oranges come in three plump, juicy varieties: the Navel, the Valencia and the Blood orange. These are the types of oranges grown in the most abundant numbers. The Valencia’s primary role is as a juice orange while the Navel and Blood Florida oranges are perfect for snacking on anytime.

Smaller versions of Florida oranges are Mandarins and Clementines. They both have loose skin and are sweeter versions of their Navel and Valencia cousins. The major difference is that Clementines have no seeds. A Kumquat is the only kind of citrus with an edible skin and is a lot of fun to say.

The crossover Florida oranges are Tangelos which is a blend of a tangerine, a grapefruit and an orange. One variety of Taneglo is called the Ugli because of its ugly appearance. But it’s extremely tasty.

Science of Florida Oranges

The sweet Florida oranges are known by their scientific name of citrus sinenis and come from the plant family of Rutaceae. The Clementines, Mandarins and Tangerines are citrus reticulata but part of the same Rutaceae family tree.

What’s in a Florida Orange
You know how we’re told to drink our milk because of the calcium? Turns out a glass of fortified Florida orange juice has more calcium than milk. 291 mg for milk and 350 mg for OJ. There is also better absorption of that calcium through drinking orange juice then milk. And one Florida orange can have up to 50 mg of Vitamin C. That’s pretty much all you need for your daily dose. Bottom line: you just can’t go wrong with Florida oranges.

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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