Where to Find the Honeybell Orange?

In an episode of the award-winning sitcom Seinfeld, the character Kramer, played by Michael Richards, becomes obsessed with a rare piece of fruit from Oregon called the Mackinaw peach. These juicy peaches are only ripe for two weeks each year. Like many of the products and MacGuffins in the history of the show, the Mackinaw peach is entirely fictional.

However, it was inspired by a real piece of produce. Much like the Mackinaw peach, the Honeybell Orange is only ripe for a few weeks each year. As a result, fruit lovers order it weeks, even months in advance.

Also known as Minneola tangelos, the Honeybell orange isn’t actually an orange at all. It is a hybrid, which means that it is a cross of two distinct varieties of fruit. The Honeybell is a cross between a Dancy tangerine and either a Bowen or Duncan grapefruit.

Because it is extremely sensitive to temperature changes, the Honeybell orange is only picked during the month of January. As you might imagine, they are extremely rare. In fact, the bulk of the Honeybell orange crop is cultivated along the Indian River in Florida. They are often only shipped during the last two weeks of January.

When to Order

Because virtually all of the Honeybell orange trees in the US grow in the same region in the Sunshine State, the size of the crop is impossible to predict from year to year. If the weather is equable, it might be a bumper crop. But if the frost comes early, the crop may be miniscule. That is why Honeybell orange lovers place their orders as early as possible.

Where to Order

Customer musts order the fruit directly from the orchard that cultivates it. That means finding an orchard in Florida that plants the Honeybell orange. But even if you do locate these growers and place your order, there is no guarantee that you will receive it. In addition to being temperature sensitive, the Honeybell is incredibly hard to harvest. Only experienced professionals can pick the fruit so as not to damage the unique bell-shaped bud end.

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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