November 2013

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

California vs Florida Oranges, What’s the Difference?

What’s the difference between California and Florida oranges? Is there a difference at all? A navel orange from Florida has to be the same as a navel from California. Right? Well, even though many of the fruits are genetically identical, the climate changes the fruit far more than you’d expect.

California Oranges

A California orange grove in the shadow of a snowy mountain.

California’s climate is very arid with very low yearly rainfall. The days are hot and sunny, and the nights are dry and cool. This weather is ideal for raising oranges with thick, beautiful peels. The dry air keeps superficial blemishes from forming on the peels, making them attractive to supermarket shoppers. Having a thicker peel also aids in keeping them fresh for extended periods. They are ideal for brick and mortar stores, because they last much longer on store shelves.

Florida Oranges

A Florida Orange grove.

The oranges that grow in Florida do so in a hotter, wetter climate. As a result, these oranges are much juicier and sweeter. In fact, the majority of Florida’s oranges are used for juicing. The peels are usually thinner, and the oranges are easier to eat out of hand. This makes whole Florida oranges ideal for direct shipping rather than supermarket sales. Since our oranges are shipped straight from the grove to your door, there’s plenty of time to enjoy them. Florida oranges typically last 2-3 weeks when refrigerated.

California vs. Florida rainfall.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for picture perfect fruit with a flawless peel, then you should choose California Oranges. If you are looking for the sweetest, juiciest fruit available, choose Florida Oranges.

Of course, as Florida orange growers we’re probably biased, but we think that taste is the most important characteristics of great citrus.

Licensed Images

"Orange Groves on Hwy 166" by Chuck Abbe is licensed under CC BY 2.0
California vs. Florida precipitation map adapted from Precipitation of the Conterminous States by nationalatlas.gov.

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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Where Exactly Does Indian River Citrus Come From?

For over a hundred years, the “Indian River” name has been synonymous with the the sweetest, juiciest citrus in the world. Where exactly is the Indian River, though? Where do Oranges and Grapefruit have to grow in order to gain the coveted title of “Indian River Citrus”?

Well, first off, the Indian River isn’t actually a river at all. It’s a lagoon.

Actually, it’s three lagoons, all of which merge into an enormous, 156-mile, Floridian waterway that reaches from Volusia County to Palm Beach County.

Three lagoons of Indian River: Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, and the Banana River

This lagoon is notable for more than just its size. Its water is brackish, a mix of salt and fresh water, and it is the single most diverse estuary in North America. With over 4,300 native plant and animal species, the Indian River Lagoon area is a biologist’s heaven, our own little Amazon rainforest.

The diverse nature of the Indian River Lagoon’s water sources along with its proximity to the Gulf Stream also help to create one of the best climates in the world for growing citrus. This brackish, nutrient-diverse water enriches the water table just beneath the topsoil, lending nutrients to otherwise sandy soils.

The lands officially designated as the “Indian River Area” surround the lagoon on all sides, creating a band of citrus heaven that stretches for more than 200 miles.

When compared to the total amount of land dedicated for growing citrus in Florida, much less worldwide, it’s remarkable to know that the best citrus comes from such a small and unique area.

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