Florida’s Tasty Treasure

Take a bite of delicious Florida Citrus and you will never think of an orange in the same way again.

Juicy Navel Oranges Poinsettia Groves

History of Citrus

Citrus has been farmed commercially in Florida groves since the mid-1800s. The first citrus was brought to the New World in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. In the mid-1500s one of the early Spanish explorers, most likely Ponce de Leon, planted the first orange trees around St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida's unique sandy soil and subtropical climate proved to be ideal for growing the seeds that the early settlers planted and have flourished ever since. Today it is a $9 billion industry, employing nearly 76,000 Floridians.

Citrus Products

Florida growers produce several types of Florida citrus, including oranges, grapefruit and speciality fruit including Temple oranges, tangerines and tangelos.

Here are some fun facts about Florida oranges: The primary varieties are Navel, Hamlin, Pineapple, Ambersweet and Valencia. The fresh orange season typically runs from October through June.

The primary varieties of Florida grapefruit are Ruby Red, Flame, Thompson, Marsh and Duncan. The fresh grapefruit season typically runs from September through June.

Florida producers grow a handful of specialty fruit which are in season from October through April.

Acreage and Growing Areas

In Florida, there are about 569,000 acres of citrus groves and more than 74 million citrus trees. Most citrus is grown in the southern two-thirds of the Florida peninsula, where there is low probability for a freeze. After a series of freezes in the 1980s, citrus growers gradually migrated southward from central and northern regions, although Polk County in the Central part of the state remains the top citrus producing county.

Growing and Harvesting

To harvest the fruit once it's ripe, workers carefully hand pick the fruit and place it in large canvas bags. The bags are then placed into specialized vehicles called “goats” that bring the harvested fruit from the grove to roadside tractor-trailers. Citrus grown for fresh consumption is hauled to packinghouses where it is washed, graded and packed. Citrus produced for juice is transported by truck to processing plants for juice extraction.

There are about 40 citrus packinghouses and 20 citrus processing plants in Florida.

A Couple of our Favorite Local Groves

Ruby Red Grapefruit from Poinsettia Groves

Poinsettia Groves

Is a small, family owned, gift fruit shipper located in the heart of the Indian River growing district in Vero Beach, FL. The grove has been shipping Famous Indian River Fruit since 1947 and are members of the Florida Gift Fruit Shippers Association and the Indian River Chamber of Commerce and are licensed by the Florida Department of Citrus. The packing house, grove store and offices are still located on US 1 in Vero Beach featuring fresh oranges and grapefruit as well as sweet, tasty juice and an assortment of jellies, marmalades, candies and other gifts.

The History

Poinsettia Groves started as Greenleaf Groves by Harry Jones in 1947. Harry must not have cared for the citrus business because he sold to Robert and Clara Page in 1948. Robert planted quite a few poinsettia plants in the front of the packing house and changed the name to Poinsettia Groves. Apparently the Pages didn’t enjoy the fruit business too much either because they sold to Elly and Eve Dennett and Sid and Lucie Johnson in 1949. The Dennetts and the Johnsons ran the business together until the Johnsons decided to retire. They sold their interest to the Dennett’s daughter and son-in-law Betsy and John Hudson who moved up from Miami with son Jeb-age 2 and daughter Pam-age 1 in 1957. The Dennett and Hudson families worked together until 1971 when the Dennetts retired. The next change was in 1977 when Jeb joined the business after graduating from Stetson University. Jeb runs things now while his wife, Cindy is a kindergarten teacher. They stay busy with their sons Cody, Sam, Jack, Riley and Ethan and daughters Bailey and Ava.

Countryside Citrus

Countryside grows, harvests and ships citrus in the legendary Indian River region in Florida. The climate on the line “where the tropics begin," is optimal for raising delicious grapefruit, oranges, tangelos and tangerines.

Many things have changed in the farming business since Countryside began. Once there was a family-run grove stand every few miles, and many people in the county were farmers. Groves were passed from generation to generation and fathers and mothers worked with their sons and daughters on family farms.

Today, there are less than a handful of grove stands in our area. Groves are increasingly sold to grow new houses instead. Family farms are absorbed into out-of-state corporations. These are the facts of a global economy.

Countryside Citrus is different. The grove is still a family farm. Generations work together to nurture, harvest and ship our fruit to you. Our loyal employees take pride in the continued growth of our company and work very hard to bring you the very best product. Come and visit our groves and shops in Vero Beach, Florida, where you'll see for yourself the results of the love and passion that make us the proud keepers of the grand tradition that is the family farm.

Taste for Yourself

There is nothing better than cutting into a fresh piece of fruit. No matter your preference our favorite are the juicy sweet Ruby Red Grapefruit. The many varieties of fruit each have a specific growing and harvesting season. Visiting the grove stores is a wonderful day trip from the cottage offering a unique old Florida experience. We love family run businesses and seeing generations working together. Shop the yummy extras available jellies, jams, marmalades and other Florida treats like local orange blossom honey.

If your visit to the cottage is outside the citrus growing season there are opportunities to experience the groves. Countryside offers berry picking and has fruit available late into May. The frozen whipped orange treat is the perfect treat during summer heat.

Both Poinsettia and Countryside offer fabulous customer service and ship direct. Sign up for the citrus club and enjoy fresh fruit as it becomes available. Savoring fresh delicious Florida fruit definitely sends the winter doldrums packing. I have many fond memories of my childhood in Florida eating fruit fresh from the trees. It’s comforting to know we can still share the experience today. We’d love to hear what your favorite Florida Citrus is.

Poinsettia Groves :
1481 US1 Vero Beach, FL 32960

Countryside Citrus:

6325 81st Street Vero Beach, FL 32967 and 3300 Ocean Ave Vero Beach, FL 32963

Content courtesy of Florida Department of Citrus via visitflorida.com staff