topic Re: Where are the Florida oranges? in Kitchen

Where are the Florida oranges?

hopi — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:36:12 GMT

They are never in stores and barely can find oranges grown in the US and if they are the peels are not a nice orange color any more.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

Largoman — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 11:40:08 GMT

Florida oranges do not begin to ripen until mid November. The first being the navel oranges.

92% of Florida orange groves have been wiped out by a disease called citrus greening.; We have gone from producing 244 million boxes of oranges a year to just 12 million a year.

To add to the problem, hurricane Milton destoyed another 70% of groves.

So, that's where all the Florida oranges have gone.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

Group 5 minus 1 — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 11:51:58 GMT

@Largoman : Thank you for that info. We did not know that.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

CJC — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 12:38:00 GMT

@Largoman ...and developers have bought out the rest.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

CalminHeart — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 12:46:12 GMT

@hopi wrote:
They are never in stores and barely can find oranges grown in the US and if they are the peels are not a nice orange color any more.

I'm waiting for U.S. citizens to line up for jobs to work in fields since those who usually do aren't allowed to anymore.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

walkingal — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:38:01 GMT

This is not the season for citrus. Citrus season, especially organges and grapefruits, is November through May. It's a hit or miss for good fruit in my grocery store whether it's in season or not for most fruit. So, I know what you mean. I now only buy fruit that's in season. When I'm really craving good citrus during the Winter, I'll order from one of the citrus growers in Vero Beach. .

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

deeva — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:57:04 GMT

We still have local growers here in Arizona. I buy from them starting in December. The oranges taste much better than the stuff sold in grocery stores.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

brandiwine — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 14:51:17 GMT

It's not citrus season on the east or west coast. Hang in there! It won't be too long

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

Kachina624 — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 15:47:02 GMT

@hopi. All oranges come from the tree sort of mottled in color and not at all beautiful, so they are all dyed orange.

I hear orange groves in Florida have been wiped out to make room for new housing development in addition to loss due to disease and hurricanes.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

Pittfanatic — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:01:43 GMT

Largoman is correct. I live in Palm Harbor, FL, just a few miles north. I also have a condo in Stuart, FL, on the other coast. There is a citrus procesessing plant that we pass on our drive there and in the past the trucks would be lined up full of oranges starting in November and ending in April. No more. Greening disease has wiped out many groves. And development has gotten rid of thousands more. The current generation in many farming and ranching families is just not interested in staying in the orange growing business. All of the orange trees that you used to see on the way to Disney World are gone. And they won't be back.

Re: Where are the Florida oranges?

Xivambala — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:22:28 GMT

Before moving to my current home in southeast Florida, I purchased Indian River navel oranges from that area which is around Vero Beach. I discovered them when driving home to Chicago (where I lived at the time). The juice made from them is incredible. There used to be truck drivers that brought them up from Florida and delivered them across various cities so I was able to get them in season while still living in Illinois.

Currently, I have not been keeping up with the plight of the orange growers but do know there have been various diseases affecting the fruits. In any event, it's too early in the season for oranges which would be available later in the year through early 2026.