Kitchen

[fthunt]

January is the month.  Last year FL had too much rain so HB's weren't as good.  Was told they lost part of crop.

I tried CA - smaller, not as juicy but tasty.

Assume they appear in your stores first - pls pass any info on.

Thanks...................Snow is moving in - so Honeybells something to consider

Wonder if Mr. Cushman is still hanging in there.........................nice gent

[decaf]

I haven't seen any in the grocery stores here in S Fl.  I live not very far from the old Cushman buiding in West Palm, it's dilapidated and just about falling down now. 

Real estate is too valuable in SE Fl now to grow oranges on it.

[sunshine45]

they are currently on the QVC schedule for the 29th.

[lynnie61]

First year I got them absolutely delicious.  Second year, awful.  I should have asked for a refund.  I didn’t.  So I’m glad someone is asking on the crop this year.  

[Patriot3]

Oh my gosh, I can't stand to watch those presentations.  Orange juice flying all over the place!  What a sticky mess!  Sooo much waste!  Gives me the creeps. 

[homedecor1]

@decaf 

For years and years we would go there (Cushmans) and buy beautiful fruit or ship directly to friends.

Sadly, Cushman sold out business 10 or so years ago to Harry & David (like Cheryl's, Popcorn Factory,etc).

The honeybells are definitely not the quality or sweetness as they were when FL had groves of citrus NOW replaced with shopping malls, homes and storage facilities ☹️☹️

@sunshine45 

The "honeybells" we get are usually called "tangelos or Cara Cara" oranges and come from California under the brand name "Sunkist".  Our local Publix produce manager told me "honeybells" are non-existent in FL -- in fact, there is no good produce to me here except the strawberries which come in February and grown here.

[decaf]

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@homedecor1 wrote:

@decaf 

For years and years we would go there (Cushmans) and buy beautiful fruit or ship directly to friends.

Sadly, Cushman sold out business 10 or so years ago to Harry & David (like Cheryl's, Popcorn Factory,etc).

The honeybells are definitely not the quality or sweetness as they were when FL had groves of citrus NOW replaced with shopping malls, homes and storage facilities ☹️☹️

@sunshine45 

The "honeybells" we get are usually called "tangelos or Cara Cara" oranges and come from California under the brand name "Sunkist".  Our local Publix produce manager told me "honeybells" are non-existent in FL -- in fact, there is no good produce to me here except the strawberries which come in February and grown here.

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@homedecor1  I've lived here decades, everything you said is true.  Any good produce we grow is sold for the highest price and shipped out of state and we get all the leftover junk here. 

Besides the change in real estate prices, climate change, hotter temps also ruined the citrus industry here.  Many people don't know citrus fruit is grown and harvested only in the winter months in Florida.  In recent years we don't have enough "cold snaps" which give the fruit it's sweetness.

[sunshine45]

i have gotten honeybells from pittman and davis.

they come from florida and california.

cara cara oranges are definitely NOT honeybells. they look totally different both inside and outside. they come from california. delicious.....i order those also.

[Nutzy]

I always order honeybells from Sun Harvest Citrus in Fort Myers, FL. Delicious every time. We vacation in that area for a few weeks every year and visit their retail store for even more. Highly recommend them.

[homedecor1]

@Nutzy 

We had a place called Sun Growers here not only did they have fresh, sweet varieties of fruits but a "orange/melon sherbet" to die for!!

Sadly, they closed a few years ago☹️☹️