Honeybell Oranges (Tampa, Orlando, Sanford: to buy, live in, agriculture)

[liv2mtb]

New to area and looking for a local place to buy honeybell oranges. Havent seen any in Publix on Winn Dixie so thinking I may find them only at the growers or farmers markets. I live in southeast Orlando and I will try the Waterford lakes farmers market this Saturday. As much as I love them, I dont want to drive an hour to buy them. Does anyone know where to find them near me or maybe on the way to Cocoa Beach? (hitting the beach this weekend)

[hgebel]

Honeybells aren't actually oranges, they are a hybrid of tangerines and grapefruit called a tangelo. They are an extremely seasonal fruit, and in Florida they can only be picked for a few weeks in December and January, that's a good time to look for them around here. They were invented right here at the U.S.D.A. research station in Orlando. The honeybell was not the only tangelo invented here; the Orlando tangelo (somewhat ironically named since it is the main west coast tangelo) was actually invented here in Orlando as well, however it doesn't have as much of the honeybell's distinct shape. The Orlando tangelo has a much longer season (November - February), but is mostly grown in California and Arizona. Both varieties were invented in an attempt to make a citrus crop that could thrive in Central Florida's climate better than oranges, but that would taste as good as an orange (most cold tolerant citrus are very sour).

I love tangelos as much as oranges (they are my favorite fruit) but unfortunately I haven't been able to eat them for over twenty years

-Harry

[AONE]

Good info Harry. I suggest the OP make friends with lots of people you will likely have a few with trees in their yard... I have one but it has been slow in producing. this is the first year it was full of blooms so im hoping for a bunch around new years.

[sp2007]

I was under the impression that you had to get Honeybells from the original grower out near Vero Beach. I thought he owned the copyright on them or something.

[hgebel]

Originally Posted by sp2007

I was under the impression that you had to get Honeybells from the original grower out near Vero Beach. I thought he owned the copyright on them or something.

The "original grower" is the United States Department of Agriculture, and it was first grown at what was then called the Orlando Research Station which was located in Minneola, not near Vero Beach. The USDA does not secure any intellectual property on plants they develop, and even if they did it was released in 1931, so the patent would have expired 50 years ago. The Honeybell was originally called the "Minneola" (and I think still is officially) because that is where the station was actually located and because the name "Orlando" had already been taken by one of their prior creations.

The station was called the Orlando Research Station because it was located in Orlando when it was founded in the early 1900's before it moved to Minneola. It has since moved again and is now called the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station and is now located in Brooksville near Tampa.

-Harry

[Phil S]

Closest place to get fresh honey bells in January is Harvey's groves on route 1A in Rockledge. There used to be a place on Conway but they moved to Sanford. The ones at Harvey's will not disappoint, but they sell quickly so don't wait. Usually gone by Jan 25th or so.

[jamary1]

I'll take a murcott over a honey bell. The only problem with murcotts is their seeds, but the taste makes it worth spitting out the seeds.