Orange groves close to WDW?

[Walt Disney1955]

Okay, I will Google it anyway, I plan on it, so I just wanted to say that before the obvious "Google it" comments. I haven't driven around looking for the orange groves since I was a kid. But I remember doing it and I distinctly remember my parents taking us to one of them where you could pick the oranges (buy them I guess?). Although I remember some you couldn't. I am foggy on this sort of thing. I haven't done this since one of the early trips to Florida. Maybe it doesn't seem like a big deal, but if you live in Canada like me it is.

So where are there a lot of orange groves around the area? And where (if at all anymore) can you pick any of them?

 

[Nemo14]

When are you going? Orange picking I'm pretty sure is seasonal, and depends on what type of orange you want to pick.

 

[Minnie Mum]

Can't answer your question about where to find them, but, when are you going? Like any other fruit, oranges are seasonal, although it's a long season. Starts in October and ends in April, depending on the variety.

 

[kap91]

Well there’s definitely far fewer of them close by than there used to be.

There’s some abandoned ones off of palm parkway but that’s all I know of. You’ll probably have to go far into Claremont on Kississimee.

 

[Nemo14]

I just read a few other threads the OP has started and it looks like he's going in October. Many groves in central Florida were lost in the past 10 or 20 years due to weather conditions, and economy. I know there is one where you can pick your own if you drive west out to the end of 192 then north a few miles on Rt 27. I believe the name is Citrus Showcase, but I could be wrong about that.

 

[Ksearcy]

I just read a few other threads the OP has started and it looks like he's going in October. Many groves in central Florida were lost in the past 10 or 20 years due to weather conditions, and economy. I know there is one where you can pick your own if you drive west out to the end of 192 then north a few miles on Rt 27. I believe the name is Citrus Showcase, but I could be wrong about that.

That's it!!!!! Showcase of Citrus....About 20 minutes from Disney....Try the fresh orange juice slushie!!!!

 

[LAKid53]

There were some groves along the Turnpike on the way to WDW, but few exist now - had to make room for all those Dan Newlin billboards.

Florida's lost a lot of groves due to citrus canker and development. Just look at all the homes being built along 429 as you drive to the western Gate.

Thank god we have WDW to replace the declining citrus industry. Otherwise, we'd be paying state income taxes.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

This is exactly what you are looking for. Close to WDW.

http://showcaseofcitrus.com

 

[MAGICFLOP]

If you are visiting legoland, they are out that way where the orange groves are (Lake Wales) also home of Florida Natural orange juice company...

 

[The Mom]

When are you going? Orange picking I'm pretty sure is seasonal, and depends on what type of orange you want to pick.

Exactly. My local citrus is ripe around Christmas - one friend always gave me a gift basket of oranges from her grove (Cross Creek - they sold the oranges for juice) and another gave me a basket of lemons the size of oranges. My own lemons didn't ripen until late January.

 

[LAKid53]

Exactly. My local citrus is ripe around Christmas - one friend always gave me a gift basket of oranges from her grove (Cross Creek - they sold the oranges for juice) and another gave me a basket of lemons the size of oranges. My own lemons didn't ripen until late January.

My dad planted an orange tree in our backyard in Miami. Darn thing didn't produce oranges until the winter before they moved back to LA. But the lemon and kumquat trees were prolific from Day 1.

 

[Nemo14]

Exactly. My local citrus is ripe around Christmas - one friend always gave me a gift basket of oranges from her grove (Cross Creek - they sold the oranges for juice) and another gave me a basket of lemons the size of oranges. My own lemons didn't ripen until late January.

We go to a local stand that sells us "drops" for $5 a bushel, and use them for juice when we're down there for a month. Soooooo good!

 

[Goofyernmost]

My experience has been that many orange groves still exist on Rte 27, both north and south of 192. Not as many as were once there because so many groves were wiped out by the fruit flies and never started up again. The land was sold for development. They used to be right up the the edge of the road. Nothing stopping one from pulling over to the side of the road and picking a few for personal consumption.

 

[Ksearcy]

My experience has been that many orange groves still exist on Rte 27, both north and south of 192. Not as many as were once there because so many groves were wiped out by the fruit flies and never started up again. The land was sold for development. They used to be right up the the edge of the road. Nothing stopping one from pulling over to the side of the road and picking a few for personal consumption.

Except, perhaps, for the fact that they are on private property.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Except, perhaps, for the fact that they are on private property.

That was 30 years ago, I think that the statute of limitations has run out by now. I never did it because you can find some less then friendly critters between the road and the trees. Also, if they cared don't you think they would have put up a fence of some sort. It's no wonder we are always so angry. We get all upset because thirty years ago people might of absconded with a orange or two, and tolerate illegal activity at the highest level. What a country.

 

[Driver]

I am by far not an orange expert, but when I moved down here I did check into the industry in general..... this is what I learned..... most oranges grown in Florida are juice oranges. They are not very palatable, the fruit is tough. The window of time that they are ripe is typically mid winter. And they are checked for ripeness by their weight. When they are ready to be picked they will be heavier than ones not ready because they are full of juice. Also oranges are different than other fruit because they will not continue to ripen by sitting on your counter top. They need to be on the tree to accumulate juice otherwise they will just eventually rot. Most eating oranges come from California. I visited an abandoned orange grove (with permission) and took some fruit they looked beautiful but tasted lousy.

 

[FettFan]

 

[Nemo14]

I am by far not an orange expert, but when I moved down here I did check into the industry in general..... this is what I learned..... most oranges grown in Florida are juice oranges. They are not very palatable, the fruit is tough. The window of time that they are ripe is typically mid winter. And they are checked for ripeness by their weight. When they are ready to be picked they will be heavier than ones not ready because they are full of juice. Also oranges are different than other fruit because they will not continue to ripen by sitting on your counter top. They need to be on the tree to accumulate juice otherwise they will just eventually rot. Most eating oranges come from California. I visited an abandoned orange grove (with permission) and took some fruit they looked beautiful but tasted lousy.

But have you tried Honeybells or Page oranges (my favorites)?

 

[Driver]

But have you tried Honeybells or Page oranges (my favorites)?

I think those should be illegal, they are habit forming and addictive. That's why I'm eating as many as possible till the authorities catch up to me !!!!

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Thank you for the information. Yes, late September early October we'll be there. Showcase Citrus sounds neat. We are staying right near WDW property, so that is a quick drive. However, while it seems like there is a lot to do there the orange picking seems to generally start in November as per their website. Maybe not a big deal to some, but up here in Canada there are no orange trees and my kids would love seeing that.