How to Pick Oranges in Florida
Oranges are synonymous with Florida, the Sunshine State. From fall to spring, several varieties are available for harvest, including Navel, Temple and Valencia oranges. Picking oranges is a fun activity for the whole family, and oranges are a rich resource of vitamins C, B, A, fiber, potassium, beta carotene and pectin. It's important to know not only when and where to pick your oranges, but also how to pick the ripest fruit. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Pick oranges from trees that are on your property, that you have permission to pick from, or on a farm you have traveled to in order to harvest oranges. Florida has numerous "pick your own" farms to choose from.
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Harvest Florida oranges anywhere from November all the way through May, depending on the variety. For example, the Hamlin Florida orange, know for excellent juice and flavor, is ready for harvest in November and December; while the Pineapple orange is at its peak from December to February.
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Look for oranges that are shiny and have a rich orange hue. Avoid fruit that is wrinkly, has bruise marks, blemishes or moldy spots.
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Feel the orange in the palm of your hand before picking it. The fruit should be firm and heavy, with smooth skin. The heavier, the better--this means there is a high juice content.
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Smell the orange to see if it is ripe through fragrance. The fruit should have a clean, strong citrus aroma.
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Pick the orange by gently twisting the fruit from the tree or cutting it with pruning scissors. Just make sure that you don't damage the branches or twigs of the tree. For fruit up high, use a fruit picker that has a basket secured to the top of the pole. You scoop up the orange in the basket and pull away gently to pick off the orange.
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Store harvested fruit in a basket until you can wash them.
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References
- Photo Credit orange tree in the garden image by Daria Miroshnikova from Fotolia.com
